Community, Seriality, and the State of the Nation: British and Irish Television Series in the 21st Century

1. Prof. Dr. Caroline Lusin lehrt Anglistische Literatur- und Kulturwissenschaft an der Universität Mannheim (Lehrstuhl Anglistik II).2. Dr. Ralf Haekel ist Privatdozent für Britische Literatur und Kultur an der Georg-August-Universität Göttingen

Since the turn of the 21st century, the television series has rivalled cinema as the paradigmatic filmic medium by developing a new and different form of narrative. As a democratic medium, television transcends any class boundaries, and like few other genres, serial narration lends itself to exploring society in its different layers. In the case of Great Britain and Ireland, television series function as a key medium in depicting the state of the nation at a time of social and political insecurity and change. The topic of community in particular has turned out to be one of the most pressing concerns within a wide range of the most recent series.

This volume investigates serial narration as an exemplary means of cultural, social, and national self-discovery and self-assurance. Focussing on questions of genre, narrative form, and serialisation, the individual essays examine the variety of ways in which popular British and Irish television series broadcast after 2010 negotiate the concept of community as a key component of the state of the nation.

Since the turn of the 21st century, the television series has rivalled cinema as the paradigmatic filmic medium. Like few other genres, it lends itself to exploring society in its different layers. In the case of Great Britain and Ireland, it functions as a key medium in depicting the state of the nation. Focussing on questions of genre, narrative form, and serialisation, this volume examines the variety of ways in which popular recent British and Irish television series negotiate the concept of community as a key component of the state of the nation.