Television Series Research Articles

The Mockingbird and the Lion: Catalysts for Chaos in Game of Thrones

The television series Game of Thrones (2011‒2019) was a cultural phenomenon that aroused great interest among audiences worldwide. HBO’s adaptation of George R. R. Martin’s A Song of Ice and Fire novel series can be deemed as a milestone for the fantasy genre, which has traditionally never been regarded as mainstream. Nevertheless, this level of success was only possible thanks to the brilliance in terms of storytelling with which palace intrigues were handled, most of them being orchestrated by the polarising characters of Petyr Baelish and Tywin Lannister: all of their spine-chilling schemes plunge Westeros into utter chaos, thus enabling plot development indirectly. Therefore, the aim of this article is to carry out a thorough comparative analysis of the aforementioned characters considering the notion of hegemonic masculinity, the understanding of subalternity by Gramsci, and the medieval social implications of hostageship in order to examine how the mayhem they cause inevitably triggers plot progression, thus subverting Propp’s original conception of the helper while overlapping with the character type of the villain.

Narrative of Malaysian modernity: COVID-19, Malay women portrayals and popular television serials

Academic studies often explore the dynamics between Malay women and popular culture within the context of Malaysian modernity. Researchers commonly investigate resistance to the government’s moral initiatives for women in society. This article examines how popular culture, specifically serial television drama, depicts the portrayal of Malay women during the COVID-19 pandemic, with a focus on the concepts of obedience, disobedience, and control. The government’s “Duduk Rumah” [Stay at home] and “Kita Jaga Kita” [We take care of ourselves] campaigns, initiated by then Prime Minister Muhyidin Yassin to combat the COVID-19 epidemic, placed additional burdens on women, assigning them significant domestic responsibilities as household managers, including the well-being and education of their children, as well as maintaining family cohesion. We argue that these targeted government policies exacerbated the concerns and uncertainties experienced by Malay women during lockdowns. Furthermore, we contend that the government demonstrated less sensitivity, care, or coordination in managing the COVID-19 pandemic, leading to an increase in domestic violence, divorce, depression, and emotional stress among Malay women. These challenges were prominently depicted in Malay television serials, serving as a vital platform for contemplating the impact of the government’s moral initiatives on Malay women. Our research offers insights into the enduring progress, or lack thereof, in the status of women both within and beyond the domestic sphere, as part of Malaysia’s pursuit of modernity.

The reflection of the struggle against male violence on digital platform TV series: Hükümsüz and Mezarlık

On digital platforms, patriarchal ideology-challenging works are more widely available. The television series Hükümsüz, which debuted on the Exxen platform in 2021, and Mezarlık, which debuted on Netflix in 2022, have established themselves as pioneering projects that raise awareness of the rise in femicides in Turkey in recent years. The Mezarlık dramas, which also reveal the role of the police and the state in the murder of women, and the Hükümsüz series, which emphasizes that femicides are caused by gender inequality and calls into question the patriarchal order, are both examined from a feminist standpoint in this study as works that challenge male dominance. The representations in the dramas are coded in terms of gender roles, perpetrator responsibility and the victimisation of women in the representation of male violence, the politics of femicide and the responsibility of the state, and practices of combating male violence. Using content analysis, one of the qualitative research techniques, it was possible to determine that the series were composed in a way that was intended to undermine the patriarchy, which is a continuation of the prevailing ideology.

Incorporating Islamic Values Through Arabic Redubbing of the Animated Television Series "Detective Conan"

Among the animated series that became very popular and witnessed tremendous success in the Arab world is the Japanese Detective Conan, which was first dubbed in 1998 and redubbed in 2013 to convey Islamic values. However, the re-dub did not attract wide viewership and remained infamous among the Arabic anime community. This study is an attempt to investigate the differences between the two versions with a particular emphasis on technical issues and moral and value systems and explore how viewers received the Islamic re-dub. The researchers analyzed the responses of 178 viewers to a structured open-ended questionnaire. The participants demonstrated that in the first dubbed version, the image resolution, voice clarity, and synchronization were of better quality. The content analysis showed that in the re-dub, some scenes were omitted, names were replaced with Arabic ones, and references to prohibited activities were changed to fit better into the Islamic culture. The study stresses the importance of taking viewer preferences and difficulties into account when adapting media content. The current study can be used in future adaptation attempts in related environments.

