Reading Six Feet Under: TV to Die For

by Kim Akass (Foreword), Janet McCabe (Editor), Mark Lawson (Editor)

Praised for its unabashed portrait of the 'death care' industry, HBO's 'Six Feet Under' is less about the business of death than the art of living well. It was created by Alan Ball ('American Beauty') and centres on a Pasadena undertakers run by two brothers, with their mom and teenage sister making up the dysfunctional family quarter. This innovative, controversial show charts difficult territory, from death, dying and bereavement, to female and gay sexualities, laying bare in the process an American cultural consciousness. 'Six Feet Under' first aired among HBO's 'must-see' Sunday night line-up in 2001, going on to establish itself as a critical and ratings winner. This book on the groundbreaking show examines such themes as the modern sacred and profane, pornography and the dead body, magic realism and the grotesque, American cultural politics, self-help culture, family relationships, homosexuality and re-thinking the closet, the church and gay politics, motherhood and teenage rebellion. Entertaining and enlightening in equal measure it contains a complete episode guide to the first four series of 'Six Feet Under'.

Genres: Nonfiction, Death, Film, Tv

249 pages, Paperback

First published June 4, 2005

Reviews

[Didem · Rating 5 out of 5]

Six Feet Under is a TV show that boldly discusses a variety of subjects about life in each episode, alternating gracefully between drama and comedy. This book is a great collection of essays on Six Feet Under. One of the best creations of TV definitely deserves a comprehensive collection of essays like this. The essays capture a variety of aspects of the show and leave the reader with interesting points to think about.

[Amy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Its a little too academic for my tastes, but I guess its good to challenge the brain a little with some long words I can't skim over. I already thought the show was brilliant, so this book just makes it a little richer for me. Oh, and I gleaned a fact that made me really happy - Gabriel Garcia Marquez's son is a director for this show, and he directed my favorite episode (season 2 premier). I guess if I ever get trapped in a conversation with tv geeks at a party, now I'll have something to say.

[RP Madison · Rating 3 out of 5]

Though thought provoking and thoroughly researched I can't help but feel these essays are hobbled by the fact that they were written at what seems like the halfway point in the series. For a show featuring so many groundbreaking characters with fufilling and unexpected arcs to write these assessments without knowing the full story seems like a huge missed opportunity. The chapter on Brenda specifically sticks out as partially accurate but also maligned by what the reader would know while consuming this after the series ended. Another volume exploring the series as a complete piece of work would be far more satisfying.

[Alberto Boschini · Rating 3 out of 5]

Some articles are very interesting, which I cannot say of many others, that I found very boring. Recommended to Six Feet Under fans only. Maybe people interested in the works of Alan Ball o in TV in general. Like me.

[Jenna · Rating 1 out of 5]

Who is this book even written for? I have been a huge fan of SFU since the early aughts so this book should have been way up my alley. Instead it was a snooze fest that I DNF’d halfway through.

Boring af. Would not recommend.

[Gaijinmama · Rating 5 out of 5]

My parents didn't let me watch a lot of TV when I was a kid. As a result I'm totally addicted! Especially since there is excellent , quality programming such as Six Feet Under. I have my parents to thank for my sick, morbid sense of humor and my acceptance of death as part of life (Mom worked in hospice care and both grandfathers were ministers, so death and dying were dinner table conversation in our home).
There has never been and never will be a show like Six Feet Under, and here we have an intelligent collection of essays analyzing every possible aspect of the show. I was particularly impressed by the last essay, writen by an award-winning author who also happens to be a funeral director.
For fans of this show, this is a must-read.

[Stephanie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Like other books of its ilk, this book had high points and low points for me. Some of the observations were spot-on, and some were way too academic-wanky for me. It made me want to watch a bunch of episodes again, which I guess is a good thing.

[Mary]

Can't find it!

[Amy · Rating 1 out of 5]

Thought I was going to write a paper about Six Feet Under, but I didn't. Essays are "eh." Boring.