American Political Fictions: War on Errorism in Contemporary American Literature, Culture, and Politics

ISBN-13: 9781137518880 / Angielski / Twarda / 2015 / 214 str.

Peter Swirski

Opis

American Political Fictions rewrites the book on American political art in a myth-busting study that ranges from historical 'faction' and apocalyptic thrillers to satirical fiction, rap poetry, TV's The West Wing, and not least the make-believe that streams out of the White House. It critically, not to say skeptically, sieves out historical facts from a sea of partisan and bipartisan disinformation in order to forge a more accurate picture of contemporary American culture and, through it, of America itself. In the process, it elucidates the ideological underpinnings, cultural manifestations, and democratic essence of contemporary political art - and of the partisan politics on which it feeds.

Recenzje

"His new book, American Political Fictions, completes a trilogy of sorts on American politics and popular fiction, preceded by Ars Americana, Ars Politica (2010) and American Utopia and Social Engineering (2011). ... the indispensability of his study, not only for literary, political, and American studies but also for any scholar looking at television, rap music, and even religious eschatology." (Tero Eljas Vanhanen, Journal of American Culture, December, 2016)

"Well versed in both political and literary theories and contemporary developments, Swirski engages in an in-depth and rigorous discussion that sheds light on the myths lying at the heart of American politics by focusing on diverse art and media such as novels, music, film and television. ... American Political Fictions offers a profound analysis by a deeply engaged and erudite scholar who examines the literature of politics in an entertaining and yet sharp and caustic manner." (Chrysavgi Papagianni, European Journal of American Studies, October, 2016)

"One of the many remarkable things about this literary and political study is that it does not limit itself to identifying the myths underlying contemporary American politics and filleting them with verve, wit, and humor. ... [A] must-read of the year...[Swirski] spells out the potential solution to some of the political woes beginning notably with political apathy which plague the United States and many other Western democracies....[R]ecounted with the aplomb of a journalist tempered by the research habits of a historian." - The Montréal Review

Spis treści

Introduction: Artists and Con-Artists 1. A Picture is Worth a Hundred Thousand Words: Joseph Heller, Picture this 2. No Child Left Behind: Tim LaHaye and Jerry B. Jenkins, Left Behind: A Novel of the Earth's Last Days 3. A Planet for the Taking: Alistair Beaton, A Planet for the President 4. (R)hyming (A)merican (P)oetry: various artists 5. The Left Wing: Aaron Sorkin, Lawrence O'Donnell, Jr., Eli Attie, et al., The West Wing

O autorze

Peter Swirski is a Canadian scholar and literary critic featured in Canadian Who's Who. Specialist in American literature and American Studies, and Amazon's #1 Bestseller in Canadian Literary Criticism and American Literary Criticism, he is the author of fifteen award-winning books, including From Lowbrow to Nobrow (2005), Ars Americana, Ars Politica (2010), and American Utopia and Social Engineering (2011).