Convergent Wrestling: Participatory Culture, Transmedia Storytelling, and Intertextuality in the Squared Circle

Synopsis

This book examines how the current era of "convergence" has affected, and is reflected in, the world of professional wrestling, which combines several different genres, including drama, action, comedy, horror, science fiction, and even romance. Professional wrestling's business practices exist at the intersection of bottom-up fan-centric strategies and strict top-down corporate control. Meanwhile, the wrestlers themselves combine aspects of carnival hucksters, actors/actresses, comedians, superheroes, martial artists, or stuntmen, and the narratives consist of everything from social critique to geopolitical allegories, and from soap opera melodramas to stereotyped exploitation. Bringing together the latest scholarship in the field, Convergent Wrestling analyzes various texts, business practices, and fan activities to explore the commonalities that define professional wrestling and consider how it exists in today's new media ecology. In addition, the book considers the professional wrestling industry from several different angles, from massive multinational conglomerate World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) to local indie federations. As such, it will appeal to scholars with interests in popular culture, media and cultural studies, and fan practices.

Copyright:

2019

Book Details

Book Quality:

Excellent

ISBN-13:

9780815377641

Publisher:

Taylor & Francis Group

Date of Addition:

04/02/19

Copyrighted By:

Selection and editorial matter, CarrieLynn D. Reinhard and Christopher J. Olson; individual chapters, the contributors

Adult content:

No

Language:

English

Has Image Descriptions:

No

Categories:

Nonfiction, Sports

Submitted By:

Taylor and Francis VIP Team

Proofread By:

Taylor and Francis VIP Team

Usage Restrictions:

This is a copyrighted book.