Television/Death

Television/Death explores the representation of death, dying, and the afterlife on television, focusing on historical and contemporary factual television and US television drama. It argues that television is the posthumous medium par excellence and looks at how the dead return through incorporation into new programmes or archive projects.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 304 pages
Publication date: 30 May 2025
Publisher: Edinburgh University Press

Television/Death is a comprehensive exploration of the representation of death, dying, and bereavement on television, encompassing historical and contemporary factual television from around the world and US television drama. It delves into the portrayal of death, dying, and the afterlife, examining the ways in which television provides access to the dead.

Section One focuses on the representation of death, dying, and the afterlife on television, exploring historical and contemporary factual television from various parts of the world. It highlights the diverse ways in which death is depicted, including through documentaries, news coverage, and fictional narratives. The section also examines the impact of television on the public's perception of death and dying, and how it has shaped cultural attitudes towards these topics.

Section Two delves into the dramas of grief and bereavement, exploring how television's long form seriality and narrative complexity allow for an emotionally realist representation of experiences of grief, bereavement, and death-related trauma. It examines a range of television genres, from family melodramas to the ghost serial, and highlights the ways in which these shows engage with the emotional complexities of loss and mourning.

Finally, Section Three proposes that television has been overlooked in critical analyses of recorded sounds and images' propensity to bring back the dead. It argues that television is the posthumous medium par excellence and explores how the dead return via incorporation into new television programmes or through projects to bring television out of the archive. The section highlights the ethical and philosophical implications of this phenomenon, and suggests that television has the potential to provide a unique and powerful platform for exploring the complexities of death and bereavement.

In conclusion, Television/Death is a vital and timely exploration of the representation of death, dying, and bereavement on television. It provides a comprehensive overview of the various ways in which death is depicted on television, and highlights the ethical and philosophical implications of this phenomenon. By examining the dramas of grief and bereavement, the section demonstrates how television's long form seriality and narrative complexity allow for an emotionally realist representation of experiences of loss and mourning. Finally, the section proposes that television has been overlooked in critical analyses of recorded sounds and images' propensity to bring back the dead, and suggests that television has the potential to provide a unique and powerful platform for exploring the complexities of death and bereavement.

Weight: 478g
Dimension: 233 x 156 x 20 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781474451734