Tied Up in Knots (Landing): The Dissemination of Dual Meanings on Television

Something strange is happening in Knots Landing -- and was on KNOTS LANDING, the much-loved '80s primetime soap drama.
While women all over the world were re-entering the work force in record numbers, the female characters on this program were, too.

However, when Karen (Michele Lee) re-starts her career after a life as a wife and mother, she gets kidnapped; and then her place of business blows up, sending her back to home and hearth. So it went; when any of the show's major female characters succeeded, they would pay dearly for it -- largely by being denied a loving family. While these characters -- many of whom still resonate with fans today -- did reflect societal changes, they were all being punished for their pursuit of power. Apparently, these women couldn't have it all.

This book explores the dual levels of meaning present on the show; empowering and insidious. Drawing from Marxist theory, feminist stances, television criticism, and subjective fandom, I demonstrate how these two levels of meaning fused to make KNOTS LANDING far more challenging and compelling than its millions of loyal viewers expected.