{"product_id":"why-docudrama-alan-rosenthal-9780809321872","title":"Why Docudrama?: Fact-Fiction on Film and TV","description":"\u003cp\u003eWhen the 1990 English docudrama Who Bombed Birmingham? cast serious doubt on the guilt of six men convicted of bombing two British pubs in 1974, Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher declared that a \"television program alters nothing.\" But, as Alan Rosenthal concludes, Thatcher was wrong. The film engendered a new inquiry that led to the release of the convicted men. \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eRosenthal notes that docudrama wields more influence than the average documentary and that \"reality-based stories taken from topical journalism are the most popular drama genre on U.S. and British television today.\" This three-part collection of diverse and provocative essays addresses the dominant questions and controversies the genre poses. \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eDefining and examining the rationale of docudrama, the nine essayists in the first part discuss the history and development of docudrama on TV and in film; they also consider the place of truth in docudrama, the main critiques of the form, and the audience's susceptibilities and expectations. In investigating the actual filmmaking process, the eight essays in the second part focus on how \"docudrama as a 'commodity' is created in the United States and England.\" Part essay, part case study, and part interview, this section also explores how Hollywood and the commercial networks as well as producers and writers work and think. The final part presents an in-depth critique of a number of controversial docudramas that have helped form and shape public opinion, including \u003ci\u003eBattleship Potemkin, Roots, Reds, JFK, Mississippi Burning, Schindler\u003c\/i\u003e'\u003ci\u003es List\u003c\/i\u003e, and \u003ci\u003eIn the Name of the Father\u003c\/i\u003e. \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eIn addition to Rosenthal, the contributors are John Corner, George F. Custen, David Edgar, Leslie Fishbein, George MacDonald Fraser, Todd Gitlin, Douglas Gomery, Richard Grenier, Sumiko Higashi, Tom W. Hoffer, Jerry Kuehl, Steve Lipkin, Yosefa Loshitsky, Ian McBride, Richard Alan Nelson, Conor Cruise O'Brien, Derek Paget, Robert A. Rosenstone, Betsy Sharkey, Irene Shubik, Jeff Silverman, D. J. Wenden, Sita Williams, and Leslie Woodhead. \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eAuthor:\u003c\/b\u003e Alan Rosenthal\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eISBN-10:\u003c\/b\u003e 0809321874\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eISBN-13:\u003c\/b\u003e 9780809321872\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003ePublisher:\u003c\/b\u003e Southern Illinois University Press\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eLanguage:\u003c\/b\u003e English\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003ePublished:\u003c\/b\u003e 03\/10\/1999\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003ePages:\u003c\/b\u003e 416\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eFormat:\u003c\/b\u003e Paperback\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eWeight:\u003c\/b\u003e 1.39lbs\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eSize:\u003c\/b\u003e 9.06h x 6.11w x 1.13d\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eReview Citation(s): \u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003ci\u003eLibrary Journal\u003c\/i\u003e 03\/01\/1999","brand":"Alan Rosenthal","offers":[{"title":"Paperback","offer_id":46334425530623,"sku":"9780809321872","price":43.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0662\/2982\/9887\/files\/img_d4ee7288-e241-4cec-87f0-7fa57d8e2302.jpg?v=1731466800","url":"https:\/\/www.whiterainbookhouse.com\/products\/why-docudrama-alan-rosenthal-9780809321872","provider":"WR Book House","version":"1.0","type":"link"}