From 1989 through 2002 there was an unprecedented surge in American sitcoms featuring explicitly Jewish lead characters, thirty-two compared to seven in the previous forty years. Several of these-- Mad About You , The Nanny , and Friends --were among the most popular and influential of all shows over this period; one program-- Seinfeld --has been singled out as the "defining" series of the nineties. In addition, scriptwriters have increasingly created "Jewish" characters, although they may not be perceived to be by the ...
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From 1989 through 2002 there was an unprecedented surge in American sitcoms featuring explicitly Jewish lead characters, thirty-two compared to seven in the previous forty years. Several of these-- Mad About You , The Nanny , and Friends --were among the most popular and influential of all shows over this period; one program-- Seinfeld --has been singled out as the "defining" series of the nineties. In addition, scriptwriters have increasingly created "Jewish" characters, although they may not be perceived to be by the show's audience, Rachel Green on Friends being only one example. In Something Ain't Kosher Here, Vincent Brook asks two key questions: Why has this trend appeared at this particular historical moment and what is the significance of this phenomenon for Jews and non-Jews alike? He takes readers through three key phases of the Jewish sitcom trend: The early years of television before and after the first Jewish sitcom, The Goldbergs', appeared ; the second phase in which America found itself "Under the Sign of Seinfeld "; and the current era of what Brook calls "Post- Jewishness." Interviews with key writers, producers, and "showrunners" such as David Kohan, ( Will and Grace ), Marta Kauffman ( Friends and Dream On ), Bill Prady ( Dharma and Greg ), Peter Mehlman and Carol Leifer ( Seinfeld ), and close readings of individual episodes and series provoke the inescapable conclusion that we have entered uncharted "post-Jewish" territory. Brook reveals that the acceptance of Jews in mainstream white America at the very time when identity politics have put a premium on celebrating difference reinforces and threatens the historically unique insider/outsider status of Jews in American society. This paradox upsets a delicate balance that has been a defining component of American Jewish identity. The rise of the Jewish sitcom represents a broader struggle in which American Jews and the TV industry, if not American society as a whole, are increasingly operating at cross-purposes-- torn between the desire to celebrate unique ethnic identities, yet to assimilate: to assert independence, yet also to build a consensus to appeal to the widest possible audience. No reader of this book will ever be able to watch these television programs in quite the same way again.
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This is an ex-library book and may have the usual library/used-book markings inside. This book has soft covers. Clean from markings. In good all round condition. Please note the Image in this listing is a stock photo and may not match the covers of the actual item, 500grams, ISBN: 9780813532110.
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PLEASE NOTE, WE DO NOT SHIP TO DENMARK. New Book. Shipped from UK in 4 to 14 days. Established seller since 2000. Please note we cannot offer an expedited shipping service from the UK.
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PLEASE NOTE, WE DO NOT SHIP TO DENMARK. New Book. Shipped from UK in 4 to 14 days. Established seller since 2000. Please note we cannot offer an expedited shipping service from the UK.
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Good-Bumped and creased book with tears to the extremities, but not affecting the text block, may have remainder mark or previous owner's name-GOOD PAPERBACK Standard-sized.
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Fine. Signed by author on the title page to previous owner with no inscription. The pages of the text are clean and unmarked. No creasing along the spine, and no bent page corners. The book is in excellent condition inside and out. All items guaranteed, and a portion of each sale supports social programs in Los Angeles. Ships from CA.
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Used book in good and clean conditions. Pages and cover are intact. Limited notes marks and highlighting may be present. May show signs of normal shelf wear and bends on edges. Item may be missing CDs or access codes. May include library marks. Fast Shipping.
