Author Archive

A National Icon Deficit: What the Ghomeshi Scandal Illustrates About the State of CBC Radio One

October 31, 2014
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A National Icon Deficit: What the Ghomeshi Scandal Illustrates About the State of CBC Radio One

The sudden departure of Jian Ghomeshi from Q illustrates that the CBC's once innovative radio division needs to focus on developing new personalities and formats if it is to adapt to a rapidly evolving mediascape.
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Posted in Celebrity/Stardom, Industry, Internet, Perspectives, Radio, Radio | 1 Comment »

A Turf War at the Book Club: Considering the Cultural Work of Canada Reads

February 8, 2013
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A Turf War at the Book Club: Considering the Cultural Work of <i>Canada Reads</i>

With the 2013 edition of 'Canada Reads' set to begin on Monday, we consider the cultural work performed by the program in the Canadian context. In particular, what are the potential implications of this year's emphasis on competition between Canada's regions for the program and its contributions to debates and discourses concerning Canadian national...
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Posted in Perspectives, Radio | 2 Comments »

The Advertisements of Super Bowl XLVII: On Dodge’s ‘Farmer’

February 4, 2013
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The Advertisements of Super Bowl XLVII: On Dodge’s ‘Farmer’

This wasn't such an interesting Super Bowl in terms of commercials, but one spot for the Ram truck line stood out to us. Was there an ad that seemed particularly notable to you?
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Posted in Current Events, TV | 3 Comments »

Officially Defeated: On the Broader Significance of the NFL Referee Lockout

September 28, 2012
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Officially Defeated: On the Broader Significance of the NFL Referee Lockout

The referee lockout has been resolved, but we would do well do consider its broader implications before we allow it to recede into the past.
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Posted in Sporting Goods, TV | Comments Off on Officially Defeated: On the Broader Significance of the NFL Referee Lockout

Late to the Party: Band of Brothers

December 2, 2011
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Late to the Party: <i> Band of Brothers </i>

We resurrect our Late to the Party column with some reflections on HBO's 'Band of Brothers'.
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Posted in Columns, Late to the Party | 1 Comment »

A Report from CCA 2011

June 7, 2011
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A Report from CCA 2011

Christopher Cwynar offers an overview of the Canadian Communication Association's recent annual conference in Fredericton, New Brunswick.
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Posted in Report From... | 2 Comments »

The Big Easy Returns to the Small Screen

April 20, 2011
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The Big Easy Returns to the Small Screen

David Simon's Treme returns this Sunday for its second season. Antenna will be following all of the action with a weekly column on the program to be published each Wednesday.
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Posted in Columns, Perspectives, Treme | Comments Off on The Big Easy Returns to the Small Screen

Report from the On, Archives! Conference

July 10, 2010
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Report from the On, Archives! Conference

The Wisconsin Center for Film and Theater Research hosted a major conference this past week that featured a symposium on broadcasting in the 1930s, several thought-provoking keynote addresses, and presentations on all manner of issues pertaining to archives and the historical past.
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Posted in Film, Perspectives, Radio, TV | 2 Comments »

Summer Media: Vive le Tour!

June 30, 2010
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Summer Media: Vive le Tour!

July brings with it one of my most cherished media rituals in the form of the exhilarating spectacle of suffering that is the Tour de France.
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Posted in Perspectives, Summer Media | 3 Comments »

The World Waits Anxiously for its Cup to Runneth Over

June 17, 2010
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The World Waits Anxiously for its Cup to Runneth Over

The controversy over the vuvuzelas is a reflection of the larger story here - that there are more ways than ever before to follow and participate in this first World Cup of the social media era.
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Posted in Perspectives | 3 Comments »

Is the Auteur All Wet? On David Simon’s Adventures in Authenticity in Post-Katrina New Orleans

April 23, 2010
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Is the Auteur All Wet? On David Simon’s Adventures in Authenticity in Post-Katrina New Orleans

Is it problematic that Treme seems to hit some false notes? Only until the series begins to interrogate the authenticity tropes one might have expected it to create.
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Posted in Perspectives, TV | 11 Comments »

Dear John: On The Meta-Celebrity’s Misguided Attempt to be Clever

February 19, 2010
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Dear John: On The Meta-Celebrity’s Misguided Attempt to be Clever

In a sense, Mayer has become his own cultural intermediary. He is a meta-star text sustained in large part by his own mediatory endeavors. This has its benefits, but also poses problems for the many John Mayers jockeying for control over the text.
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Posted in Celebrity/Stardom, Music, Perspectives | 6 Comments »

What Does It Mean To Care About The Grammys?

February 1, 2010
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What Does It Mean To Care About The Grammys?

Clearly, people are once again watching the telecast, even if one cannot be certain that most viewers ‘care’ about the popular artists and their music in the same way that they did in days gone by.
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Posted in Celebrity/Stardom, Industry, Internet, Music, Perspectives, TV | 6 Comments »

On “Great Moments in Tailgating History”

January 5, 2010
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On “Great Moments in Tailgating History”

The fact that these spots are part of each week’s broadcast gives them a certain ‘event’ quality. To miss the spot is to effectively miss part of the program.
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Posted in Perspectives, TV | Comments Off on On “Great Moments in Tailgating History”