Ghosts and Television

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingChapter (peer-reviewed)peer-review

2 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

This chapter explores the ghost story on television, and particularly the tensions between the medium and the genre. Television has long been seen as a nearly-supernatural medium, an association that the very term 'medium' enhances. In particular, the very intimacy of television, and its domestic presence, have led to it being considered to be a suitable and effective venue for the ghost story, while at the same time concerns have risen over it being too effective at conveying horror into the home. The ghost story is thus one of the genres where the tensions between the medium's aesthetic possibilities and desire for censorship can be most clearly seen. As such, there is a recurring use of the ghost story in relation to different techniques of special effects and narrative on television, some more effective than others, and the presence of the ghost story on television waxes and wanes as different styles become more or less popular, and different narrative forms, such as single play or serial or series, become more or less dominant. Drawing on examples primarily from a British and US context, this chapter outlines the history of the ghost story on television and demonstrates how the tensions in presentation, narrative and considerations of the viewer have influenced the many changes that have taken place within the genre.
Original languageEnglish
Title of host publicationThe Routledge Handbook to the Ghost Story
EditorsScott Brewster, Luke Thurston
PublisherRoutledge
Chapter39
Pages378-387
Number of pages9
ISBN (Print)9781138184763
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 16 Oct 2017

Keywords

  • Television
  • Ghosts
  • Horror
  • Cultural history
  • Television History

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Arts and Humanities (miscellaneous)
  • Cultural Studies

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