Richly Contextualized Via a Masterful Introduction, This Book's Story of The
Richly contextualized via a masterful introduction, this book’s story of the Eurovision Song Contest sings with the verve of topicality. The ‘new’ Europe is revealed in fascinating guises through clear-eyed accounts of what has been invested in its performance in particular places and among specific audiences. In the macronarratives shaping this global contest as much as the micromoments of its annual unfolding, national and supranational politics, we learn, are no less intriguing than that chameleon-like entity we still call Europe. A provocative and timely collection. –Helen Gilbert, Professor of Theatre, Royal Holloway, University of London. A book full of insight, facts, opinions and great stories about the world’s most successful TV format ever. –Svante Stockselius, Executive Supervisor of the Eurovision Song Contest (2003–2010). This impressive collection takes Eurovision studies to the next level, and it is especially timely now that the new post-Wall unified Europe faces some of its greatest economic and political challenges. The newly expanded Song Contest is far more than just an entertaining or embar- rassing TV show – it’s actually still ‘a battlefield’, in the memorable words of one of the book’s contributors; a way of channeling the ten- sions and rivalries that still lurk beneath and now often break through the surface of this ideal imagined Europe. How do Britain and Russia see and sing themselves from their post-superpower positions, how do Israel and Serbia and Azerbaijan perform their inclusion in the European project, how do ethnic minori- ties like Roma play a role within national and cultural identities, and how do feminists and queers find themselves represented in a show that attracts many women and gays? The eleven contributors shine a light on all these questions and more in their incisive and often provoca- tive analyses, while the lively panel discussion brings in broadcasters’ voices.
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