Projecting the End of the American Dream: Hollywood's Visions of U.S. Decline Gordon B. Arnold 9780313385636

This provocative book reveals how Hollywood films reflect our deepest fears and anxieties as a country, often recording our political beliefs and cultural conditions while underscoring the darker side of the American way of life. Long before the war in Iraq and the economic crises of the early 21st century, Hollywood has depicted a grim view of life in the United States, one that belies the prosperity and abundance of the so-called American Dream. While the country emerged from World War II as a world power, collectively our sense of security had been threatened. The result is a cinematic body of work that has America's decline and ruin as a central theme. The author draws from popular films across all genres and six decades to illustrate how the political climate of the times influenced their creation. Projecting the End of the American Dream: Hollywood's Visions of U.S. Decline combines film history, social history, and political history to reveal important themes in the unfolding American narrative. Discussions focus on a wide variety of films, including Rambo, Planet of the Apes, and Easy Rider.

This provocative book reveals how Hollywood films reflect our deepest fears and anxieties as a country, often recording our political beliefs and cultural conditions while underscoring the darker side of the American way of life.

About the Author
Gordon B. Arnold, PhD, is professor of liberal arts at Montserrat College of Art, Beverly, MA.

Reviews
Written free of jargon and pretension . . . Arnold adeptly manages to capture the most influential films representing each decade. . . . Recommended. * Choice *



Book Information
ISBN 9780313385636
Author Gordon B. Arnold
Format Hardback
Page Count 296
Imprint Praeger Publishers Inc
Publisher Bloomsbury Publishing Plc
Weight(grams) 652g