CMJ Alumni publishes new book

Eleanor Patterson, who got her Masters Degree at UMaine in 2010 and went on to complete her Ph.D. in Communication Arts at Wisconsin, has a new book out: “Bootlegging the Airwaves Alternative Histories of Radio and Television Distribution” (University of Illinois Press, 2024).

 

The book has been described as a fascinating exploration of “the distribution of radio and TV tapes from the 1960s through the 1980s. Looking at bootlegging against the backdrop of mass media’s formative years, Patterson delves into some of the major subcultures of the era. Old-time radio aficionados felt the impact of inexpensive audio recording equipment and the controversies surrounding programs like Amos ‘n’ Andy. Bootlegging communities devoted to buddy cop TV shows like Starsky and Hutch allowed women to articulate female pleasure and sexuality while Star Trek videos in Australia inspired a grassroots subculture built around community viewings of episodes. Tape trading also had a profound influence on creating an intellectual pro wrestling fandom that aided wrestling’s growth into an international sports entertainment industry.”

 

The department congratulates her for this accomplishment.

 

Dr. Patterson currently teaches Media Studies at Auburn University.