UQ lecture to examine television lifestyle programs

Contemporary television will be discussed at a free public lecture and book launch at The University of Queensland next week.

Dr Frances Bonner from UQ’s School of English, Media Studies and Art History (EMSAH) will discuss Make-overs: Contemporary television’s surprise hit on Thursday, May 1 at 5.30pm in the UQ Centre lobby, St Lucia campus.

The lecture will draw on material from Ordinary Television (Sage), Dr Bonner’s new book focusing on non-fiction television programming in Australia and the United Kingdom.

The book, to be launched after the lecture, examines the proliferation of programs with reduced production costs. They include game shows, various types of reality programs and lifestyle shows, especially those with teams of television personalities transforming houses or gardens.

The lecture will focus on lifestyle shows, discussing the basis of their success and the way they construct stories about the generosity of television, the worthiness of those whose surroundings get made over and the importance of surprise in gift-giving.

Dr Bonner is a lecturer in communication, media and cultural studies. Her research interests focus on the way media addresses ordinary people, specifically through television programs, popular magazines and the cult of celebrity.

In addition to several books, she has published a variety of articles on health issues in the media in collaboration with UQ’s Dr Susan McKay from EMSAH.

The seminar is part of UQ’s Centre for Critical and Cultural Studies’ (CCCS) 2003 public lecture program and is supported by The University of Queensland Press.

Media: For further information, contact Dr Bonner (telephone 07 3365 1438), Andrea Mitchell at the CCCS (telephone 07 3365 7182) or Joanne van Zeeland at UQ Communications (telephone 07 3365 2619).