Patterns of American Popular Heroism (Paperback)

James G. Shoopman

ISBN 10: 1476673993 / ISBN 13: 9781476673998

Published by McFarland & Co Inc, Jefferson, NC, 2020

About this Item

Paperback. 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. 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, to the 1960s and 1970s wave of new renegades, to the world weary cops and the super-heroism of the 21st century. Shipping may be from multiple locations in the US or from the UK, depending on stock availability.

Seller Inventory # 9781476673998

Bibliographic Details

• Title: Patterns of American Popular Heroism (Paperback)
• Publisher: McFarland & Co Inc, Jefferson, NC
• Publication Date: 2020
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 1476673993
• ISBN 13: 9781476673998
• Binding: Paperback
• Condition: new

About this title

Synopsis

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.

About the Author

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.