James Joyce has emerged as one of the most significant writers of the twentieth century, and his writings continue to invite enormous amounts of scholarly attention. This volume offers a careful readi
Booker (English, U. of Arkansas) explores the science fiction novels and films of the 1950s, emphasizing their engagement with their social and cultural contexts, primarily scientific developments and
?Mario Vargas Llosa is one of the world's most respected and widely read living writers.? His work is marked by technical sophistication and by its alliance with a variety of trends in modern culture.
British leftist novels are best understood as part of a cultural phenomenon that reacts against the mainstream tradition of British literature but also establishes and draws upon traditions of its own
Employing thc theoretical resources provided by cultural critics such as Adorno, Jameson, Althusser, and Foucault, M. Keith Booker examines the treatment of issues of power and domination in modern li
This text is a critical primer in literary dystopia and critical dystopia in particular. The first section provides critical contexts for the topic. These include an overview of the critical reception
Supernatural and superhuman elements have been prominent in American culture from the time of the New England Puritans’ intense emphasis on religion. Superpower surveys the appearance of supernatural
This two-volume collection of essays on American popular culture presents current scholarship surrounding media representations of blue-collar culture in a variety of contexts. Beginning with an essay
Booker (English, U. of Arkansas) offers a reading of Irish author O'Brien's major works within the context of the carnivalesque ambivalence of Menippean satire and of Mikhail Bakhtin's work in general
A uniquely accessible guide to a difficult subject, A Practical Introduction to Literary Theory and Criticism introduces students to the major trends in contemporary literary theory. Offering the brea
In America, the long 1950s were marked by an intense skepticism toward utopian alternatives to the existing capitalist order. This skepticism was closely related to the climate of the Cold War, in whi
While literary utopias depict an ideal society and reflect an optimistic belief in the triumph of humanity and government, dystopias present a society marked by suffering caused by human and political
Prolific author M. Keith Booker investigates the hidden truths of some of America's most popular movies and tv shows -- including Buffy, Heroes, and Harry Potter -- and thus illuminates the changing
A wide-ranging survey of American children's film that provides detailed analysis of the political implications of these films, as well as a discussion of how movies intended for children have come t
From Blood Simple and Raising Arizona to Inside Llewyn Davis and Hail, Caesar!, the films of Joel and Ethan Coen represent a sort of alternate reality of America. The author explores how the settings&
African novels are not easy reading. The African novel differs from European and American novels in its social and historical background and in its aesthetics. African novelists make important use of