American mythologies : semiological sketches / Manuel Pena.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

PenÌa, Manuel H., 1942- author.

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Semiotics--United States.

Semiotics.

Popular culture--United States.

Popular culture.

National characteristics, American.

United States--Civilization.

United States.

United States--History--Errors, inventions, etc.

Physical Description:

1 online resource (183 p.)

Edition:

1st ed.

Place of Publication:

London ; New York : Routledge, 2016.

Language Note:

English

Summary:

Grounded in a semiological approach, which explores the displacement of information and the transformation of signs that characterise mythic communication, this book sheds light on the socio-economic, gendered, national and racial interests that lie behind myth-making. Presenting rich case studies from popular culture and public discourse, it demonstrates the manner in which these myths, and American mythology in general, promote the core values of everyday life under capitalism: rugged individualism, the unfettered right to accumulate wealth, the superior moral character of free-enterprise de

Contents:

Introduction: American mythologies

Bright toy trucks

The international community

Corrupt union bosses

Wal-mart's associates

From rags to riches

Obama's death panels

Puff Daddy's tuxedo

Egypt in Las Vegas

The Alamo as shrine

Manufactured natural

Designing intelligence.

Notes:

First published 2012 by Ashgate Publishing.

Includes bibliographical references and index.

Description based on print version record.

ISBN:

1-4094-9540-X

1-317-18229-4

1-315-56668-0

1-317-18228-6

1-280-57065-2

9786613600257

1-4094-4275-6

9781315566689

OCLC:

781626807