Introduction: Sweeping Statements and Broad Horizons 1. Action Heroes: Don Quixote or James Bond? 2. Adaptations: TV Drama vs. Literary Prestige 3. Soaps: The Influence of Latin America 4. Costume Drama: "Life as It Really Is" 5. Melodrama: Little People in the Big City 6. Heroines: Airports, Planes and Wedding Trains 7. Comedy: Nervous Giggling and its Serious Object 8. Law and Order: Making Sense of Something 9. Criminal Series: Soviet Traditions Come Home. Conclusion: Fighting the Good Fight. Filmography
Biography
David MacFadyen is Professor in the Department of Slavic Languages and Literatures at the University of California, Los Angeles, USA. He is the author of numerous books on many aspects of Russian literature and culture, including the poetry of Joseph Brodsky, classic Soviet prose, popular song across the twentieth century, comedic cinema, and animated film.
