Mexican Studies Research Collective

by Paul Julian Smith

Edinburgh University Press

Studies the current artistic and industrial transformation of TV series in Mexico – the biggest and most dynamic Spanish-language market

• Presents and discusses a wide range of recent TV drama in Mexico, from telenovela to true crime and celebrity biography
• Looks at Mexican series available across the Spanish-speaking world, the USA and UK, available on streaming sites such as Netflix and Amazon Prime
• Gives an account of the creative processes of mainly female showrunners
• Addresses general issues of interest to media studies scholars in other territories
• Makes connections between television and other media, especially cinema

This book analyzes, for the first time, innovative Mexican television drama of the current decade. It provides an account of the processes of production and reception for seven series, offering close textual readings of individual episodes. At this critical time for the medium, the transition between national network television (Televisa) and transnational streaming platforms (Netflix andAmazon Prime), Mexican creators, mainly women, have responded with new and exciting innovations.

The book focuses on three genres. First, it shows how the much despised and loved heritage telenovela, addressed primarily to a female audience, has adapted to changed circumstances by addressing once taboo social issues and how a classic broadcast title is adapted for a new platform. Second, it examines fiction series and true crime titles, which investigate the key and troubled topic of the legal process in Mexico. And third, it addresses the key new genre of the bio-series in its multimedia context, focusing on a celebrated wrestler and movie star