Masterpiece Theatre and the Politics of Quality [Hardcover]

Laurence A. Jarvik (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0810832046 | ISBN-13: 978-0810832046 | Publication Date: December 23, 1998

Masterpiece Theatre, the popular British-made series that enjoyed a long and successful run on public television, is regarded by many as the standard against which all "quality" programs should be measured. In this study, Laurence Jarvik provides insight into the many forces that shaped the series: its sponsor (Mobil Oil Company), its American broadcast affiliate (television station WGBH in Boston), the Public Broadcasting Service (PBS), its host (Alistair Cooke), and the Nixon Administration.

Jarvik sheds light on the many political and social issues involved in public television and in broadcast media in general. How much influence do American government and business have over the media in this and other countries? How does this affect the content and quality of the programs that we see?

Meticulously researched and brimming with references to related resources on the politics of media, Masterpiece Theatre and the Politics of Quality is an essential work for teachers and students of English literature, political science, and film and television studies, as well as for fans of Masterpiece Theatre and PBS.

Editorial Reviews

Review

Offers detailed information on relations between the show's sponsor (Mobil Oil Company), the American broadcast affiliate, the Public Broadcasting Service, its host, and the Nixon administration, and sheds light on political and social issues involved in public television and broadcast media in general. (Reference And Research Book News )

A fascinating narrative and analysis of Masterpiece Theater's birth, Jarvik's book exposes the commercial and political motives of all the interested players and makes it no longer possible to think of the series only as a pleasant weekly visit to Edwardian England. (George Griffith )

About the Author

Laurence A. Jarvik teaches managerial classes in the MBA program at Johns Hopkins University. He is the author of PBS: Behind the Screen and editor of Public Broadcasting and the Public Trust.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 256 pages
• Publisher: Scarecrow Press (December 23, 1998)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0810832046
• ISBN-13: 978-0810832046
• Product Dimensions: 9.4 x 6.4 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 15.5 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #6,311,360 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Discover books, learn about writers, read author blogs, and more.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars The politics behind Masterpeice Theater, February 8, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Masterpiece Theatre and the Politics of Quality (Hardcover)

"A fascinating narrative and analysis of Masterpiece Theatre's birth. Jarvik's book exposes the commercial and political motives of all the interested players and makes it no longer possible to think of the series only as a pleasant weekly visit to Edwardian England."

--George Griffith, Chadron State College

2 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Could have been a lot better., March 20, 2000

By 

Nancy Beiman "Northernexpress" (Ontario, Canada) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Masterpiece Theatre and the Politics of Quality (Hardcover)

Mr. Jarvik admits in his forward that many prominent players in what could have been a fascinating story have died, that the CPB would not cooperate with him, and so he had no information about certain events that occurred at PBS, the BBC and other British companies, and WGBH Boston (which I was most eager to find out about.)

He therefore crams this book with filler such as a lengthy biography of Alistair Cooke.

I was extremely disappointed to see that this book did not live up to my expectations. It told me little that I did not already know, and that can be gotten from far more accessible sources. It is not badly written; it is interesting in places. But it is not a terribly informative book.