James G. Shoopman

Patterns of American Popular Heroism

From Roman and Biblical Roots to Modern Media

• Broschiertes Buch

Produktbeschreibung

The American popular hero has deeply bipolar origins: Depending on prevailing attitudes about the use or abuse of authority, American heroes may be rooted in the traditions of the Roman conquerors of The Aeneid or of the biblical underdog warriors and prophets. This book reviews the history of American popular culture and its heroes from the Revolutionary War and pre-Civil War "women's literature" to the dime novel tales of Jesse James and Buffalo Bill. "Hinge-heroes" like The Virginian and the Rider's of the Purple Sage paved the way for John Wayne's and Humphrey Bogart's champions of civilization, while Jimmy Stewart's scrappy rebels fought soulless bankers and cynical politicians. The 1960s and 1970s saw a wave of new renegades--the doctors of MASH and the rebel alliance of Star Wars--but early 21st Century terrorism called for the grit of world weary cops and the super-heroism of Wonder Woman and Black Panther to make the world safe.

Produktdetails

• Verlag: McFarland
• Seitenzahl: 294
• Erscheinungstermin: 22. September 2020
• Englisch
• Abmessung: 229mm x 152mm x 17mm
• Gewicht: 481g
• ISBN-13: 9781476673998
• ISBN-10: 1476673993
• Artikelnr.: 65437882

Autorenporträt

James G. Shoopman is an associate professor in the humanities and communication department of Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, where he teaches comparative religions and Western cultural history.

Inhaltsangabe

Table of Contents
Preface and Acknowledgments
Introduction. There Are Two Kinds: This Is Not the Kind You Can Skip
One. Virtue and Victory Defined
Two. Aeneas: Roman Prototype of Western European Heroism
Three. How Aeneas, the Epic Patriot, Made It to America
Four. Early Biblical Heroism: Moses and David
Five. The Late Biblical Heroes: Elijah, Jeremiah and Jesus
Six. Early American Biblical Heroes: Washington, Women and Slaves
Seven. Aeneas in Disguise: The Dime Novel Seth Jones, Detective Nick Carter
and Ragged Dick
Eight. Dime Novel Biblical Rebellion vs. Aenean Conquerors: Deadwood Dick,
Jesse James and Buffalo Bill Compete for Readership
Nine. The Hinge Heroes: The Virginian and Lassiter
Ten. American Heroes Challenge Evil on the Silver Screen: Humphrey Bogart,
Jimmy Stewart and John Wayne
Eleven. Rebellion of Biblical Proportions at the Movies
Twelve. Aeneas Resurgent in the 21st Century: John Wayne Refuses to Leave
the Building
Chapter Notes
Bibliography
Index