The Handmaid's Tale and the cultural phenomenon of TV series

significações morais entre a distopia e a realidade

Authors

Abstract

This article sought to understand the aspects related to the current cultural phenomenon around television series, which evolves stylistic, structural, and diegetic characteristics, implying the success obtained by these productions, especially considering consolidation of streaming platforms. In this sense, the repercussions obtained by The Handmaid's Tale, a television adaptation based on the homonymous book by Margaret Atwood, served as an object of study to be analyzed. This essay is based on Cultural Studies of the television and TV series developed by Jost (2012), Williams (2016), and other academic researchers about this thematic. In addition, the role of audience interactions as “media active” people was also analyzed, due to digital social media that spread voices (Jenkins, 2008; Recueiro, 2009). As a result, the series began to dialogue more with viewers, seeking to absorb the complexity of reality and, consequently, narrowing the barriers between fiction and reality.

Author Biographies

Alusk Maciel Santos, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Norte

Doutorando e Mestre em Ciências Sociais pelo Programa de Pós-Graduação de Ciências Sociais da Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Norte (PPGCS-UFRN). Especialista em Comunicação, Marcas e Consumo (UnP) e bacharel em Comunicação Social, com habilitação em Publicidade e Propaganda, pela UFRN. Desenvolve pesquisas nas áreas de Semiótica, Estudos Culturais, Estudos da Imagem e Cibercultura.

Gilmar Santana, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Norte

Professor Associado II do Departamento de Ciências Sociais, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Norte (UFRN). Doutor em Sociologia pela Universidade de São Paulo (USP). Integrante do Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ciências Sociais (PPGCS-UFRN), com ênfase na linha de Complexidade, Cultura e Pensamento Social.

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Published

2022-08-08

Issue

Vol. 24 No. 2 (2022): Maio/Agosto

Section

Articles

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