Oprah, Celebrity and Formations of Self [Paperback]

Oprah Winfrey has transcended her status as talk show host to become a cultural icon of some considerable stature. This book explores the nature of Oprah's celebrity persona and considers the relevance that she has to contemporary audiences. The stories recounted by guests, and the ways in which confessional discourse works to produce a particular relationship between Oprah, her guests and the audience members are considered within the context of contemporary American culture.List of Figures Acknowledgements Introduction About Television Talk Shows Anxiety and Agency: Oprah and Constructions of Self Confessional Discourse on Oprah Oprah and Narrating the Self The Oprah Persona Conclusion Appendix Bibliography

'...interesting and challenging...offer[s] a nuanced and appreciated analysis of the way that experience is explored in the talk show whilst retaining a critical perspective of of the overall social significance of these performances.' - Peter Lunt, University College London

SHERRYL WILSON is a lecturer in Media Theory at Bournemouth Media School, Bournemouth University, UK. Her interests include the cult of celebrity, reality TV, popular culture and identity. She has previously taught at the School of Media and Cultural Studies, University of the West of England, UK.