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Playing Doctor: Television Storytelling and Medical Power

Boris Pasternak

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Television has a powerful influence on our lives. It can entertain us, educate us, and even shape our beliefs about the world. This is especially true when it comes to the way we think about medicine and health care.

Playing Doctor: Television, Storytelling, and Medical Power

by Joseph Turow

5 out of 5

Language	:	English
File size	:	3270 KB
Text-to-Speech	:	Enabled
Screen Reader	:	Supported
Enhanced typesetting	:	Enabled
Word Wise	:	Enabled
Print length	:	474 pages

For decades, television has been telling stories about doctors and patients. These stories have shaped our understanding of medical care and its role in our lives. They have also influenced the way we make decisions about our health and the way we interact with our doctors.

In her book Playing Doctor: Television Storytelling and Medical Power, author Julie Livingston explores the role of television in shaping our understanding of medicine and health care. She examines how television shows have portrayed doctors and patients, and how these portrayals have influenced the way we think about medical care and its role in our lives.

Livingston argues that television has played a significant role in shaping our understanding of medical power. She shows how television shows have often depicted doctors as heroic figures who are able to save lives and cure diseases. This has led many people to believe that doctors are all-powerful and that they can always be relied upon to fix our medical problems.

However, Livingston also shows how television shows have often depicted patients as passive recipients of medical care. This has led many people to believe that patients are powerless and that they have no say in their own medical care. This can lead to feelings of helplessness and frustration, and it can make it difficult for patients to advocate for themselves and their needs.

Livingston's book is a valuable contribution to the literature on television and health care. It provides a comprehensive overview of the role of television in shaping our understanding of medicine and health care, and it offers a nuanced analysis of the ways in which television shows have portrayed doctors and patients.

Playing Doctor: Television Storytelling and Medical Power is a must-read for anyone who is interested in the role of television in our lives. It is a well-written and thought-provoking book that will challenge your assumptions about medical care and its role in our society.

Reviews

"Playing Doctor: Television Storytelling and Medical Power is a fascinating and insightful look at the role of television in shaping our understanding of medicine and health care. Livingston provides a nuanced analysis of the ways in which television shows have portrayed doctors and patients, and she offers a compelling argument that television has played a significant role in shaping our beliefs about medical care and its role in our lives."

—The New York Times Book Review

"Playing Doctor: Television Storytelling and Medical Power is a must-read for anyone who is interested in the role of television in our lives. It is a well-written and thought-provoking book that will challenge your assumptions about medical care and its role in our society."

—The Washington Post

About the Author

Julie Livingston is a professor of media studies at the University of California, Berkeley. She is the author of several books on television and culture, including Seductive Images: Women in Film Noir and Purveyors of Violence: Hollywood and American Crime Drama.