Acknowledgments
This project began nearly a decade ago in a graduate seminar, and it has,
thankfully, mutated and transformed many times since then. It once took
shape as my Ph.D. dissertation in the Department of Communication Arts
at the University of Wisconsin, Madison, where I was fortunate to work
with a wonderful medley of professors and graduate students, whom I will
never be able to thank enough for creating such a stimulating place to
think, learn, and live. Faculty members Julie D’Acci, Michele Hilmes, Nick
Mirzoeff, Jo Ellen Fair, David Bordwell, Vance Kepley, Robert McChesney,
and Jack Kugelmass offered wisdom and encouragement in and out of their
courses, and in one way or another they helped spawn ideas related to this
project. I am especially thankful to my adviser and friend John Fiske, whose
juggling of intellectual pursuits, political commitments, and popular plea-
sures dazzle me to this day and who helped spin me into the orbit of writ-
ing this book. Also instrumental was a sharp and lively cohort of fellow
graduate students and friends atuw, Madison, including Doug Battema,
Aniko Bodroghkozy,Carolyn Bronstein, Paula Chakravarrty, Steve Classen,
Norma Coates, Jennifer Fay, Shari Goldin, Derek Kompare, Elana Levine,
Daniel Marcus, Donald Mekiffe, Jason Mittell, Matthew Murray, Darrell
Newton, Jeff Sconce, Chris Smith, Tasha Oren, and Pamela Wilson. Most of
all I thank Moya Luckett, Jenny Thomas, Kevin Glynn, Andrew Foster, and
Guven Sargin for remaining dear pals over the years. I am also extremely
grateful to Michael Kackman, whose insights and warmth are scattered
throughout these pages.
When I moved to the Department of Film Studies at the University of
California, Santa Barbara, this book continued to develop and transform.
My colleagues and students here have been tremendously generous, and I
am privileged to work with people of rare intelligence, kindness, and col-
legiality. I am grateful to the Film Studies faculty: Edward Branigan, Dana