In response to the growing scope and popularity of wedding-related offerings and the media attention given to celebrity and royal weddings, this book critically examines various bridal media outlets, artifacts, and the messages they convey about women today. It discusses the portrayal of women as brides in media coverage throughout history.
This book offers interpretive and contextual tools to read the AMC television series Mad Men , providing a much-needed historical explanation and exposition regarding the status of women in an era that has been painted as pre- or non-feminist. In chapters aimed at helping readers understand women's lives in the 1960s, Mad Men is used as a springboard to explore and discover alternative ways of seeing women. Offering more than a discussion of the show itself, the book offers historical insight for thinking about serious issues that «modern» working women continue to face balancing their work and personal lives, competing with other women, and controlling their own bodies and reproductive choices. Rather than critiquing the show for portraying women as victims, the book shows subtle (and sometimes not-so-subtle) ways that feminism functioned in an era when women were supposedly caught between the «waves» of the women's movement but when, the authors argue, they functioned nonetheless as empowered individuals.By doing so, it provides historical context and analysis that complicates traditional interpretations by (1) exploring historical constructions of women's work; (2) unpacking feminist and non-feminist discourses surrounding that work; (3) identifying modes of resistance; and (4) revisiting forgotten work coded as feminine.
The series is celebrated for its strong feminist themes and compelling storytelling, showcasing complex characters who navigate societal challenges. It addresses issues such as gender equality and empowerment, resonating with audiences through its relatable narratives and dynamic performances. The show has made a significant cultural impact, encouraging discussions around women's rights and representation in media. Its innovative approach and engaging plotlines have garnered critical acclaim and a dedicated fanbase.
This book uses a theory-based inquiry of the nuanced religious messages in the TV series Supernatural, which presents religious themes through horror and fantasy to show a Christianity without Christ. It uncovers how entertainment television provides a conduit for religious messages that speak to the role of contemporary American faith.
This book demonstrates that nineteenth-century electoral politics were the product of institutions that prescribed how votes were cast and were converted into political offices.
Primetime feminist strategies: the case of Parks and recreation -- Pawnee: portrait in patriarchy -- Pawnee's "new man": manly men and male feminists -- Personal politics and everyday feminism -- "Knope we can!": making politics personal -- Parks and recreation in the continuum of feminist television