A/V A to Z: An Encyclopedic Dictionary of Media, Entertainment and Other Audiovisual Terms

From Booklist

As the subtitle of this work makes clear, A/V encompasses a broad range of topics. With definitions of more than 10,000 words used in film, television, home entertainment, and mobile media, “from initial concept through commercial presentation,” the coverage is extensive. The detailed definitions include alternate forms, parts of speech, usage notes, examples, etymologies, and more. In addition to see references, compare references (similar to see also) send readers to related entries. For example, the definition of dropout compensator contains a compare reference to error concealment, and horror references monster movie and slasher film. The detailed entries include the term and its alternative, a definition, and other usage. Photos from movies, illustrations, and cartoon drawings illustrate terms, for example, false reverse. The Dictionary of Media and Communication Studies (7th ed., Oxford, 2006) is more scholarly in its approach and does not have the same depth of coverage. A/V A to Z is similar to Dictionary of Media and Communications (Sharpe, 2008) but has greater detail and depth of entries as well as beneficial illustrations. This dictionary will be useful for communication studies programs and for libraries with media-savvy clientele. --Jack O'Gorman

Review

“labor of love...understandable, straightforward...nicely produced”―Against the Grain; “a welcome addition”―Reference Reviews; “this is a substantial dictionary that has a fantastic breadth of coverage”―ARBA; “the more I read, the more impressed I became. This was not a crusty tome primed for dust collection, but an outpouring of knowledge that seemed to encompass the entire multidimensional field...sophisticated, authoritative, comprehensive and fun all at the same time”―Screen Education.