TV Series in the Era of Digitalization, Globalization and Resurgent Authoritarianism

During the last decades, several of the main features of TV series seem to have been put under question. The concurrence between Network and cable series from the 1990s onwards had led to a shortening of seasons, a blurring of the distinction between series and soap operas as well as an increase in the complexity of narrative structures. Later, the massive success of new streaming platforms such as Netflix or Amazon Prime, has led to new norms as far as the consumption of TV series is concerned (e.g., binge-watching). In addition, TV series have also become a global phenomenon. While American productions continue to dominate the international market, other geographical areas (e.g., Korea, Turkey, India, Latin America, etc.) are asserting themselves as providers of internationally popular serial fiction. Furthermore, the evolution of technologies and more precisely the advent of streaming allow the audiences to have very rapid access to series from other countries. As a consequence, global audiences are able to consume TV series conveying non-westernized narratives marked by alternative values and produced in various political contexts.

The aim of this session is to discuss the effects of digitalization, of globalization and of resurgent authoritarianisms on the different modes of production, of reception as well as on the representations of TV series.