This book explores television's current fascination with the Edwardian era. By exploring popular period dramas such as Downton Abbey , it examines how the early twentieth century is represented on our screens, and what these shows tell us about class, gender and politics, both past and present.

This book explores television's current fascination with the Edwardian era. By exploring popular period dramas such as Downton Abbey , it examines how the early twentieth century is represented on our screens, and what these shows tell us about class, gender and politics, both past and present.

"This collection explores the current wave of US/UK television dramas, focusing on industry strategies, performance styles, issues of 'quality,' and audience receptions. It covers key programs including Black Mirror, Downton Abbey, Game of Thrones and Sherlock. Issues of national identity, streaming services, and transnational fan cultures are all explored"

Electric Edwardians presents a stunning visual record of the films of Sagar Mitchell and James Kenyon, combined with an illuminating discussion of the films and the social context of their production by Vanessa Toulmin, a leading authority on the collection. Advertised as 'local films for local people', the films of Mitchell and Kenyon were commissioned by travelling exhibitors in the early twentieth century for screening in town halls, village fetes and local fairs. Audiences paid to see their neighbours, families and themselves on the screen, glimpsed at work and at play. This attractive volume includes over 200 illustrations drawn from the Mitchell and Kenyon collection, as well as contemporary posters and handbills from the National Fairground Archive. Vanessa Toulmin's lucid accompanying text provides an introduction to the work of the M&K company, the showmen who commissioned their films, and their place in early British cinema. Focusing on major themes, such as Leisure and Recreation, Sport, Industry, the Boer War and the City, Toulmin explores how the M&K collection deepens our understanding of these key aspects of Edwardian life.

Rape in Period Drama Television considers the representation of rape and rape myths as well as the audience response to it in a range of the most influential television period dramas of recent years.

This fascinating text offers the first in-depth exploration of acting processes in British television. Focused around 16 new interviews with celebrated British actors, including Rebecca Front, Julie Hesmondhalgh, Ken Stott, Penelope Wilton and John Hannah, this rich resource delves behind the scenes of a range of British television programmes in order to find out how actors build their characters for television, how they work on set and location, and how they create their critically acclaimed portrayals. The book looks at actors' work across four diverse but popular genres: soap opera; police and medical drama; comedy; and period drama. Its insightful discussion of hit programmes and its critical and contextual post-interview analysis, makes the text an essential read for students across television and film studies, theatre, performance and acting, and cultural and media studies, as well as academics and anyone interested in acting and British television.