The Myths That Made America
An Introduction to American Studies
This essential introduction to American studies examines the core foundational myths upon which the nation is based and which still determine discussions of US-American identities today. These myths include the myth of »discovery,« the Pocahontas myth, the myth of the Promised Land, the myth of the Founding Fathers, the melting pot myth, the myth of the West, and the myth of the self-made man.
The chapters provide extended analyses of each of these myths, using examples from popular culture, literature, memorial culture, school books, and every-day life. Including visual material as well as study questions, this book will be of interest to any student of American studies and will foster an understanding of the United States of America as an imagined community by analyzing the foundational role of myths in the process of nation building.
Overview Chapters
-
Frontmatter
Seiten 1 - 6 -
Contents
Seiten 7 - 8 -
Acknowledgments
Seiten 9 - 10 -
Introduction
Seiten 11 - 42 -
Chapter I: Christopher Columbus and the Myth of 'Discovery'
Seiten 43 - 88 -
Chapter II: Pocahontas and the Myth of Transatlantic Love
Seiten 89 - 136 -
Chapter III: Pilgrims and Puritans and the Myth of the Promised Land
Seiten 137 - 196 -
Chapter IV: American Independence and the Myth of the Founding Fathers
Seiten 197 - 256 -
Chapter V: E Pluribus Unum? The Myth of the Melting Pot
Seiten 257 - 310 -
Chapter VI: Agrarianism, Expansionism, and the Myth of the American West
Seiten 311 - 366 -
Chapter VII: Expressive Individualism and the Myth of the Self-Made Man
Seiten 367 - 420 -
By Way of Conclusion
Seiten 421 - 426 -
Index
Seiten 427 - 450
21 August 2014, 450 pages
ISBN: 978-3-8376-1485-5
Payments in Euro can be made directly with us from destinations worldwide.
Prices incl. VAT. Free delivery within Germany, for other destinations see details.
* = recommended retail price