What is it about?
Television performance is often talked about in terms of positive achievement. This article looks at performances that represent questionable or dubious achievements, focussing on the work of television 'psychics,' and considering 'psychic readings' within the context of television aesthetics.
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Why is it important?
This article demonstrates that television performance can have the potential to deceive individuals or to obfuscate truths and, while we might acknowledge levels of skill in this achievement, close analysis of technique is important in emphasising a series of ethical issues and concerns.
Perspectives
Writing this article, I was keen to explain how we can have complex reactions to some television performances. We can appraise the techniques involved whilst, at the same time, have reservations about the ethical motivations behind an accomplished performance. Television 'psychics' make a useful case study, as close analysis reveals sophisticated levels of rehearsed and improvisatory performance that are designed to deceive audience members and to conceal the reality behind their act. I hope it will make readers consider the ways in which a wide range of television performances can be considered dubious achievements.
James Walters
University of Birmingham
Read the Original
This page is a summary of: Small-screen psychics: Television performance as dubious achievement, The Journal of Popular Television, October 2020, Intellect,
DOI: 10.1386/jptv_00034_1.
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