by Susie Gharib
First published 2020
Editor Anna Faktorovich sits in her office, surrounded by screens flickering with American television programming. She has a mission: decode what CBS series reveal about modern cultural values. Through seven penetrating essays, she examines how shows like Star Trek Discovery fail their female protagonists, how SEAL Team silences foreign perspectives, and how Bull transforms judicial corruption into entertainment. Faktorovich questions the pro-military messaging in science fiction, from Short Treks to Picard, asking who benefits from these narratives. She exposes how MacGyver glorifies unsanctioned assassinations while Bull celebrates courtroom manipulation. The analysis extends beyond fiction to examine how military shows present one-sided perspectives on conflict. Only when Faktorovich turns to The Open Road with Dr. Chris does she find programming that seeks goodness by focusing on non-human subjects. Susie Gharib adds film reviews that illuminate contemporary human struggles. This collection reveals how television shapes American identity through carefully crafted messages about morality, justice, and power.
Genres: american, media-tie-in, non-fiction, academic, cultural-studies
Vibes: thought-provoking
Tropes: media-analysis, social-commentary
Period: 21st-century
Paperback