"I Just Have to Do What I Can": "Mobile Suit Gundam 0079" and the Burdens of War

The implications of the Asia-Pacific War persisted throughout the 20th century. Since 1945, Japan found itself in an endless conflict between various approaches at remembering the war and had to deal with the ways that these memories pervade public life. The 1970s saw a resurgence of pro-nationalist media, specifically in animation. As an entertainment medium, animation has proven itself to be a popular and receptive outlet for both creative and political expression. In 1979, Tomino Yoshiyuki's Mobile Suit Gundam 0079 first aired in Japan, which launched the Mobile Suit Gundam series. Gundam's historiography consists of analyses of the cinematic remakes of Mobile Suit Gundam 0079, close examinations of later entries, and a thematic approach of the entire series. This paper builds upon the argument that Gundam is a critique of war, and that Tomino specifically criticizes Imperial Japan's policies in the Asia-Pacific War, unlike industry contemporaries. By analyzing selections from the original Mobile Suit Gundam 0079 television series, focusing on major and minor side characters, and connecting this analysis with the experiences of Japanese soldiers during the war, Tomino makes his views apparent to the audience. A conversation between Gundam 0079's protagonist's father and a soldier that would later become an important part of the show and an examination of the main cast of teenage characters as they begin their journey, reveal Tomino's opinions towards the use of child soldiers, a "filler" episode of a rogue soldier protecting a group of defenseless children he previously traumatized illustrates the power of war guilt, and a brief profiling of a major character in the show touches upon the agony of involuntarily participating in war.

Through the Postcolonial Lens: The Point of View in the Television Series Adaptation of E. M. Forster’s Howards End

Through the Postcolonial Lens: The Point of View in the Television Series Adaptation of E. M. Forster’s Howards End

What affects perceived quality? An examination of television fiction series

With the number of television series increasing almost daily and resources becoming increasingly sparse, it is more important than ever for companies to determine which series will have market success or not. This paper attempts to identify the characteristics of television fiction series that cause consumers to perceive them as being of high quality. In a nation-wide survey, we surveyed 874 television viewers about ten series from four genres to investigate which characteristics of television series predict consumers’ perception of their quality. Although in most cases the coherence of the plot and the dialogues have a strong and positive effect on perceived quality, overall, we find that different genres have different predictors of perceived quality. We discuss the implications of our findings and provide recommendations for future research and practice.

The censorship interference in television serials and series during martial law in Poland (1981-1983) – historical and legal context

Throughout the period of the People’s Republic of Poland, political and systemic solutions were undemocratic. There was the Main Office of Control of Press, Publications and Shows (GUKPPiW)., whose name was changed in July 1981 to the Main Office of Control of Publications and Shows (GUKPiW). On 13 December 1981, the communists (under the leadership of General Wojciech Jaruzelski) introduced martial law, which was abolished on 22 July 1983. The state authorities tried to stop the development of Independent Self-Governing Trade Union “Solidarity”. Society, including the makers of television serial and series, has been subjected to even tighter control. Preventive censorship had a negative impact on the development of cultural and artistic life. The aim of this article is to show the mechanisms of operation of Polish censorship (also in the historical and legal context), which had an impact on the broadcast of programs on Polish Television during martial law (1981-1983).

