Warrior dreams: violence and manhood in post-Vietnam America

Vietnam signaled the end of America's long history of martial victories. In Warrior Dreams, James William Gibson argues that the shame of defeat by a technologically inferior enemy, compounded by challenges to the status quo from feminism and minority groups, created a profound crisis in Americ...

Full description

Saved in:  
Bibliographic Details
Main Author: Gibson, James William (Author)
Format: Print Book
Language:English
Published: New York, N.Y. Hill and Wang 1994
In:Year: 1994
Availability in Tübingen:Present in Tübingen.
UB: KB 19 A 5431
Check availability: HBZ Gateway
Subito Delivery Service: Order now.
Keywords:
Description
Summary:Vietnam signaled the end of America's long history of martial victories. In Warrior Dreams, James William Gibson argues that the shame of defeat by a technologically inferior enemy, compounded by challenges to the status quo from feminism and minority groups, created a profound crisis in American identity - particularly for the white American male - and gave birth to a disturbing and reactionary new war culture designed to make America well again. Armed with a journalist's curiosity and a critic's precision, Gibson sets out to map this new American war zone. He plays paintball with Los Angeles's weekend warriors, learns to shoot like a pro at Arizona's elite Gunsite Ranch, and parties with soldiers of fortune at their annual convention in Las Vegas. Gibson surveys the combat magazines and weapons advertisements, films and novels that fuel the sexual, violent fantasies of millions of would-be warriors across the country. And he shows how this mythology, far from harmless consumer entertainment, has indeed started a new war with real warriors - Aryan Nation, contract killers, mercenaries in Central America - and with dangerous consequences for our democracy
Vietnam signaled the end of America's long history of martial victories. In Warrior Dreams, James William Gibson argues that the shame of defeat by a technologically inferior enemy, compounded by challenges to the status quo from feminism and minority groups, created a profound crisis in American identity - particularly for the white American male - and gave birth to a disturbing and reactionary new war culture designed to make America well again. Armed with a journalist's curiosity and a critic's precision, Gibson sets out to map this new American war zone. He plays paintball with Los Angeles's weekend warriors, learns to shoot like a pro at Arizona's elite Gunsite Ranch, and parties with soldiers of fortune at their annual convention in Las Vegas. Gibson surveys the combat magazines and weapons advertisements, films and novels that fuel the sexual, violent fantasies of millions of would-be warriors across the country. And he shows how this mythology, far from harmless consumer entertainment, has indeed started a new war with real warriors - Aryan Nation, contract killers, mercenaries in Central America - and with dangerous consequences for our democracy
Item Description:Hier auch später erschienene unveränd. Nachdrucke
Bibliogr. S. [311] - 341
Hier auch später erschienene unveränd. Nachdrucke
Physical Description:VIII, 357 S 24 cm
ISBN:0809015781
9780809015788
0809096668