Publisher's Synopsis
In 1991, over 400 people were asked to record their television viewing habits. The resulting diaries, brought together in this work, document the thoughts and concerns of people aged from 7 to 90, living as far apart as the Channel Islands and the Shetlands. The book shows how we cannot address fundamental questions about the role of television in society (as harmful or as an important source of information and entertainment) until we understand the role and significance of television in the daily lives of ordinary people. This text considers the television experience from the point of view of distinct audiences. It shows who watches what and why. There are essays on teenagers, the elderly, the Scottish audience and viewers living in London, which all explore the phenomenon of television in the context of questions of daily routine, the life-cycle, community and identity.
