Mythologies of violence in postmodern media /

These 18 critical essays discuss the extent that violence is a motif in an array of mass media, including television news and entertainment, commercial fiction, and film. Sharrett (Seton Hall Univ.) looks at how films and television programs about extraterrestrial aliens reflect cultural norms and deep-seated fears, and he provides a section on the depiction of gender violence. Although the contributors are from North American universities, the approach is international; essayists take examples from Europe, New Zealand, and Hong Kong as well as the US and Canada. The examples outside North America contribute an appreciation of the extent to which media violence is interculturally ubiquitous and culturally embedded. Some essays discuss recent media programs and events, for example, the 1990s television series The X-Files. The role of newspapers and news magazines in depicting social violence receives little attention. Sharrett contributes both a succinct introduction and an afterword that explains the role of critical cultural studies in media studies. The essays are carefully annotated, and the editor includes a selected bibliography. Recommended for undergraduate and graduate collections in media studies, communication, and film studies. R. A. Logan; University of Missouri--Columbia