Tele-Advising: Therapeutic Discourse in American Television

by Mimi White

Overview

Drawing on feminist, postmodern, and psychoanalytic theories, White traces the impact of television's therapeutic and confessional discourses on family construction and consumer culture. In a comprehensive analysis of cable, network, and syndicated programming and both daytime and prime-time shows, she reveals how the therapeutic and confessional mode functions on television, relating it to broader questions of social identity and power.

Originally published 1992.

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Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780807843901
Publisher:	The University of North Carolina Press
Publication date:	11/30/1992
Series:	Therapeutic Discourse in American Television Series
Edition description:	1
Pages:	232
Product dimensions:	5.50(w) x 9.25(h) x (d)
Lexile:	1450L (what's this?)

What People are Saying About This

From the Publisher

White approaches television in an interesting new way, foregoing the customary generic focus (on the sitcom or news programming, for example), working instead from the premise that the psychotherapeutic experience has become a dominant one in twentieth-century American culture and that television enacts that experience in a wide range of broadcast venues. . . . Throughout, White is careful to argue the complexity of the communication process in very compelling ways.—Cecelia Tichi, Vanderbilt University

Editorial Reviews

"White approaches television in an interesting new way, foregoing the customary generic focus (on the sitcom or news programming, for example), working instead from the premise that the psychotherapeutic experience has become a dominant one in twentieth-century American culture and that television enacts that experience in a wide range of broadcast venues. . . . Throughout, White is careful to argue the complexity of the communication process in very compelling ways."—Cecelia Tichi, Vanderbilt University

From the Publisher

An analysis of television programming that draws on feminist, postmodern, and psychoanalytic theory. The author argues that television fulfills a therapeutic and confessional role in our culture that influences our family structure and consumer culture. Paper edition (unseen), $10.95. Annotation c. Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)

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