Dirty Discourse: Sex and Indecency in Broadcasting [Hardcover]

Robert L. Hilliard (Author), Michael C. Keith (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: July 31, 2006 | ISBN-10: 1405157828 | ISBN-13: 978-1405157827 | Edition: 2

Changes in society, the pluralistic nature of the citizens and the geographic breadth of America preclude a common definition of what is indecent, profane, or obscene. What may appear to be 'dirty discourse' to some may be considered to be laudable satire to others. In this fascinating book, renowned media scholars and authors, Robert Hilliard and Michael Keith, examine the history and nature of indecent program content in American radio.

Examines the blue side of the airways with a first-ever analysis of the history and nature of off-color program content.

Explores the treatment of once-forbidden topics in the electronic media, investigating the beliefs, attitudes and actions of those who present such material, those who condemn it, and those who defend it.

Written from a social and cultural perspective, concentrates on the means of greatest distribution - radio, with its phenomenal growth of "shock jocks" and rap music lyrics.

Provides coverage of television and the Internet, showing how and why broadcasting has evolved from the ribald antics of the Roaring 20's to today's streaming cybersex, contrasting the standards and actions of the FCC v. the First Amendment amidst the over-the-air and in-the-court battles of over-the-top radio.

Illustrates political pressures and legal considerations, including Supreme Court decisions, and efforts to protect children from media smut.

Editorial Reviews

From the Back Cover

Changes in society, the pluralistic nature of the citizens and the geographic breadth of our nation preclude a common definition of what is indecent, profane, or obscene. What may appear to be “dirty discourse” to some may be considered to be laudable satire to others. Renowned media scholars and authors Robert Hilliard and Michael Keith examine the blue side of the airways in Dirty Discourse: Sex and Indecency in Broadcasting. This first-ever analysis of the history and nature of off-color program content explores the treatment of once-forbidden topics in the electronic media, investigating the beliefs, attitudes and actions of those who present such material, those who condemn it, and those who defend it.

Written from a social and cultural perspective, Dirty Discourse concentrates on the means of greatest distribution – radio, with its phenomenal growth of “shock jocks” and rap music lyrics, and provides coverage of television and the Internet. The book shows how and why broadcasting has evolved from the ribald antics of the Roaring 20s to today’s streaming cybersex, contrasting the standards and actions of the FCC v. the First Amendment amidst the over-the-air and in-the-court battles of over-the-top radio. It examines political pressures and legal considerations, including Supreme Court decisions, and efforts to protect children from media smut.

About the Author

Robert L. Hilliard is Professor of Visual and Media Arts at Emerson College in Boston. Dr. Hilliard was Chief of the Public Broadcasting Branch of the Federal Communications Commission and was Chair of the Federal Interagency Media Committee. He is the author of more than 30 books on communication, including several leading media textbooks.

Michael C. Keith is a Professorin the Communication Departmentat Boston College and author of numerous journal articles and over 20 books on electronic media. Dr. Keith is past Chair of Education for the Museum of Broadcast Communications. This is Hilliard and Keith’s seventh co-authored book, including the 1999 President’s Annual Booklist selection, Waves of Rancor: Tuning in the Radical Right, and The Broadcast Century: A History of American Radio and Television.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 312 pages
• Publisher: Wiley-Blackwell; 2 edition (July 31, 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1405157828
• ISBN-13: 978-1405157827
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 6.1 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #6,943,435 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Great information, poorly organized, November 30, 2009

By 

J. Gallino "(www.johngallino.com)" (NJ, USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Dirty Discourse: Sex and Indecency in Broadcasting (Hardcover)

I bought a used version of this book to use as reference for an essay. It provided a bounty of useful, relevant information, especially history, of a topic few books have delved into. However the first edition published in 2003 does not include a Table of Contents, and the authors tend to jump around chronologically which makes it a bit difficult to really understand the progression of the issue over time. The individual chapters don't really have noticeable themes that make them cohesive, and many times I felt I was reading the same thing over and over. However, aside from these organizational issues, the book is loaded with information and was a huge help in writing my essay on indecency in the media.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Must for professional, scholar, lawyer, or just curious, September 26, 2003

By A Customer

This review is from: Dirty Discourse: Sex and Indecency in Broadcasting (Hardcover)

"Dirty Discourse" is a comprehensive examination of indecency and broadcasting. The authors provide interesting examples to explore the social, cultural, and legal developments of indecency in electronic media. The books is well-written and superbly researched. "Dirty Discourse" is cutting-edge reading on contemporary issues surrounding the tensions between the FCC, the First Amendment, and the vast, yet disparate audience that broadcasters strive to serve and the government seeks to protect.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars dishing the dirt, June 19, 2003

By A Customer

This review is from: Dirty Discourse: Sex and Indecency in Broadcasting (Hardcover)

DD fairly and comprehensively examines a controversial and fascinating subject. An entertaining and informative work.