Seriality at the periphery of television fiction, or intermediality as a critique of the “all narrative” serial

Abstract

Narrative studies tend to detract television shows from their rich aesthetic value and inherent complexity, which is not limited to their narrative dimension. The success of narrative approaches, whose relevance is not in question here, can be explained historically by the way they were introduced in the academic field and by the discourses surrounding television shows and other forms of serials. Methods developed in other academic fields can however be called for to better explain and understand the aesthetic value and fame of television shows. In this article, we aim at laying the groundwork of this reflection and opening the way we look at and understand these objects.

Keywords

• narratology
• seriality
• arts
• literature
• cinema
• painting