The Glass Teat
Encyclopedia
The Glass Teat: Essays of Opinion on Television (ISBN 0-515-03701-X) is a compilation of television reviews and essays written by Harlan Ellison
as a regular weekly column for the Los Angeles Free Press
from late 1968 into early 1970, discussing the effects of television
upon society. The title implies that TV viewers are analogous with unweaned children. Discussion of television is frequently interspersed in the essays with lengthy asides about Ellison's personal life, experiences and opinions in general.
Allegedly, "the book was highly regarded by television insiders and schools with media studies
programs."
Modern critics have noted that his criticisms have continued to remain relevant. The book's topics were dictated by the trends and fashions of the day.
Ellison later collected a second volume of criticism entitled The Other Glass Teat.
Harlan Ellison
Harlan Jay Ellison is an American writer. His principal genre is speculative fiction.His published works include over 1,700 short stories, novellas, screenplays, teleplays, essays, a wide range of criticism covering literature, film, television, and print media...
as a regular weekly column for the Los Angeles Free Press
Los Angeles Free Press
The Los Angeles Free Press , also called “the Freep”, was among the most widely distributed underground newspapers of the 1960s. It is often cited as the first such newspaper...
from late 1968 into early 1970, discussing the effects of television
Television
Television is a telecommunication medium for transmitting and receiving moving images that can be monochrome or colored, with accompanying sound...
upon society. The title implies that TV viewers are analogous with unweaned children. Discussion of television is frequently interspersed in the essays with lengthy asides about Ellison's personal life, experiences and opinions in general.
Allegedly, "the book was highly regarded by television insiders and schools with media studies
Media studies
Media studies is an academic discipline and field of study that deals with the content, history and effects of various media; in particular, the 'mass media'. Media studies may draw on traditions from both the social sciences and the humanities, but mostly from its core disciplines of mass...
programs."
Modern critics have noted that his criticisms have continued to remain relevant. The book's topics were dictated by the trends and fashions of the day.
Ellison later collected a second volume of criticism entitled The Other Glass Teat.