In this paradigm-shifting book, the author of The Passion of David Lynch draws on insights into the filmmaker's creative sources that he has never revealed before to forge a startlingly original template for analyzing Lynch's recent films.
In 1990, American television experienced a seismic shift when Twin Peaks premiered, eschewing formulaic plots and clear lines between heroes and villains. This game-changing series inspired a generation of show creators to experiment artistically, transforming the small screen in ways that endure to this day. Focusing on six shows (Twin Peaks, with a critical analysis of both the original series and the 2017 return; The Wire; Treme; The Sopranos; Mad Men; and Girls), Television Rewired explores what made these programs so extraordinary. As their writers and producers fought against canned plots and moral simplicity, they participated in the evolution of the exhilarating new auteur television while underscoring the fact that art and entertainment don't have to be mutually exclusive. Nochimson also makes provocative distinctions between true auteur television and shows that were inspired by the freedom of the auteur series but nonetheless remained entrenched within the parameters of formula. Providing opportunities for vigorous discussion, Television Rewired will stimulate debates about which of the new television series since 1990 constitute “art” and which are tweaked “business-driven storytelling.”
Presents an analysis of David Lynch's films. This book shows how he subverts traditional Hollywood gender roles to offer an optimistic view that love and human connection are really possible. It includes analysis of such films as Twin Peaks: Fire Walk with Me, Wild at Heart, Twin Peaks, Blue Velvet, Dune, and The Elephant Man.
Dying to Belong explores the gangster movie genre, challenging its perception as inferior entertainment. Martha Nochimson analyzes films from Little Caesar to The Sopranos, revealing themes of dislocation and social mobility. The book offers a fresh perspective on gangsters as immigrant outsiders, drawing unsettling parallels with mainstream society.