Hollywood blockbusters : the anthropology of popular movies

Sutton, David E. (David Evan) (Author). Wogan, Peter. (Added Author).

Summary: "Certain Hollywood movies are now so deeply woven into the cultural fabric that lines of their dialogue - for example, 'Make him an offer he can't refuse' - have been incorporated into everyday discourse. The films explored in this book, which include The Godfather, Jaws, The Big Lebowski, Field of Dreams and The Village, have become important cultural myths, fascinating windows into the schisms, tensions, and problems of American culture. Hollywood Blockbusters: The Anthropology of Popular Movies uses anthropology to understand why these movies have such enduring appeal in this age of fragmented audiences and ever-faster spin cycles. Exploring key anthropological issues from ritual, kinship, gift giving and totemism to literacy, stereotypes, boundaries and warfare, this fascinating book uncovers new insights into the significance of modern film classics for students of film, media, anthropology and American cultural studies"--Provided by publisher.

Record details

ISBN: 9781847884855 (pbk.)
Physical Description: print
xi, 178 p. ; 24 cm.
Publisher: New York : Berg Publishers, 2009.

Content descriptions

Bibliography, etc. Note:	Includes bibliographical references and index.
Formatted Contents Note:	Introduction -- The godfather : the gun, the pen, and the cannoli -- Field of dreams : foul balls and blurry lines -- The big Lebowski : bowling, gender, temporality, and other -- "What have yous" -- The village : egalitarianism and the political anthropology of the possible -- Jaws : knowing the shark -- Conclusion.