Customer Reviews

CIVIL WAR IN POP CULTURE PB

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unrivaled in american literature, Cullen is able to master the subject in a unprecidented manner, his works are truly masterpieces and i would recomend them to any reader looking for literature on the topic.

Cullen's book tries to examine the Civil War from different 20th century perspectives such as Carl Sandburg's Lincoln, the movies Gone with the Wind and Glory, 70's Rebel rock, & 90's battlefield reenactors. It's a yawn - a boring, politically correct, droning waste of some pretty decent research. Cullen writes badly and has no sense of humor. Tony Horowitz' Rebels in the Closet covers basically the same topic in a much more entertaining manner and is a much better read.

In analyzing popular culture's portrayals of the Civil War primarily from the persective of race, class and gender, as well as political ideologues, Cullen purposely gives the reader an incomplete picture of this unique analysis. How can Cullen write about GWTW (which he did insightfully) and not mention the portrayals of Sherman and his army or of the Confederate veterans returning home? Why did he choose for an in-depth interview, a female reenactor? Overall, it was an entertaining read if you understand that, as an academic historian, Cullen writes from the biased position of a 'new historian'.