Paper Tiger Television(1981)

Name: Paper Tiger Television
Genre: Documentary, News, Talk
Released: 1981-01-01

25 episodesEnded

Paper Tiger Television is a public-access television series created in 1981 by a New York–based media collective led by DeeDee Halleck. Produced with a low-budget, do-it-yourself aesthetic, the series features artists, scholars, and activists critically examining mainstream media, often by analyzing newspapers, magazines, or television content on camera. Distributed through public-access channels and grassroots networks, the program became an influential example of alternative media, promoting media literacy and challenging corporate control of information.

Created by:: DeeDee Halleck
First aired:: 1981-01-01
Country:: US

Episodes

Season 1(25)

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1. Herbert Schiller Reads The New York Times: The Steering Mechanism of the Ruling Class
1981-01-01 · 30m
Media scholar Herbert Schiller analyzes The New York Times, examining how its structure and content shape political and cultural narratives.
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2. Natalie Didn’t Drown: Joan Braderman Reads The National Enquirer
1982-01-01 · 30m
Joan Braderman critiques tabloid journalism through The National Enquirer, focusing on sensationalism and narrative construction
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3. Stuart Ewen Reads The New York Post: Fantasy, Morality and Authority
1982-01-07 · 30m
Stuart Ewen examines The New York Post, analyzing its presentation of morality, authority, and popular culture.
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4. Bill Tabb Reads U.S. News & World Report: Disrobing the Economy
1982-05-26 · 30m
Economist Bill Tabb critiques economic reporting in U.S. News & World Report, focusing on how financial narratives are framed.
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5. Tuli Kupferberg Reads Rolling Stone: Always Smile When You Give ’em the Shaft
1982-10-13 · 30m
Poet Tuli Kupferberg analyzes Rolling Stone, examining its political positioning and cultural messaging.
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6. Martha Rosler Reads Vogue: Wishing, Dreaming, Winning, Spending
1982-12-01 · 30m
Artist Martha Rosler critiques Vogue, focusing on consumer culture, gender roles, and advertising imagery.
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7. Archie Singham Reads Foreign Policy: A Look at the Old Boy’s Network
1983-05-04 · 30m
Archie Singham examines Foreign Policy magazine, analyzing its perspectives on global power and elite networks.
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8. Joel Kovel Reads Life Magazine: It’s a New Life, Painting a Corpse
1983-09-21 · 30m
Joel Kovel critiques Life magazine, exploring how it constructs narratives of American life and social reality.
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9. Stanley Aronowitz Reads The New York Times: A Timely Look at Labor
1983-09-22 · 30m
Stanley Aronowitz analyzes labor coverage in The New York Times, focusing on representation of workers and unions.
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10. Elayne Rapping Swoons to Romance Novels
1983-09-23 · 30m
Elayne Rapping examines romance novels, exploring their themes, audience, and cultural significance.
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11. Richie Perez Watches Fort Apache: The Bronx
1983-09-28 · 30m
Richie Perez critiques the film Fort Apache, The Bronx, focusing on its portrayal of urban communities and policing.
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12. Patty Zimmerman Reads Variety: Hooray for Hollywood
1984-06-20 · 30m
Patty Zimmerman analyzes Variety, examining the film industry’s trade press and its framing of Hollywood.
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13. Pearl Bowser Looks at Early Black Cinema: The Legacy of Oscar Micheaux
1984-06-21 · 30m
Pearl Bowser explores early Black cinema through the work of Oscar Micheaux, examining its historical significance.
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14. Renee Tajima Reads Asian Images in American Film: Charlie Chan Go Home!
1984-06-22 · 30m
Renee Tajima critiques representations of Asian Americans in film, focusing on stereotypes such as Charlie Chan.
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15. Marc Crispin Miller Reads Cigarette Ads: Lots More Ifs, Ands & Butts
1985-01-01 · 30m
Marc Crispin Miller analyzes cigarette advertising, examining persuasive techniques and cultural messaging.
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16. Jean Franco Reads Mexican Novelas: Adiós Machismo! Hola Maquilladora
1985-01-03 · 30m
Jean Franco examines Mexican popular literature, analyzing gender roles and cultural narratives.
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17. Flo Kennedy Reads U.S. Press on South Africa: The Hair in the Milk
1985-02-01 · 30m
Flo Kennedy critiques U.S. media coverage of apartheid South Africa, focusing on omissions and framing.
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18. Noam Chomsky Reads The New York Times: Seeking Peace in the Middle East
1985-06-01 · 30m
Noam Chomsky analyzes The New York Times’ coverage of the Middle East, examining language and political framing.
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19. Thulani Davis Asks, Why Howard Beach?: Racial Violence and the Media
1987-01-21 · 30m
Thulani Davis examines media coverage of racial violence, focusing on the Howard Beach incident.
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20. Donna Haraway Reads The National Geographic on Primates
1987-01-22 · 30m
Donna Haraway critiques National Geographic’s portrayal of primates, exploring scientific narratives and ideology.
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21. Born to Be Sold: Martha Rosler Reads the Strange Case of Baby S/M
1988-01-01 · 30m
Martha Rosler examines media coverage of a high-profile custody case, analyzing themes of commodification and morality.
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22. Fred Landis Reads The Washington Times: The Dark Side of the Moonie
1989-01-01 · 30m
Fred Landis analyzes The Washington Times, focusing on its ownership and ideological influence.
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23. Protest + Education Can Equal Change (featuring Kathy High)
1992-01-01 · 30m
This program documents activist strategies combining protest and education to promote social change.
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24. The Last Graduation: The Rise and Fall of College Programs in Prison
1997-01-01 · 30m
The film examines the development and dismantling of higher education programs within U.S. prisons.
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25. Class Dismissed (featuring Howard Zinn and James Loewen)
2004-01-01 · 30m
Historians Howard Zinn and James Loewen critique the teaching of American history, focusing on omissions and narrative bias.