WIN $100 GIFT VOUCHERS: PROMOTIONS

Close Notification

Your cart does not contain any items

The Rainbow Age of Television

An Opinionated History of Queer TV

Shayna Maci Warner

$39.99

Hardback

Not in-store but you can order this
How long will it take?

QTY:

English
Abrams Press
26 September 2024
A fun and accessible blend of pop culture, entertainment, and queer history that celebrates LGBTQ+ television and examines the past, present, and future of queer representation on the small screen
The Rainbow Age of Television is a fun and accessible blend of pop culture, entertainment, and queer history that celebrates LGBTQ+ television and examines the past, present, and future of queer representation on the small screen.

From Abbott Elementary to The White Lotus to Yellowstone and the hundreds of other gems across a multitude of platforms in between, American audiences are being treated to a second Golden Age of Television. But something completely new is stirring, too—the first Rainbow Age. For the first time in the history of American television, we have queer women who fight the trope of inevitable on-screen death (Jane the Virgin, Brooklyn Nine-Nine, Grey’s Anatomy); gay men who are more than just a flamboyant best friend (How to Get Away with Murder; Looking; OK, maybe we also still have Will and Grace); and trans people played by trans actors (The Fosters, Transparent, Pose, Euphoria,Tales of the City). But our screens certainly haven’t always been this colorful. How did we get to this veritable wealth of representation and sometimes glitter-strewn dimensionality? What sacrifices were made along the way?

The Rainbow Age of Television explores these questions and more as author Shayna Maci Warner tracks the evolution of LGBTQ+ icons across the televised ages and into the future of streaming—from the first queer kiss to rock the airwaves to the shows that are making household names and heroes of queer characters today. Through conversations with critics, creators, stars, and detailed historical reference, The Rainbow Age of Television examines the rise of today’s entertainment culture in which LGBTQ+ viewers are finally beginning to see themselves proudly on the screen and highlights the importance of such representation on television. Above all, it’s a proud celebration of the shows and their characters and creators that define this new age in television.
By:  
Imprint:   Abrams Press
Country of Publication:   United States
Dimensions:   Height: 229mm,  Width: 152mm,  Spine: 36mm
Weight:   225g
ISBN:   9781419762574
ISBN 10:   1419762575
Pages:   304
Publication Date:  
Audience:   General/trade ,  ELT Advanced
Format:   Hardback
Publisher's Status:   Active

Shayna Maci Warner is a GLAAD Rising Star-awarded Brooklyn- based writer and film programmer who is obsessed with television. Their words on queer films, shows, and feelings have appeared in Paste magazine, The Film Stage, Women and Hollywood, and Autostraddle, among other publications, and they have contributed to festival programming at NewFest, Outfest, Tribeca, and Nitehawk Cinema. To argue with Shayna’s opinions on hot evil lesbians, you can find them at www.criticallyqueer.com.

Reviews for The Rainbow Age of Television: An Opinionated History of Queer TV

“The Rainbow Age of Television is such a wonderful survey of the big, beautiful expanse of LGBTQIA+ identities as represented on TV. It’s a medium that brings characters so close to us, into our homes for episode after episode, which has been vital as queer people have fought to be accepted and embraced. Reading this book is like having your smart queer friend watching with you and guiding you through it all. I love how author Shayna Maci Warner talks about intersectional identity, showing that the struggle isn’t just one for queer people—it’s for everyone. This book examines an age when LGBTQIA+ characters were finally able to at least occasionally flourish on television and is a tool to put in your quiver as queer representation faces an uncertain future thanks to everything from the economy and our political scene to shifting priorities from the tech platforms now controlling our media consumption. Let it be your guide to better understanding your LGBTQIA+ friends and neighbors, along with why they can’t stop talking about this one show that you just absolutely have to watch.” * Mike Roe, journalist and author of The 30 Rock Book * “Warner is that telephile bestie with an absurd wealth of knowledge about queer TV. Still, The Rainbow Age of Television isn’t just a history book; Warner’s cultural analysis of representation and its everlasting impact makes their book a must-read for every media-consuming queer person alive!” * Zachary Zane, author of Boyslut: A Memoir and Manifesto * “A true gem. Warner’s incisive analysis, detailed research, and wry humor make for a genuine page-turner chronicling American LGBTQIA+ TV history. Warner seamlessly navigates between critiquing the institutions that hold LGBTQIA+ television back and appropriately contextualizing and paying homage to those who laid the foundation for all we have now. The Rainbow Age of Television is an essential read for every queer storyteller.” * Sav Rodgers, filmmaker and founder, Transgender Film Center *


See Also