One of the bestselling novels of all time, The Great Gatsby is also considered one of the most significant achievements in twentieth-century fiction. In Gatsby: The Cultural History of the Great American Novel, Bob Batchelor explores the birth, life, and enduring influence of The Great Gatsby
American Science Fiction and the Roots of Postmodernism, 1946-1964
Focusing on the golden age of American science fiction in the 1950s, this book explores key novels and films from 1946 to 1964, a time marked by Cold War tensions. It highlights how these works reflect societal anxieties, particularly through themes of alien invasion and nuclear holocaust, paralleling the insights of contemporary social and cultural critics. The analysis reveals the profound impact of the era's geopolitical climate on the genre, showcasing the interplay between fiction and the fears of the time.
This text introduces the Caribbean anglophone novel to students. schovat popis
The book offers a comprehensive exploration of Science Fiction literature, featuring a detailed chronology and an introductory essay that contextualizes the genre's evolution. With over 300 cross-referenced entries, it serves as an extensive reference guide, highlighting key authors, works, themes, and significant developments within the genre. An extensive bibliography further enriches the reader's understanding and provides resources for further study, making it an essential tool for enthusiasts and scholars alike.
Exploring over 50 years of science fiction cinema, this book delves into its significance as a major American film genre. It highlights how these films have mirrored crucial themes and societal concerns, offering insights into the cultural evolution of America. By examining the intersection of science fiction and societal developments, the narrative provides a comprehensive understanding of both the genre and the historical context it has emerged from.
Exploring the evolution of American national myths, this book examines how narratives of adventure, individual heroism, and cultural icons reflect societal values and aspirations. It highlights figures like Christ, Shane, and Superman, who embody savior qualities, often appealing to youth. Additionally, it considers more relatable heroes, such as hardboiled detectives, who confront evil in everyday contexts. By analyzing these fantasies, the work seeks to uncover insights into contemporary American identity and the aspirations that shape it.
What's New in Film and Why It Makes Us Feel So Strange
Exploring the influence of postmodernism on American culture, this volume delves into its significant presence in cinema. It examines how films like Pulp Fiction, Mulholland Drive, and Marie Antoinette embody themes of fragmentation, musical integration, and pastiche. The book is divided into four sections that provide an accessible overview of postmodernist elements in film, highlighting its impact on everyday life and media, making it a vital resource for understanding this cultural phenomenon.
Exploring the cultural significance of a renowned television series, this book delves into themes such as evolving gender roles, family dynamics, and workplace relationships in the context of the American experience. It highlights how audiences connect with quality television to shape their identities and understand their lives, reflecting on the past while navigating contemporary issues.
THINGS FALL APART tells two overlapping, intertwining stories, both of which center around Okonkwo, a “strong man” of an Ibo village in Nigeria. The first of these stories traces Okonkwo's fall from grace with the tribal world in which he lives, and in its classical purity of line and economical beauty it provides us with a powerful fable about the immemorial conflict between the individual and society. The second story, which is as modern as the first is ancient, and which elevates the book to a tragic plane, concerns the clash of cultures and the destruction of Okonkwo's world through the arrival of aggressive, proselytizing European missionaries. These twin dramas are perfectly harmonized, and they are modulated by an awareness capable of encompassing at once the life of nature, human history, and the mysterious compulsions of the soul. THINGS FALL APART is the most illuminating and permanent monument we have to the modern African experience as seen from within.
