Institutional imaginaries: Serialized television fiction and cultural imperialism from the US

Authors

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.11606/issn.1982-8160.v20i1p65-88

Keywords:

TV series, cultural imperialism, soft power, fictional institutions, social construction of reality

Abstract

This article examines the role of US institutional TV series, particularly medical dramas, as soft power tools. From both constructivist and cultural imperialism perspectives, the study argues that these productions shape global perceptions of US institutions, disseminating ideals and imaginaries. They reinforce authority, historicize practices, and extol virtues of US institutions. The active participation of real entities in regulating these fictional narratives is highlighted, emphasizing their relevance in US cultural projection. The study concludes that institutional series connect audiences to complex social structures, playing a crucial role in contemporary cultural diplomacy.

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Author Biographies

  • Melina Meimaridis, Fluminense Federal University

    Ph.D. and master’s in communication from the Universidade Federal Fluminense (UFF). Postdoctoral fellow at the National Institute of Science and Technology in Informational Disputes and Sovereignties (INCT-DSI/UFF), supported by the National Council for Scientific and Technological Development (CNPq), project no. 406504/2022-9. Former recipient of the FAPERJ Nota 10 Postdoctoral Fellowship (SEI process no. 260003/014840/2021) in the Graduate Program in Communication (PPGCOM) at UFF. Associate researcher at the Global Internet TV Consortium.

  • Afonso Albuquerque, Fluminense Federal University

    Full Professor in the Department of Cultural and Media Studies and in the Graduate Program in Communication at Universidade Federal Fluminense (UFF). CNPq Researcher Level I-B and researcher of the Nosso Estado/FAPERJ program. Coordinator of INCT-DSI (Informational Disputes and Sovereignties). Former president of Compós and Compolítica. Member of the Editorial Board of several international journals, including Journal of Communication, International Journal of Communication, and Communication, Culture & Critique.

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Published

2026-04-30

Issue

Section

Dossier

How to Cite

Meimaridis, M., & Albuquerque, A. (2026). Institutional imaginaries: Serialized television fiction and cultural imperialism from the US. MATRIZes, 20(1), 65-88. https://doi.org/10.11606/issn.1982-8160.v20i1p65-88