Feud: Bette and Joan. The representation of ageing in TV series between crisis and wardrobes

The article’s goal is to analyse the ageing-related crisis in the TV series Feud (FX 2017) through the story of two entertainment icons, Bette Davis and Joan Crawford. On-screen, advancing age is narrated as a critical moment for Hollywood of the period. In those years, women after the age of 40 no longer appeared attractive in the movies. The narrative complexity therefore recalls the set of issues related to sexism and misogyny present in the film industry of the time. That is, age challenged the very aura of celebrity, accentuating a rivalry towards the antagonistic actress as towards a younger self. In the television series, Bette Davis and Joan Crawford are played in turn by two other major film personalities: Susan Sarandon and Jessica Lange. On-screen, the two leading ladies express their personalities already by the clothes they wear and the colours they favour, which refer to specific meanings and values. The presence of these two great actresses also defines a further level of interpretation of the text, linked to contemporaneity. The advancing of age, so well highlighted in Feud as a source of crisis, capable of creating a path of lonely struggles in the narrative, becomes off-screen in the current landscape, an opportunity for confrontation and complicity among many actresses and women.

Değişen Dijital Medya Çağında Değiş(e)meyen Toplumsal Cinsiyet Rolleri: Femme Fatale Bağlamında Bir Netflix Dizisi Olan Lucifer’e Dair Bir İnceleme

Cinema and television series have been functioning as a sort of mirror of almost all societies since their first invention on the ground that they cover various topics concerning human beings. Cinematic thoughts, experiences, and digital and visual images in Television series accompany nearly all transformations which have taken place in any community. However, some issues such as gender roles or stereotypes related to women have not changed positively even though mass media and digital tools in media have been altering considerably and radically. In the digital media era, it is still crystal clear that women have been portrayed as inferior compared to man depiction. In this context, the main aim of this study is to accentuate this issue and emphasize the gender gap and changeless woman roles in changing the digital media age. In line with this purpose, the well-known Netflix series Lucifer has been studied in terms of the notorious character femme fatale with the help of descriptive analysis and it has been seen that woman figures have been depicted as derogatory and diabolic in Lucifer. Thence, it is possible to allege that shifting digital movie and broadcasting trends do not have a noteworthy effect on the representation of women in the cinematic universe.

Person of Interest as Media Technology of Surveillance: A Cautionary Tale for the Future of the National Security State With Diegetic Big Data Surveillance, Algorithmic Security, and Artificial Intelligence

In this article, we examine the television series about global surveillance Person of Interest ( POI) (aired on CBS, 2011–2016) to reflect on popular understandings of surveillance and account for its representation of artificial intelligence (AI) and algorithmic surveillance. Drawing on television, media, and surveillance studies, we focus on the power of representations of social relations and diegetic technologies in possible and imagined futures to explore the role of cultural representations in shaping social order. Through the character of the AI Machine representing algorithmic surveillance, we evaluate the show’s critique of algorithmic autonomy and contend that, as a media technology of surveillance, the show participates in the hype of big data as a panacea while banalizing surveillance. We argue that POI could facilitate a comprehensive analysis of the politics of algorithmic surveillance but fails to do so due to its uncritical representation of artificial intelligence agencies in detecting security risks.

The Educational Role of Cinema in Physical Sciences

Cinema, apart from its entertaining prospect, can flourish knowledge in various fields of daily life and, in particular, in the understanding of the natural world. It could be even embedded in the educational system, at all levels, so as to convey concepts that may be difficult for students in an enjoyable and understandable way. In this mini-review, the educational dimension of the cinema and the related television series is discussed, through the presentation of concepts and phenomena relevant to the natural sciences that have been approached with characteristic scenes of popular cinema movies of our times. We present case studies from physics and astronomy, mathematics, materials science, and engineering that can be easily embedded in the educational curriculum. Notwithstanding the fact that watching movies cannot replace the traditional educational method, it can pose as an alternative, complementary tool for educators.

