It is not uncommon for some brilliant, well-read director to mold a book into a Hollywood production. It is not odd for a successful movie to spark the creation of a hip new television series ("Buffy the Vampire Slayer," anyone?). So, why not make the vicious cycle come full circle and write a book about a television show - or four? The University's own Professor Paul Cantor thought it was a good idea.
"Gilligan Unbound: Pop Culture in the Age of Globalization" is the product of hours of watching television coupled with a little more brain activity than one usually engages in while assuming "couch potato" status.
In the book, Cantor analyzes four popular television shows, some trendier than others. The four shows include "Gilligan's Island" (hence the title), "Star Trek," "The Simpsons" and "The X-Files." In accordance with the title, Cantor observes how American television reflects globalization throughout the past decades. He claims that the first two shows, "Star Trek" and "Gilligan's Island," reflect the idea of the "Americanization of the world." He then goes on to say that the two more modern shows, "The Simpsons" and "The X-Files" reflect the reverse movement involving the globalization of America.
The book is broken up into five chapters. The first four involve each individual television show, progressing from the most gung-ho American, pro-government, "Gilligan's Island," to the most withdrawn, anti-U.S. Government, "The X-Files."
"Gilligan's" chapter, being the first, is a fairly good indication of what the rest of the book is going to be like. Cantor's observations make sense, and the show begins to appear intellectual. It is debatable whether this metamorphosis is beneficial at all. I know I will never again be able to mindlessly watch "Gilligan's Island" and absently chuckle at the islanders' foolish attempts at escaping paradise. Oh no, now I will watch and ponder the two questions my 12th grade government teacher pounded into my head, "Who governs? To what extent?" Thank you, Mr. Cantor!
Is this a good thing? Shouldn't there be a little bit of mindlessness left in the world?
Although the global connections in the "Gilligan's" chapter at times seemed like a stretch, the chapter on "The Simpsons" is brilliantly executed. By continuously referencing some of the show's best episodes, Cantor gives any "Simpsons" fan a sentence or two to hold dear.
The correlations that Cantor makes between Springfield and American globalization are right-on. You will find yourself nodding with his revelations. He even discloses some knowledge about a few episodes that only a very observant fan would notice.
This chapter is worth the whole book, and if you happen to be a big fan of any of the other shows, all the better.
"Gilligan Unbound" is an amalgamation of Cantor's heavy scrutiny and clever humor, flavored with a pinch of partisan bitterness. Although most of the book is focused on the non-partisan phenomenon of global trends in American television, he takes a couple jabs at the "liberal" tendencies of the Fox network.
Altogether, the book is an interesting read. If globalization interests you, or you are an avid fan of any of the four shows, you may want to give this book a once-over. Beware that there are some boring parts. No one ever said that globalization was the most enthralling topic ever, and if someone did, they ought to read this book.
"Gilligan Unbound," as you may have guessed, is not as easy as sitting back with a bag of chips and watching TV. Don't get me wrong, I'm all for reading. You'll understand what I mean when you get lost in some one-sided discussion of post-Cold War relations, or an analysis of a movie that you have never seen, never heard of and probably will never see.
There isn't a grammar mistake in the book, as far as I can tell. Which is good because Cantor teaches English.
Unless you absolutely can't get enough drawn-out analysis of television shows, you probably won't want to shell out the $27.95 Barnes and Noble (if it carries the book) will be asking for this little gem. Save the money and spend it on E-Bay buying tapes of old Simpsons episodes.
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