Biographical Television Drama

Biographical Television Drama is the first book-length exploration of the terms in which television engages in biographical storytelling, backed by robust research in biography studies and British television history. It tackles key questions head-on, including rhetorics and style, narrative and performance, and ethics, while also shedding light on the interconnections with other biographical screen forms through a rich corpus.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 231 pages
Publication date: 28 April 2022
Publisher: Springer Nature Switzerland AG

-Dr. Hannah Andrews, Senior Lecturer in Film and Television Studies at the University of East Anglia and author of Biographical Television Drama

Biographical Television Drama is a groundbreaking work that delves into the intricate ways in which television engages in biographical storytelling. Supported by extensive research in biography studies and British television history, author Hannah Andrews skillfully uncovers the complexities behind the accessibility of biographical television drama. This book addresses critical questions such as rhetoric, style, narrative, performance, and ethics, while also shedding light on the interconnectedness of biographical screen forms through a rich corpus.

The book explores the fusion of biography and television, comparing key concepts in both fields. It examines the generic hybridity of biographical dramas, considering the influence of film biopics, docudramas, melodramas, and period dramas. The book delves into the representation of real lives in biographical television dramas, exploring visual style, performance, and self-reflexivity. It also assesses how life stories are shaped for televisual narrative formats and analyzes the adaptation process for the biographical drama.

Furthermore, the book explores the ethical considerations of televisual biography, examining the reputations of broadcast institutions, authors, and biographical subjects in relation to the representation of real lives. Biographical Television Drama is an essential critical study that validates the unique place of television dramas in the histories and practices of screen biography. It offers valuable insights into the complex dynamics between biography, television, and the audience, contributing to our understanding of the evolving nature of biographical storytelling in the digital age.

Dimension: 210 x 148 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9783030646806
Edition number: 1st ed. 2021