Publication date:

27 February 2014

Length of book:

264 pages

Publisher

Lexington Books

Dimensions:

237x161mm
6x9"

ISBN-13: 9780739183335

Remakes are pervasive in today’s popular culture, whether they take the form of reboots, “re-imaginings,” or overly familiar sequels. Television remakes have proven popular with producers and networks interested in building on the nostalgic capital of past successes (or giving a second chance to underused properties). Some TV remakes have been critical and commercial hits, and others haven’t made it past the pilot stage; all have provided valuable material ripe for academic analysis.

In Remake Television: Reboot, Re-use, Recycle, edited by Carlen Lavigne,contributors from a variety of backgrounds offer multicultural, multidisciplinary perspectives on remake themes in popular television series, from classic cult favorites such as The Avengers (1961–69) and The X-Files (1993–2002) tocurrent hits like Doctor Who (2005–present) and The Walking Dead (2010–present). Chapters examine what constitutes a remake, and what series changes might tell us about changing historical and cultural contexts—or about the medium of television itself.
This volume will appeal to media scholars, as well as to those looking for material to generate discussion in the undergraduate classroom. Remaking Television convincingly makes the case that the television remake has been under-theorized and under-appreciated.