The European Renaissance in American Life

by Grendler, Paul F.

• ISBN13: 9780275984861
• ISBN10: 0275984869
• Edition: 1st
• Format: Hardcover
• Copyright: 2006-03-30
• Publisher: Praeger Pub Text

Summary

An informative but light-hearted look at the popularity of the Renaissance today, this book was written by a Renaissance scholar intrigued with the way his subject continues to resonate outside the scholarly community. His purpose is to uncover and describe the many manifestations of America's love of the Renaissance. Why do millions don costumes to attend Renaissance Faires? Why do novels and films about the period enjoy continued popularity, as do Renaissance icons such as Elizabeth I, Michelangelo, Shakespeare and the Mona Lisa? How is it that American politicians and business leaders still look to Machiavelli as a symbol of wisdom-or of evil? Grendler posits that Americans embrace the Renaissance as a model of culture and sophistication, seeing it as confirmation that the individual can achieve greatness against long odds, a belief at the core of our own society. After an examination of "The Real Renaissance" (1400-1620), the book looks at ways in which Americans relive the experience (including Faires and "Living Last Suppers"), ways in which we re-create the Renaissance in our own world, and finally, ways in which the Renaissance is portrayed, for better or worse, in fiction and film.

Table of Contents

Illustrations	ix
Preface	xi
Introduction	xv
The Real Renaissance, 1400-1620	1	(32)
Part I: Reliving the Renaissance	33	(94)
Renaissance Faires	35	(28)
Renaissance Weekends and Living Last Suppers	63	(18)
The Renaissance Man and Woman	81	(16)
Renaissance Brand Names and Icons	97	(30)
Part II: Re-creating the Renaissance	127	(74)
American Renaissance Cities	129	(20)
Machiavelli: American Political Adviser	149	(34)
Machiavelli: Management Expert and Social Scientist	183	(18)
Part III: The Renaissance in Fiction and Film	201	(98)
The Renaissance in Fiction	203	(50)
The Renaissance in Film	253	(34)
Hating and Loving the Renaissance	287	(12)
Notes	299	(30)
Index	329