Acting for America

by Eberwein, Robert; Baker, Aaron (CON); Bell-matereau, Rebecca (CON); Brown, William (CON); Deangelis, Michael (CON)

• ISBN13: 9780813547602
• ISBN10: 0813547601
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2010-06-15
• Publisher: Rutgers Univ Pr

Summary

A captivating cast of 1980s power and talent—John Candy, Tom Cruise, Robert DeNiro, Clint Eastwood, Sally Field, Harrison Ford, Michael J. Fox, Mel Gibson, Goldie Hawn, Jessica Lange, Steve Martin, Eddie Murphy, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Sissy Spacek, Sylvester Stallone, Meryl Streep, Sigourney Weaver, Bruce Willis, and the Brat Pack”—stars in the drama of this decade.Acting for Americafocuses on the way these film icons have engaged in and defined some major issues of cultural and social concern to America during the 1980s. Scholars employing a variety of useful approaches explore how these movie stars’ films speak to an increased audience awareness of advances in feminism, new ideas about masculinity, and the complex political atmosphere in the Age of Reagan. The essays demonstrate the range of these stars’ contributions to such conversations in a variety of films, including blockbusters and major genres.

Author Biography

He is distinguished professor of English emeritus at Oakland University. He is the author of Armed Forces: Masculinity and Sexuality in the American War Film: The War Film: Sex ED: Film, Video, and the Framework of Desire (all Rulgers University Press), and The Hollywood War Film.

Table of Contents

Acknowledgments	p. ix
Introduction: Stardom in the 1980s	p. 1
Robert De Niro: Star as Actor Auteur	p. 19
Sylvester Stallone and Arnold Schwarzenegger: Androgynous Macho Men	p. 36
Jessica Lange and Sissy Spacek: Country Girls	p. 57
Mel Gibson and Tom Cruise: Rebellion and Conformity	p. 77
Michael J. Fox and the Brat Pack: Contrasting Identities	p. 99
Eddie Murphy: The Rise and Fall of the Golden Child	p. 120
Sigourney Weaver: Woman Warrior, Working Girl	p. 139
Harrison Ford: A Well-Tempered Machismo	p. 160
Sally Field and Goldie Hawn: Feminism, Post-feminism, and Cactus Flower Politics	p. 180
Meryl Streep: Feminism and Femininity in the Era of Backlash	p. 201
Clint Eastwood and Bruce Willis: Enforcers Left and Right	p. 223
Steve Martin and John Candy: Penny Wise and Pound Foolish	p. 243
In the Wings	p. 263
Works Cited	p. 271
Contributors	p. 279
Index	p. 281
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