Table of Contents
List of Figures ix
Acknowledgments xv
Introduction: Medium Message 1
Overview 2
Further Reading 11
1 Print’s Run: Publishing as Popular Culture 13
Overview 14
Genre Study / Terrifying pleasures: Horror 31
Document Study / The ravenous imagination of Edgar Allan Poe 38
Document Study / Carrie: Princess of blood, King of horror 44
Further Reading 49
2 Dramatic Developments: The World of the Stage 51
Overview 52
Genre Study / Notes from the stage: The Broadway musical 69
Document Study / Show Boat: High tide of the American musical 77
Further Reading 83
3 Reel Life: The Art of Motion Pictures 85
Overview 86
Genre Study / Horse sense: The logic of the western 102
Document Study / The Searchers: Monumental western 111
Further Reading 116
4 Making Waves: Radio in American Life 119
Overview 120
Genre Study / Worlds away: Science fiction 134
Document Study / The Mercury Theater on the Air: Worlds war 142
Document Study / Buck Rogers: Finding time (in space) 149
Further Reading 153
5 Channels of Opportunity: The Arc of Television Broadcasting 155
Overview 156
Genre Study / Screened realities: Situation comedy 173
Document Study / Seriously funny: I Love Lucy 181
Further Reading 187
6 Sound Investments: The Evolution of Sound Recording 190
Overview 191
Genre Study / Joyful blues: The rise and fall of rock and roll 213
Document Study / ‘‘Beat It’’: The integration of Michael Jackson 224
Document Study / Speak Now: The gently assertive voice of Taylor Swift 232
Further Reading 237
7 Weaving the Web: The Emergence of the Internet 240
Overview 241
Genre Study / Shared exchanges: Social media 260
Document Study / Wikipedia: The wisdom of crowds 268
Further Reading 274
Index 277