Radio Active by Kathleen M Newman

Radio Active by Kathleen M Newman

Radio Active tells the story of how radio listeners at the American mid-century were active in their listening practices. While cultural historians have seen this period as one of failed reform--focusing on the failure of activists to win significant changes for commercial radio--Kathy M. Newman argues that the 1930s witnessed the emergence of a symbiotic relationship between advertising and activism. Advertising helped to kindle the consumer activism of union members affiliated with the CIO, middle-class club women, and working-class housewives. Once provoked, these activists became determined to influence--and in some cases eliminate--radio advertising. As one example of how radio consumption was an active rather than a passive process, Newman cites The Hucksters, Frederick Wakeman's 1946 radio spoof that skewered eccentric sponsors, neurotic account executives, and grating radio jingles. The book sold over 700,000 copies in its first six months and convinced broadcast executives that Americans were unhappy with radio advertising. The Hucksters left its mark on the radio age, showing that radio could inspire collective action and not just passive conformity.

Kathy M. Newman is Associate Professor of English at Carnegie Mellon University.

SKU	Unavailable
ISBN 13	9780520235908
ISBN 10	0520235908
Title	Radio Active
Author	Kathleen M Newman
Condition	Unavailable
Binding Type	Paperback
Publisher	University of California Press
Year published	2004-05-17
Number of pages	250
Cover note	Book picture is for illustrative purposes only, actual binding, cover or edition may vary.