Selena Gomez and Demi Lovato have it all— hit shows and movies on the Disney Channel, musical talent, and, most importantly, each other to lean on. These best friends are there for each other through thick and thin, from unsuccessful auditions and failed pilots to Selena’s starring role on Disney Channel’s Wizards of Waverly Place and Demi’s breakout performance in Disney Channel’s Camp Rock, her tour with the Jonas Brothers, and their release of her debut album.
Singer, actor, songwriter, and comedian Demi Lovato has taken Hollywood by storm. Born in Texas, she dreamed of being a performer ever since she was a little girl. She began her acting career at age ten on Barney & Friends, where she met her future BFF Selena Gomez. But her next attempts at acting failed, and for a while she considered giving up. After appearing in As the Bell Rings as Charlotte, Demi got her big break—starring opposite the Jonas Brothers in Camp Rock. Since then her life has been a whirlwind. After touring with the Jonas Brothers, Demi released her first solo album and starred in her own Disney Channel comedy, Sonny with a Chance. Find out what makes Demi so successful, and what dreams she still wants to achieve.
This open access book examines the conversations around gendered mental health in contemporary Western media culture. While early 21st century-media was marked by a distinct focus on happiness, productivity and success, during the 2010s negative feelings and discussions around mental health have become increasingly common in that same media landscape. This book traces this turn to sadness in women’s media culture and shows that it emerged indirectly as a result of a culture overtly focused on happiness. By tracing the coverage of mental health issues in magazines, among female celebrities, and on social media this book shows how an increasingly intimate media environment has made way for a profitable vulnerability, that takes the shape of marketable and brand-friendly mental illness awareness that strengthens the authenticity of those who embrace it. But at the same time sad girl cultures are proliferating on social media platforms, creating radically honest spaces where those who suffer get support, and more capacious ways of feeling bad are formed. Using discourse analysis and digital ethnography to study contemporary representations of mental illness and sadness in Western popular media and social media, this book takes a feminist media studies approach to popular discourse, understanding the conversations happening around mental health in these sites to function as scripts for how to think about and experience mental illness and sadness
Television Brandcasting examines U. S. television’s utility as a medium for branded storytelling. It investigates the current and historical role that television content, promotion, and hybrids of the two have played in disseminating brand messaging and influencing consumer decision-making. Juxtaposing the current period of transition with that of the 1950s-1960s, Jennifer Gillan outlines how in each era new technologies unsettled entrenched business models, an emergent viewing platform threatened to undermine an established one, and content providers worried over the behavior of once-dependable audiences. The anxieties led to storytelling, promotion, and advertising experiments, including the Disneyland series, embedded rock music videos in Ozzie & Harriet, credit sequence brand integration, Modern Family’s parent company promotion episodes, second screen initiatives, and social TV experiments. Offering contemporary and classic examples from the American Broadcasting Company, Disney Channel, ABC Family, and Showtime, alongside series such as Bewitched, Leave it to Beaver, Laverne & Shirley, and Pretty Little Liars, individual chapters focus on brandcasting at the level of the television series, network schedule, "Blu-ray/DVD/Digital" combo pack, the promotional short, the cause marketing campaign, and across social media. In this follow-up to her successful previous book, Television and New Media: Must-Click TV, Gillan provides vital insights into television’s role in the expansion of a brand-centric U.S. culture.
Your wildest dreams have come true. Get an insider’s look at Taylor Swift’s life and achievements in this gorgeous collectible book for Swifties of all ages. Are you ready for it? 100+ stunning photos and clued-in commentary from top music and culture writers explore the power of Taylor’s music and influence–and why she’ll never go out of style. Taylor Swift is so much more than a pop star: she has more number one albums than any other female performer in history and The Eras Tour has filled stadiums across the world. Her influence on our culture seems to know no bounds. With more than 100 amazing photos, this luxe gift book immerses you in Taylor’s world with smart, insightful text and celebrates the global superstar as a prolific songwriter, powerful storyteller and champion of her empowerment. Inside you'll find: Taylor’s many performances from singing the national anthem at local sporting events to selling out worldwide blockbuster tours The chart-topping launch of her 24 albums, including Taylor’s Versions, her latest release, The Tortured Poets Department and what makes her personal yet relatable music so inspiring Her stunning red carpet appearances at the Grammys, the Met Gala and more! Throughout the photo-packed pages, Swifties will follow Taylor’s rise to pop icon status through all her eras with interviews from the vault of Cosmopolitan, Esquire, and Seventeen along with original essays from noted contributors. We know all too well you will love this gift book! Get one (or more!) for you and your bestie.
The mother of global superstar Demi Lovato describes how her own musical ambitions were challenged by an eating disorder, addictions, and unhealthy relationships, sharing perspectives on her daughters' fame and the ways their family has endured adversity through faith.
