Kristin M. Barton (1977–2016)

I'm late to reviewing this book, as I was waiting for a pause in my pop-culture avalanche to catch up on Season Four of the glorious show that is Arrested Development. I love that pop-culture avalanche, but even the glorious show that is Arrested Development had to wait! For shame. I'm very glad that this fourth season exists after such a long hiatus. The original seasons opened the door for smart comedies that are the only comedies I can truly love. Arrested Development was always too smart for TV, especially when it first arrived on television. I'm glad that the appreciation for this show has only increased over time. AND a book such as this one certainly helped my appreciation for Arrested Development even more. This book is essential to dissect such a complex, intricately intertwined show. The book covers many topics: race, self-esteem, charity, monstrous comedy, comparisons between the Bluths, the Corleones and Kafka's characters, and a dissection on one of the most interesting narrators from TV. (Really, an entire book this length could almost be written for each episode.) I especially love this sentence on page 116, that shows just how complex the show is, in such an eye opening way: "Within each episode, we are simultaneously robbed of the present, as we follow a story that happened in the past, and promised moments in the future that go unfulfilled and instead are relegated to the past once the next episode begins." A brilliant sentence like this can definitely showcase the brilliance of such a show as Arrested Development. Though most of the essays here are written by different authors, there is very little overlap in writers saying the same thing. Bonus: a short intro by creative genius Mitchell Hurwitz! This book is essential for the Arrested Development fan. I can't wait for season FIVE of the show. I also really wish a book like this would be published about NBC's Community but I'm sure it would be best for Dan Harmon himself to tackle that one.… (mere)

I am constantly amazed whenever I see what I consider the most shallow form of entertainment broken down and analyzed; pulling out deep, coherent, thoughtful, and scholarly discussion. This book will not make you a fan of the show, and while parts of it are in the irreverent spirit of the show, most of it about parallels to more important issues in society and how it was manipulated to comic effect. Previously, I've ready similar collections that discussed the Stewart/Colbert phenomenon and sociological issues in A Song of Ice and Fire.

Essays here run the gamut of racial issues, psychological troubles, and even on that compares the Bluths to the Corleone family of Godfather fame. There's some amazing stuff here, but I also wonder about the type of person who watches shows such as Arrested Development, make such parallels, and think so deeply about it. I do find it hard to believe that much of what is written here represents intentional effort of the show's creators and actors -- the influence of the modern world may lead to such things incidentally apparent to those who look for it, but I rather think the show's creators are just smart people having a good time.… (mere)

This collection of academic essays on the TV series Arrested Development is a wonderful example of how academic writing can be both applied to the "real" world while also being accessible to most readers who might want to read critical essays about a show and its relation to society.

On the whole the essays are rigorous in the application of theory to the world of the show. What I found somewhat unusual was the ability of the writers to explain the ideas and theories they used rather than assume every reader was already familiar. In doing so, they both made the essays more readable for those less steeped in theory as well as making sure that those familiar were on the same page with how a given theorist was going to be used.

While this is definitely not a fan book (as in something fairly light discussing the show as and for fans) it is something a fan will enjoy if they have ever thought about the underlying themes of the show. My advice, and what I used to tell students when they were about to tackle a work for the first time that might be challenging, is to read through an essay and simply catch the main ideas. Often that is sufficient to get the writer's argument which in this case may be sufficient unless you're using this for your own research. If the essay appeals to you, then perhaps read it closely, especially if you disagree with the writer's conclusions. If this type of thinking appeals to you, this will be a fun book.

While I wouldn't recommend this to a fan who really just wants to enjoy the show and might be more interested in a book about the actors, the filming and any interesting bits along those lines. For people who actually enjoy this type of thinking while watching a show (I always tell those who claim this makes it unenjoyable that they should add that it does so for them, since I am still entertained while thinking analytically about a show or movie. We all enjoy things differently and no single way takes priority) I would highly recommend this book. I would also think that those considering an academic career in a field where this type of work will be produced would benefit from this excellent example of academic writing.

Reviewed from a copy made available by the publisher via LibraryThing.… (mere)