The American Dream and the Popular NovelRoutledge, 23.10.2017 - 256 Seiten This title, originally published in 1985, examines conceptions of success and the good life expressed in bestselling novels – ranging from historical sagas and spy thrillers to more serious works by Updike, Bellows, Steinbeck and Mailer – published from 1945 to 1975. Using these popular books as cultural evidence, Elizabeth Long argues that the meaning of the American dream has changed dramatically, but in a more complex fashion than has been recognised by that country’s most prominent social critics. Her study presents a challenge to prevailing social-scientific views of contemporary American culture, and represents, both in theory and method, an important contribution to the study of culture and social criticism. |
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... development; management consultants urged Americans to follow the Japanese example, and political interest groups offered first principles ranging from biblical literalism to solar power. The very diversity of such responses testifies ...
... changes over time, itself an interesting cultural fact, but also whether thematic changes emerge across generic boundaries over the years. If this is the case, such shifts, once again, point to general cultural developments. In other words,
Elizabeth Long. once again, point to general cultural developments. In other words, I am arguing that bestsellers are a particularly useful source of evidence precisely because they represent a sort of common denominator of our literary ...
... development, setting and novelistic tone were all considered relevant. In some cases, I have used a group of novels to ... developments that have transformed American society. Like popular novelists, they have identified success as a key ...
... developments in modern society. And, despite their differing terms and theoretical perspectives, all are coming to terms with the effects of affluence on the meaning of success.6 Because of their concerns about our society, I refer to ...
Inhalt
from entrepreneurial adventure | |
the varieties of selffulfillment | |
the failure of success | |
The social critics | |
Conclusion | |
Notes | |
Bibliography | |
Index | |