HBO's Treme and the Stories of the Storm

From New Orleans as Disaster Myth to Groundbreaking Television

By (author) Robin Andersen Professor of Communicatio

Publication date:

20 November 2017

Length of book:

222 pages

Publisher

Lexington Books

Dimensions:

239x158mm
6x9"

ISBN-13: 9781498519892

This book analyses the HBO program Treme from multiple perspectives and argues that the series’ depictions of music, culture, cuisine, and identity are innovative and represent unique televisual storytelling strategies. The location, themes, and characters create a compelling story arc, and highlight the city's culture and cuisine, jazz musicians and musical performances, and Mardi Gras Indians. The program challenges initial reporting of Hurricane Katrina and in doing so rewrites the disaster myth coverage through which the city has been framed. Recommended for scholars of communication, media studies, music studies, and cultural studies.
Andersen’s book has many strengths, particularly its wide scope and its thoughtful response to Treme’s critics. . . Andersen’s chapters all serve to strengthen the book’s thesis about Treme’s accomplishments. . . . Andersen helps to build the television program’s goodwill through evenhandedly analyzing the program itself and its context and adding to the critics’ discourse. Through this work, Andersen supplements how a person may watch and enjoy Treme.