Reason and emotion in television talk shows: Ethical dilemmas in the public sphere
Event details
When
from 05:30 PM to 06:30 PM
Where
Contact Name
Contact Phone
Professor Peter Lunt
Department of Media and Communication
Lecture Summary
Talk shows were once an innovation in popular television that blurred the boundaries of factual broadcasting and entertainment, gave a voice to people had previously have been considered unqualified to speak and enabled a public dialogue to develop on issues of social and personal concern. In the 1980s, such shows represented a new populism and challenged the traditions of public service broadcasting so that instead of educating, informing and entertaining broadcast media became a forum for public debate and argument. However, popular cultural genres rarely stand still and talk shows have been transformed into programmes that focus on sensation, conflict and emotional secrets. Yet, I will argue, that, surprisingly, shows such as the Jerry Springer Show and Jeremy Kyle represent a serious attempt to tackle significant ethical and social issues.
