Publication date:
06 October 2017Length of book:
236 pagesPublisher
Rowman & Littlefield PublishersDimensions:
237x159mm6x9"
ISBN-13: 9781442278264
As one of the most critically acclaimed shows of all time, Breaking Bad explored the life and crimes of a high school chemistry teacher turned meth kingpin of the American Southwest. As Walter White and his former student Jesse Pinkman become deeply entwined in the drug world, their narrative leaves a trail of bodies strewn across the show’s five seasons—a story that resulted in more than 15 Emmy awards.
In Breaking Bad: A Cultural History, Lara C. Stache offers an engaging analysis of the program, focusing on the show’s fascinating characters and complex story lines. Stachegives the show its due reverence, but also suggests new ways of understanding and critiquing the series as a part of the larger culture in which it exists. The author looks at how the program challenges viewers to think about the choices made in the narrative, analyzes what did and did not work, and determines the program’s cultural significance, particularly its place in twenty-first century America.
The author also explores how Breaking Bad grapples with themes of morality, legality, and anti-drug rhetoric and looks at how the marketing of the series influenced the ways in which television shows are now promoted. Breaking Bad: A Cultural History captures the spirit of the series and examines how the show had an impact on viewers like no other program. This book will be of interest to fans of the show as well as to scholars and students of television, media, and American popular culture.
In Breaking Bad: A Cultural History, Lara C. Stache offers an engaging analysis of the program, focusing on the show’s fascinating characters and complex story lines. Stachegives the show its due reverence, but also suggests new ways of understanding and critiquing the series as a part of the larger culture in which it exists. The author looks at how the program challenges viewers to think about the choices made in the narrative, analyzes what did and did not work, and determines the program’s cultural significance, particularly its place in twenty-first century America.
The author also explores how Breaking Bad grapples with themes of morality, legality, and anti-drug rhetoric and looks at how the marketing of the series influenced the ways in which television shows are now promoted. Breaking Bad: A Cultural History captures the spirit of the series and examines how the show had an impact on viewers like no other program. This book will be of interest to fans of the show as well as to scholars and students of television, media, and American popular culture.
This entry in the 'Cultural History of Television' series is a stunning dissection of Breaking Bad, the critically acclaimed AMC TV series following Walter White's (Bryan Cranston) path from schoolteacher to drug lord. Stache's debut is both a close reading of the series and a delight for fans as she analyzes the market and fandom while also highlighting intense Internet speculation over promotional posters as one example of audience engagement. Stache delves into whether Walter is an antihero or outright villain, illustrates how binge watching on Netflix increased the viewer numbers, and takes a close look at the supporting cast in relation to the main character. Finally, the author concludes with a self-proclaimed 'opinionated compendium' of episode synopses. Never losing her witty voice, she guides readers through a well-researched discussion of what made this a landmark series. VERDICT Stache manages a scholarly take on a television show about the meth trade and turns it into a fast, fun read , making this a essential for fans of the show.