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The 1960s (a.k.a. the 60s) remains a terrain of contemporary politics-with the values of the period embraced or rejected, as well as differently interpreted. Popular culture (movies, television) is an important means to understand and analyze the political issues and controversies surrounding the 60s-egalitarianism, equality (civil rights, feminism), as well as anti-communism (including the American war in Vietnam). In important and key instances popular culture (especially Star Trek [1966-1969]) was at the forefront of the progressive politics of the 60s. This book engages and analyzes the ongoing 60s through popular culture. The 60s is a pivotal period in American and world history-as the United States during this time turned away from white supremacy as official ideology. Also, the American public decidedly soured on U.S. military adventurism-as evidenced by broad public opposition to a military draft. Additionally, women (as a result of the feminism of the era) gained greater access to the public sphere and increased personal autonomy-non-discrimination (and anti-harassment) rules, abortion rights, and no fault divorce. Popular culture is philosophically significant because it allows people to cogitate reasons in the world-especially in the social, political realm. The creators of popular culture will often seek to offer the public authentic art, and much of the public seeks out authentic art. This makes American popular culture (in its finer forms) a viable source material about reason in the world. In this book the author doesn't seek to deconstruct popular culture; instead, he seeks to identify and analyze the reasons in the world depicted in it.
List of contents
Justice and the 60s - Nazism, Anti- communism, and Popular Culture - The Civil Rights Movement of the 60s, Anti- communism, and Man in the High Castle - Star Trek (Original Series) against Patriarchy and Jim Crow - Popular Culture and the Vietnam War - The Politics of Historical Memory - Conclusion: The 60s and the Future - Index.
About the author
George A. Gonzalez (Ph.D., University of Southern California) is Professor of Political Science at the University of Miami. Among other books, he has published
The Politics of Star Trek: Justice, War, and the Future,
The Absolute and Star Trek, and
Justice and Popular Culture.
Summary
Popular culture is an important means to understand the political issues and controversies surrounding the 60s - egalitarianism, equality, as well as anti-communism. In key instances popular culture (especially Star Trek) was at the forefront of the progressive politics of the 60s. This book analyzes the zeitgeist of the 60s through popular culture.
