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Smoke and Mirrors
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Smoke and Mirrors Hardcover - 1997

by John Leonard

A passionate, richly nuanced work that shows television as a circus, a wishing well, and a cure for loneliness, "Smoke and Mirrors" argues for a whole new way of thinking about television, rather than scapegoating the medium as the cause of crime in the streets and stupidity in our schools.


From the publisher

In Smoke and Mirrors, John Leonard, one of the nation's leading media critics, offers a provocative challenge to conventional ideas about television. Instead of scapegoating television as the cause of crime in our streets, stupidity in our schools, and spectacle rather than substance in our government, Leonard sees something else inside the box: an echo chamber and a feedback loop, a medium neither wholly innocent of, nor entirely responsible for, the frantic disorder it brings to our homes.

Taking on topics from kid shows to cable, from the cheap thrills of action adventures to the solemn boredom of pledge drives, Leonard argues for a whole new way of thinking about television.


From the rear cover

Smoke and Mirrors is a passionate, richly nuanced work that shows television as a circus, a wishing well, and a cure for loneliness. Ranging from Ed Sullivan to cyberspace, from kid shows to cable, and from the cheap thrills of "action adventure" to the solemn boredom of PBS pledge week, Leonard argues for a whole new way of thinking about television. For Leonard, the situation comedy is a socializing agency, the talk show is a legitimating agency, the made-for-television movie is the last redoubt of social conscience, and television criticism itself is the last refuge of time-serving thugs and postmodernists. Instead of scapegoating television as the cause of crime in our streets, stupidity in our schools, and spectacle rather than substance in our government, Leonard sees something else inside the box: an echo chamber and a feedback loop, a medium neither wholly innocent of nor entirely responsible for the frantic disorder it brings into our homes.

Details

  • Title Smoke and Mirrors
  • Author John Leonard
  • Binding Hardcover
  • Edition First Edition
  • Pages 304
  • Volumes 1
  • Language ENG
  • Publisher New Press, NY
  • Date 1997-02
  • Illustrated Yes
  • ISBN 9781565842267 / 156584226X
  • Weight 1.08 lbs (0.49 kg)
  • Dimensions 8.58 x 5.87 x 1.09 in (21.79 x 14.91 x 2.77 cm)
  • Library of Congress subjects Television broadcasting - Social aspects -
  • Library of Congress Catalog Number 94041459
  • Dewey Decimal Code 302.234

Media reviews

Citations

  • Booklist, 02/01/1997, Page 912
  • Kirkus Reviews, 01/01/1997, Page 42
  • New York Times, 03/02/1997, Page 7
  • Publishers Weekly, 01/06/1997, Page 54

About the author

John Leonard (1939-2008) is the author of The Last Innocent White Man in America and Smoke and Mirrors (both published by The New Press). He was editor of the New York Times Book Review, literary co-editor of The Nation, and now appeared weekly on CBS Sunday Morning and in New York.
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Smoke and Mirrors
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Smoke and Mirrors

by Leonard, John

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Smoke and Mirrors
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Smoke and Mirrors

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The New Press, February 1997. Hardcover. Very Good/Very Good. Crease runs down front inner DJ flap; some fading and staining to boards ; 8.6 X 5.9 X 1.1 inches; 304 pages
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Smoke and Mirrors
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Smoke and Mirrors

by Leonard, John

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New Press (1997), 1997. Hardcover. Collectible, Fine/Fine. Octavo, hardcover, fine in fine gray pictorial dj. Author offers a provocative challenge to conventional ideas about television. Instead of scapegoating television as the cause of crime in our streets, stupidity in our schools, and spectacle rather than substance in our government, Leonard sees something else inside the box: an echo chamber and a feedback loop, a medium neither wholly innocent of, nor entirely responsible for, the frantic disorder it brings to our homes. 290 pp,.
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Smoke and Mirrors
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Smoke and Mirrors

by Leonard, John

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The New Press, 1997-02-01. First Edition, first printing. Hardcover. Very Good/Very Good. 8x5x1. The binding is tight, corners sharp. Text unmarked. The dust jacket shows some light handling, unclipped, in a mylar cover. 8vo. 290pp.
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Smoke and Mirrors: Violence, Television, and Other American Cultures

Smoke and Mirrors: Violence, Television, and Other American Cultures

by Leonard, John

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The New Press, 1997. Hardcover. VG/VG. some rubbing & edgewear to book & DJ; protective sleeve on DJ; some yellowing; otherwise overall clean & tight. 290 pages
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Smoke and Mirrors
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Smoke and Mirrors

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Smoke and Mirrors:  Violence, Television, and Other American Cultures
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Smoke and Mirrors: Violence, Television, and Other American Cultures

by Leonard, John

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New Press. As New in As New dust jacket. 1997. First Edition; First Printing. Hardcover. 156584226x . Book and DJ New. NO notes. No markings of ANY kind. DJ not price clipped ($23) ; 290 pages .
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Smoke and Mirrors
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Smoke and Mirrors

by John Leonard

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SMOKE & MIRRORS
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SMOKE & MIRRORS

by LEONARD,J

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Smoke and Mirrors : Violence, Television, and Other American Cultures
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Smoke and Mirrors : Violence, Television, and Other American Cultures

by JOHN LEONARD

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ISBN 10 / ISBN 13
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W W Norton & Co Inc, February 1997. Hardcover Hardcover. Very Good/Very Good. Very Good Hardcover with Very Good- Dustjacket. Light to moderate soiling and shelfwear to DJ, including a small area of surface damage. 1997 written on textblock and title page. Light soiling and shelfwear to covers. A few pages lightly soiled at textblock. Otherwise, pages clean and tight in binding. Pictures available upon request. A locally owned, independent book shop since 1984.
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