This collection of essays addresses important questions about the relationship between fact and fiction: When does history become myth, and when does myth become legend? Does a romanticized view of history distort the reality it is trying to convey, or in capturing the “spirit” of history, does it teach history in ways that mere fact cannot? What is the impact of motion pictures on our understandings of history and on historical memory? And what of the lives of the individuals it portrays? These essays introduce arguments about how storytelling within a film can help the viewer understand a historical situation better, and even empathize with historical figures in a new way.
A discussion of Laurel and Hardy films in a way that is both critical and appreciative, Bliss explores how complex the comedic duo’s films are in terms of acting, structure, and storyline, also
In this book, World War II veterans compare their wartime experiences – as soldiers, pilots, “code talkers,” and prisoners of war – to on-screen portrayals of the war in Hollywood films. Also, two wom
This book looks at how the Warner Bros. studio used edgy, stylistic, and brutally honest films to construct a view of America from 1927-1941. Author Chris Yogerst looks at how the Warner Bros. films d
For nearly 25 years, Pauline Kael (1919-2001) was one of America’s most respected, controversial, and talked-about film reviewer, yet her film criticism forThe New Yorker has never been systematically
William S. Burroughs, Allen Ginsberg, and Jack Kerouac were three of the most significant figures of the Beat Generation, whose writings have been adapted and appropriated for graphic novels, feature-
The Cold War was perhaps the most critical and defining aspect of American culture from the late 1940s until the early 1990s, influencing popular culture products ranging from television to music to f
When women are given space as “smart” in the media, they often find themselves simultaneously undermined by stigmatizing qualities; finding it difficult to gain and maintain a romantic connection, for
This book explores how the Hollywood studios used sophisticated strategies of propaganda to ideologically unite the country during World War II. Through such films as Sergeant York, Casablanca, They W
The only person to receive four Academy Awards for best director, John Ford is considered by some to be America’s greatest homegrown filmmaker. This book looks at the two genres of films for which For
This collection addresses the relative scarcity of work relating to food-film studies, showcasing innovative viewpoints about a popular, yet understudied, subject in film. These essays move beyond sim
Even a century after its conclusion, the devastation of the Great War still echoes in the work of artists who try to make sense of the political, moral, ideological, and economic changes and challenge
The Western film continues to be reexamined by scholars, and this collection offers engaging essays on a variety of films and television shows that represent the genre. Essays in this volume consider
This volume examines various representation of John F. Kennedy on film, from fictionalized accounts of his wartime exploits—PT-109 (1963)—to his presidency, his assassination, and his legacy. With a f
2015 marks the 70th anniversary of the WWII’s end and the beginning of the general public’s awareness of Holocaust atrocities. This book offers an important look at Hollywood's ongoing representations
The films covered in this volume include Viva Zapata (1952), On the Waterfront (1954), East of Eden (1954), Baby Doll (1956), A Face in the Crowd (1957), Splendor in the Grass (1961), America, America
In Smart Chicks on Screen: Representing Women's Intellect in Film and Television, Laura Mattoon D’Amore brings together a collection of essays that examine the disparate portrayals of beauty and brain
The Hollywood Trust: Trade Associations and the Rise of the Studio System offers a rare look at the Hollywood trade organizations that rose during the early years of cinema. This book offers a detaile
This book argues that the US is a great colonial power and that this is clearly evident in network television’s treatment of minorities and colonized peoples. This book argues that televised represent
The past three decades have seen the rise of a transnational European cinema, not only in terms of production, but also in terms of a growing focus on multi-ethnic themes within the European context.
