The West Wing: The American Presidency as Television Drama (Television Series) [Paperback]

Peter C. Rollins (Editor), John E. O'Connor (Editor)

Book Description

Series: Television Series | Publication Date: April 2003

Informed by historical scholarship and media analysis, this book takes a critical look at this award-winning show from a wide range of perspectives.

Eminent scholars Peter C. Rollins and John O'Connor make an important contribution to the field with an eclectic mix of essays, which translate visual language into on-screen politics. While the series may be criticized as "idealistic," its clever techniques of camera work, lighting, editing, and mise en scene reflect America's best image of itself, and entertains a loyal audience that desperately wants to believe in the nobility of the American dream. This collection introduces readers to the sensibilities to appreciate the show's nuances and the necessary knowledge to avoid any misreadings. It will be of interest to students of politics, popular culture, fans and critics alike.

--This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

Product Details

• Paperback: 272 pages
• Publisher: Syracuse University Press; 1 edition (April 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 081563031X
• ISBN-13: 978-0815630319
• Product Dimensions: 9.2 x 5.6 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 14.9 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #853,195 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Born in Brookline, MA and educated at Dartmouth (2yrs), Harvard (2yrs); after a 3-year tour as an infantry officer in the US Marines, back to Harvard for a Ph.D. in the History of American Civilization.

Taught at Oklahoma State University for 37 yrs, attaining the rank of Regents Professor. Toward end of teaching career, courses focused on motion pictures and their impact on society.

Publications can be summarized as "film and history studies," most of which were published by the UP of Kentucky, although the epic was The Columbia Companion to American History in Film.

Hollywood as Historian, Hollywood's West, Hollywood's White House, etc. Full details on publications are at petercrollins.com where there are click points for full details and purchase.

Editor of Film & History for 12 years. Most indebted to John E. O'Connor, my mentor in this effort and co-editor in so many of the book projects.

Filmmaking was an option and I made documentaries about Will Rogers, the Vietnam war, World War II. (See America Reflected for details on these projects.) I was a strong advocate of "the historian as filmmaker" movement in this country, an effort which was overtaken by journalistic efforts on the History Channel and PBS.

America Reflected is my most recent effort and contains materials on Will Rogers, Benjamin Whorf, war on film, and canonical figures such as Harriet Beecher Stowe, John James Audubon, Frederick Henry Hedge, Amy Lowell, and others. America Reflected is my capstone book, an attempt to put the best of my writings on the library shelves.

My life has been a wonderful gift.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

54 of 75 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Camelot the way it should have been, December 17, 2003

By 

Henry - See all my reviews

This review is from: The West Wing: The American Presidency as Television Drama (Television Series) (Paperback)

The West Wing is an idealized look at how the American presidency should have been; idealized but not flawless. Jed Bartlet has plenty of things to drive anyone close to him around the bend. This book looks at the Emmy award-winning series from a number of perspectives. Anyone interested in American history or the presidency will find this an essential look at a peculiarly American institution. Great Job.

0 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The book really captured the essence of the brilliance of Aaron Sorkin, September 30, 2009

By 

Christopher Korman "trishie10" (Santee, ca) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: The West Wing: The American Presidency as Television Drama (Television Series) (Paperback)

I was wondering did the authors ever think of doing a complete breakdown of every episode from 1to7 with guest Star credits and behind the scenes stories and breakdown of plotlines.I would love to read how the actors dealt with John Spencers Death and Leo respectively.I would love to see pictures from behind the scenes like a day of shooting and a tour of the set pictorially speaking.

6 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars The West Wing, January 25, 2008

By 

Donald Rex Gibbs (Australia) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: The West Wing: The American Presidency as Television Drama (Television Series) (Paperback)

speaks about how popluar culture influences the real thing and vice versa. A must for all political junkies