The terror dream : fear and fantasy in post-9/11 America /
Faludi, Susan.
New York : Metropolitan Books,
2007.
In this original examination of America's post-9/11 culture, journalist Faludi shines a light on the country's psychological response to the attacks of that terrible day. Turning her observational powers on the media, popular culture, and political life, Faludi unearths a barely acknowledged societal drama shot through with baffling contradictions. Why, she asks, did our culture respond to an assault against American global dominance with a frenzied summons to restore "traditional" manhood, marriage, and maternity? Why did we react as if the hijackers had targeted not a commercial and military edifice but the family home and nursery? The answer, she finds, lies in a historical anomaly unique to the American experience: the nation was forged in traumatizing assaults by nonwhite "barbarians" on town and village. That humiliation lies concealed under a myth of cowboy bluster and feminine frailty, which is reanimated whenever threat and shame looms.--From publisher description.
Includes bibliographical references (p. [297]-338) and index.
In this original examination of America's post-9/11 culture, journalist Faludi shines a light on the country's psychological response to the attacks of that terrible day. Turning her observational powers on the media, popular culture, and political life, Faludi unearths a barely acknowledged societal drama shot through with baffling contradictions. Why, she asks, did our culture respond to an assault against American global dominance with a frenzied summons to restore "traditional" manhood, marriage, and maternity? Why did we react as if the hijackers had targeted not a commercial and military edifice but the family home and nursery? The answer, she finds, lies in a historical anomaly unique to the American experience: the nation was forged in traumatizing assaults by nonwhite "barbarians" on town and village. That humiliation lies concealed under a myth of cowboy bluster and feminine frailty, which is reanimated whenever threat and shame looms.--From publisher description.
Pt. I: Ontogeny. We're at war, sweetheart ; The return of Superman ; The cowboys of yesterday ; Perfect virgins of grief ; Nesting nation ; President of the wild frontier ; Precious Little Jessi -- Pt. II: Phylogeny. Original shame ; Heed the mothers ; Here is our father! Now we are safe! ; Touch me not -- Epilogue: What if?
Popular culture
Political culture
Mass media
September 11 Terrorist Attacks, 2001
September 11 Terrorist Attacks, 2001
Fear
National characteristics, American.