1.

Record Nr.

UNINA9910789951903321

Autore

Peǹa Manuel H. <1942-, >

Titolo

American mythologies : semiological sketches / / Manuel Pena

Pubbl/distr/stampa

London ; ; New York : , : Routledge, , 2016

ISBN

1-4094-9540-X

1-317-18229-4

1-315-56668-0

1-317-18228-6

1-280-57065-2

9786613600257

1-4094-4275-6

Descrizione fisica

1 online resource (183 p.)

Disciplina

973

Soggetti

Semiotics - United States

Popular culture - United States

National characteristics, American

United States Civilization

United States History Errors, inventions, etc

Lingua di pubblicazione

Inglese

Formato

Materiale a stampa

Livello bibliografico

Monografia

Note generali

First published 2012 by Ashgate Publishing.

Nota di bibliografia

Includes bibliographical references and index.

Nota di contenuto

Introduction: American mythologies -- Bright toy trucks -- The international community -- Corrupt union bosses -- Wal-mart's associates -- From rags to riches -- Obama's death panels -- Puff Daddy's tuxedo -- Egypt in Las Vegas -- The Alamo as shrine -- Manufactured natural -- Designing intelligence.

Sommario/riassunto

Grounded in a semiological approach, which explores the displacement of information and the transformation of signs that characterise mythic communication, this book sheds light on the socio-economic, gendered, national and racial interests that lie behind myth-making. Presenting rich case studies from popular culture and public discourse, it demonstrates the manner in which these myths, and American mythology in general, promote the core values of everyday life under capitalism: rugged individualism, the unfettered right to accumulate



wealth, the superior moral character of free-enterprise de