Conceptualizing (re)worked narratives of the American Family: From the American Dream to American decay in 'new' television
American television family dramas have long functioned for broadcast networks as a metaphoric framework to affirm the values of the American Dream. Since the 1990s, American cable television providers have challenged this long-held practice. Originally scripted programming, complete with large budgets, auteur freedom and not reliant on advertising revenue, delivered to audiences (re)worked family dramas that exposed the myth of the American Dream. It is suggested that in this shift, audiences were exposed to narratives of American decay predicated on a failing social, economic and political system. Evidence for this shift is examined in an analysis of six family dramas produced between 1997 and 2013. The aim of this analysis is to interrogate shifts as indicative of a new television landscape.
Seeking Refuge: Asylum Seekers and Politics in a Globalising World
The tragedy facing refugees is man made at all levels. People do not easily leave their homes, communities, friends, relatives, and often the familiarity of their first language, culture and religion. Yet the extreme circumstances which cause refugees to do so are not 'natural' events-earthquakes, floods or droughts. In the most immediate sense we can blame local elites, dictators or ethnic hatreds for these millions of personal tragedies which make up the refugee 'crisis'. But they are more than that. The behaviours of these elites and dictators and the revival or acceleration of ethnic hatred are not purely the result of local conjunctions. There is far too much similarity across many tragedies-from Rwanda to Afghanistan, Iraq, Sudan and Sri Lanka-for that to be an adequate explanation. They are a product of a world system in which 'zones of instability' are a predictable result of the workings of a market system, now more aggressive and unforgiving than ever.
Election 2013 results and the future: Experts respond - Immigration
Australia has elected a Coalition government. So what will this mean for key policy areas? Our experts take a closer look at what's in store for business, the economy, the environment, the National Broadband Network, health, social policy, immigration, science and education.