Abstract
Podcasting researcher, Alyn Euritt, examines intimacy and podcasting, asking the question ‘How do podcasts mediate?’ and using textual analysis of four American podcasts. The author aims to situate ‘textual analysis of specific American podcasts within podcast criticism, monetization, and production advice’ (blurb). Euritt argues that ‘instead of intimacy being inherent, the book argues that podcasting constructs intimacy and uses it to define the quality of its own mediation’ (blurb). The introductory chapter carefully outlines definitions of intimacy and mediation. Euritt conceptualises mediation, in this context, as ‘the relational connections among participants in a network’ (p. 2) - podcaster and listener as well as communities of listeners and the interactions between them. The author presents theories within media studies and highlights their limitations in studying podcasts, particularly ANT (Actor Network Theory). Nevertheless, this becomes a loose theoretical ground for studying podcasting as a medium. Liveness and intimacy become the main theoretical focal points of study and the four podcasts are textually analysed to show how ‘the techniques podcasts use to connect listeners and the ways in which podcasting describes itself, and those techniques, as intimate’ (p. 20). The first chapter explores narrative fiction podcast ‘Within the Wires’ and how technology, sound and voice impact the individual body of the listener. The focus is on the relationship between podcast and space. Chapter 2 delves into the comedy movie review podcast ‘The Flop House’ and explores liveness and parasocial relationships with a focus on the podcast's relationship to time. This is investigated further in Chapter 3 with the comedy storytelling podcast ‘Hello From the Magic Tavern’ and explores how podcasts can remain in people's lives throughout time. Finally, Chapter 4 uses ‘NPR Politics Podcast’ and ‘Yo! Is this Racist?!’ to consider time, space, liveness and how national connection in intimate communities is podcasting's contribution to the ‘national imagined community’ (p. 137). The book achieves the aims set by its author and will definitely be of interest to scholars and students of New and Digital Media, Media Studies, Communication Studies, Journalism, Literature, Cultural Studies, and American Studies.