Work

Politics in Fictional Entertainment: An Empirical Classification of Movies and TV Series

Year: 2015
Type: article
Abstract: This article presents conceptual considerations on the classification of TV series and movies according to their political references and introduces an empirical approach for measuring the constituent features.We argue that political representations in fiction vary along two dimensions: political intensity and degree of realism.These dimensions encompass four indicators relating to characters, places, themes, and time.The indicators were coded for a sample of 98 TV series and 114 movies.Cluster analyses showed four clusters of TV series and six clusters of movies.Nonpolitical fiction, thrillers, and fantasy were central types in both TV series and movies.Movies, however, stand out through a greater diversity and a focus on the past that is reflected in three additional types.Based on the identification of different types of movies and TV series, three directions for theory building are suggested.
Authors: Christiane Eilders, Cordula Nitsch
Language: English
Subfield: Communication
Open Access status: diamond
OpenAlex ID: W1593590915
FWCI: 1.072
Cites: 20
Cited by: 16
Related to: 10