Seinfeld

A Cultural History

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by Paul Arras

Type: Studies
Subject: One Film > Seinfeld (TV Series)
Keywords: TV Series, humor, Jerry Seinfeld
Publishing date: 2020
Publisher: Rowman & Littlefield
Collection: The Cultural History of Television
Language: English

Relative size

Physical desc.

Hardcover • 256 pages
6 ¼ x 9 inches (16 x 23 cm)

ISBN

978-1-5381-2687-5

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Book Presentation:
Since coming to an end at the pinnacle of its popularity, Seinfeld’s story continues. The show’s enduring appeal has helped earn its creators billions of dollars and counting. Many of the most popular and acclaimed comedy series of the twenty-first century are direct descendants of Seinfeld’s style, and the show’s ideas are now woven into the ways people think and behave. The greatest sitcom of the final years of the broadcast era, Seinfeld broke the rules, changed both television and America forever, and remains a living part of American culture.

Seinfeld: A Cultural History explores the show’s history with an engaging look at the show’s legendary co-creators, its supporters (and skeptics) at NBC, and its award-winning cast. By all the traditional rules of television, Seinfeld never should have made it to the air. Paul Arras pays close attention to the writers and writing of the show, offering a fresh look at the episodes themselves and assessing its broader cultural impact. Throughout he also dissects the show’s main quartet and the other memorable characters that foursome interacted with over the show’s eight seasons. With deep perception and good humor, this book considers what the adventures of Jerry, George, Kramer, and Elaine reveal about the nineties and what messages they pass along to twenty-first century viewers.

Seinfeld: A Cultural History will lead any fan of the show back to the series to re-watch old episodes with new insights and observations. Readable and illuminating, the book’s well-researched discussion of the show’s background and legacy is an essential guide for Seinfeld viewers and scholars alike. Most of all, Seinfeld: A Cultural History is an enjoyable way to engage, or reengage, with one of the funniest shows of all time!

About the Author:
Paul Arras, PhD, teaches in the Communication and Media Studies department at SUNY Cortland. He is the author of The Lonely Nineties: Visions of Community in Contemporary US Television (2018).

Press Reviews:
Seinfeld’s (1989–98) history is well documented. . . . [Arras] takes a fresh approach, demonstrating how Seinfeld reflects the culture of its time and analyzing how well it holds up today. Jerry, George, Elaine, and Kramer each say something about facets of 1990s American experience: delayed adulthood, yuppiedom, and relationship and career dissatisfaction. The author also points out the American experiences the show missed in its focus on (mostly male) white urban heterosexuals. Although he thoughtfully critiques the show, Arras demonstrates his enthusiasm for the subject, and his personal ranking of all 168 episodes is a fan’s labor of love. Lively writing, extensive research, and thoughtful analysis combine to make Arras’s book a must for those interested in taking a deeper dive into a show about nothing. ― Library Journal

See the publisher website: Rowman & Littlefield

See Seinfeld (TV Series) (1989–1998) on IMDB ...

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