Grievable Lives during the COVID-19 Pandemic: US-American Television, Melodrama and the Work of Mourning

The present article applies Judith Butler’s notion of “grievable life” to reflect on the manner in which selected US-American television series engaged in the work of mourning and memorializing the loss of life in the first two years of the COVID-19 pandemic, with the aim of noting which lives were deemed “lose-able or injurable” (Butler, Frames 1), and how precarity of life was reflected by fictional narratives that were conceived and produced during the first waves of the pandemic. The article focuses in particular on the way in which network scripted programming operating within the melodramatic convention, namely This Is Us, Grey’s Anatomy and Station 19, incorporated pandemic storylines and which aspects of pandemic reality were highlighted or, conversely, avoided scrutiny.

Civic education and the pedagogy of sports films

PurposeThis study explores the value of sports films for engaging youth in issues related to patriotism, justice, equity and liberty. The authors analyze how two sports films, 42 and Battle of the Sexes, have pedagogical potential and value in secondary social studies methods classes, as well as what criteria educators might use when selecting films (and television series) for classroom use.Design/methodology/approachUsing content analysis, the authors respond to the following questions: (1) What critical themes related to civic education surface in the sports films 42 and Battle of the Sexes? and (2) What framework might guide the use of selecting sports films and sports film clips for educators' civic educational use?FindingsFive themes surfaced in the films 42 and Battle of the Sexes: economics as a force for social change; racism and anti-Blackness, athletes as more than athletes, resisting oppression, and sexism and homophobia. Instruction related to these themes has the potential to engage students in critical, awareness-based approaches to civic education.Originality/valueSports films show promise for engaging youth due to their interests in the medium of film and in sports, both as participants and spectators. Across the world, athletes face questions and issues related to patriotism, justice, equity and liberty on courts, fields, tracks and rinks, These questions and issues are deeply embedded in civic education. This study is among the first of its kind to explore the pedagogical potential of sports films.

Jackass, Ritual Clowning, and the Comic Themes of Universal Occurrence

ABSTRACT The appeal of the Jackass television series and film franchise, centered around stunts wherein the performers deliberately hurt and humiliate themselves, has been considered a unique and peculiar mystery by cultural critics, one that can only be solved by looking at its particular historical and sociocultural context. In contrast, this article argues that Jackass constitutes a resurgence of a widespread form of comedy whose roots stretch far back into human history: ritual clowning. Comparing the stunts and gags of Jackass with those of ritual clowns in traditional societies around the world, both are shown to be characterized by four universal comic themes: pain, sex, the foreign, and the sacred. In contrast to previous critical readings that have attributed each of these themes in Jackass to its particular historical and sociocultural context, this article argues that they are all ultimately grounded in our evolved psychology as universal pressure points that humor can tap into.

Finally moving on up: Messages of hope in television programs featuring Black fathers

ABSTRACT Television is a valuable sociocultural resource that allows stereotypes to be exposed and challenged including those of Black fathers. Critics note that most African American media images are Eurocentric portrayals. However, with an increasing number of Black actors, writers, and producers, television depictions of Black fathers continue to change. Early television emphasized the stereotypes of Black fathers. While historically fathers’ roles were determined by their ability to provide for their families, media framed Black fathers as missing, detached and/or irresponsible. After Obama’s election and his campaign elevating hope, several new Black fathers appeared on television. This research on Black fatherhood fills an important gap in the literature: messages of hope expressed by Black fathers in television shows. To analyze messages of hope, we present an overview of the literature on media framing and its relevance to the depictions of Black males focusing on Black TV dads. Second, we extend the previous research by examining messages of hope expressed by Black fathers in television series from the 1970s to the present. Findings highlight messages of hope expressed through teaching life lessons, striving to create a better future, protecting their children from life’s disappointments and dangers, and leaving a legacy. Practice and research implications are provided.

