CORE Metadata, citation and similar papers at core.ac.uk Provided by Glasgow Theses Service Bell, Stuart (2016) "Don't Stop": Re-Thinking the Function of Endings in Narrative Television. PhD thesis http://theses.gla.ac.uk/7282/ Copyright and moral rights for this thesis are retained by the author A copy can be downloaded for personal non-commercial research or study, without prior permission or charge This thesis cannot be reproduced or quoted extensively from without first obtaining permission in writing from the Author The content must not be changed in any way or sold commercially in any format or medium without the formal permission of the Author When referring to this work, full bibliographic details including the author, title, awarding institution and date of the thesis must be given. Glasgow Theses Service http://theses.gla.ac.uk/
[email protected] “Don’t Stop…” Re-thinking the Function of Endings in Narrative Television Stuart Bell (MA, MLitt) Submitted in fulfilment for the requirements for the degree of Doctor Of Philosophy School of Culture and Creative Arts College of Arts University of Glasgow November 2015 (c) Stuart Bell, November 2015 !1 Abstract “Don’t Stop…” Re-thinking the Function of Endings in Television This thesis argues that the study of narrative television has been limited by an adherence to accepted and commonplace conceptions of endings as derived from literary theory, particularly a preoccupation with the terminus of the text as the ultimate site of cohesion, structure, and meaning. Such common conceptions of endings, this thesis argues, are largely incompatible with the realities of television’s production and reception, and as a result the study of endings in television needs to be re-thought to pay attention to the specificities of the medium.