Popular cinema as political theory : idealism and realism in epics, noirs, and satires / John S. Nelson.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Nelson, John S., 1950- author.

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Motion pictures--Political aspects--United States.

Motion pictures.

Motion pictures--Political aspects.

United States.

Politics in motion pictures.

Physical Description:

xii, 249 pages ; 23 cm

Edition:

First edition.

Place of Publication:

New York, NY : Palgrave Macmillan, 2013.

Summary:

Cinema, literature, and television shape our collective political understanding. Their dramas enact and test political ideas, especially when they use the political myths widely available in popular forms such as epics, noirs, and satires. Popular Cinema as Political Theory explores mythmaking in popular genres, demonstrating how to see political arguments in the conventional characters, deeds, and settings that enable movies to entertain us. Analyzing favorites such as The Prestige, L A. Confidential, StarTrek Into Darkness, No Country for Old Men, and O Brother, Where Art Thou?, John S. Nelson provides a provocative and original account of political lessons from summer blockbusters and cinematic masterpieces alike. Book jacket.

Contents:

Doing political theory with popular films: styles in action in everyday life

An epic comeback? post-western politics in film and theory

Rhythms of political satire: post-modern politics in words, musics, and movies

Realism as a political style: noir insights

Noir in paradise: testing and twisting realist politics

Conclusion

Unsettling idealism versus realism: perfectionism in two classics of neo noir

Appendix A: Classic film noir according to critical consensus

Appendix B: Some interim noir films according to commentators

Appendix C: Neo-noir films according to Nelson.

Notes:

Includes bibliographical references and index.

ISBN:

9781137374707

1137374705

OCLC:

854906202