Manipulation of the Viewer's Consciousness Through a Movie Series as a Vivid Attribute of Mass Culture

Relevance. This article examines the multifaceted influence of a cinematic work on the real life of the viewer. It is impossible to imagine your leisure time without watching any movie or TV series today. Our research focuses on the fact that the whole cinema is not only entertainment, it has a serious impact on the human psyche. At the time of such leisure, a person acquires certain value orientations, social attitudes and interests are formed, life plans and behaviors are constructed. The purpose is to assess the degree of influence of film serials on mass consciousness in modern society. Objectives: to analyze a modern multi-part cinematic work from the point of view of the formation of moral values among the younger generation; to characterize the phenomenon of a film series as a multi-part cinematic work; to characterize the phenomenon of the film series as an element of mass culture; to assess the influence of mass culture on the viewer's consciousness; to consider the phenomenon of a television series as a means of psychological influence on the recipient, and to determine the psychological mechanisms used by the communicator. Methodology. In the process of working on the study, mainly structural-diachronic, historical-biographical, hermeneutic methods, and the method of system analysis were used. Results. The results they can be used in the course of the educational process when considering issues in various courses on anthropology, philosophy of history, philosophy of culture, etc. Conclusions. In the course of the study , the following conclusions were made: watching multi-part cinematic works gives young people an idea of certain types of human behavior in society; a multi-part cinematic work or a multi-part film, we can say that this type of spectacle became the basis for the creation of a film series, its predecessor, which is why now the series is defined through the concept of a TV movie; a television series is one of the means of psychological influence through the techniques of compensatrony, identity, adaptation and counter-adaptation.

The Introduction and Analysis of Microsoft's Staff Training Practices

Microsoft's employee training practices have contributed significantly to its growth and are worthy of study by companies around the world. Before conducting employee training, Microsoft first investigates the specifics of the company and the actual problems that employees need to solve in their jobs. Microsoft uses the 70-20-10 principle and a new employee training program consisting of a television series and games. The paper also analyses the problem of knowledge concealment in the employee training process, particularly in the context of Microsoft's mentorship system. Microsoft's employee training system is in line with relevant theories and models, and these practices have contributed greatly to Microsoft's growth. However, with the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, the increasing number of business activities requires fast and effective training methods. Microsoft needs to consider a training program with a short payback period and use digital technology to mimic real-life data in real-time. This article presents a selection of Microsoft's past employee training practices, analyses them by using relevant theory and makes recommendations for current and potential future issues.

LEADERSHIP LESSONS FROM FORMULA 1 MOTOR RACING

AbstractThe author has advised and taught business leaders worldwide for the past 25 years, and was previously Director at the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development. His article examines the business, organizational, and leadership aspects of the highly popular Formula 1 (F1) motor racing. He provides a quick primer on how F1 operates, noting that “Formula 1 racing is a competitive, global industry at the pinnacle of motor sport in terms of technology and innovation.” He notes his own background within F1, including co‐authoring a book that inspired a BBC 8‐part television series, Formula for Success. He outlines the PATL (Performance at the Limit) Framework, in both the article text and a table. It describes the role of individuals, teams, organizations, and partners. He writes: “Surrounding these elements are three dynamic processes influencing performance: Innovating, Transforming, and Integrating.” Another table presents the F1 Performance Pyramid, with leadership and teamwork around Focus, Continual Learning, and Creating a Winning Culture. The final table presents the Plan‐Do‐Review Model. F1 teams “have formal reviews after each of the on‐track sessions. All key decision‐makers and decision‐influencers attend in person or virtually. A template is used to keep the discussion on point and time efficient.”

Medical Mysteries & Freaky Fables: A Critique of Intersex Representation on Television

The video essay Medical Mysteries & Freaky Fables critiques screen-based representations of intersex people; individuals who have reproductive organs at variance with the genetic and/or hormonal sex, who comprise almost 2% of the human population. The essay takes scenes from television series Friends, House MD, Masters of Sex, American Horror Story (Freak Show) and Freaks and Geeks and proposes a challenge to filmmakers and writers to transcend representations of people with intersex variations beyond mere voyeurism or abjection.