Celluloid Mushroom Clouds: Hollywood and the Atomic Bomb (Critical Studies in Communication and in the Cultural Industries) [Hardcover]

Joyce A. Evans (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: March 1998 | ISBN-10: 0813326133 | ISBN-13: 978-0813326139

Providing an historical account of how the American film industry responded to specific economic and political forces during the post-war years, this work investigates the transformation of the imagery associated with atomic technology found in Hollywood film produced and distributed between 1947 and 1964. Incorporating qualitative and quantitative research methods, the book analyzes over 90 films in terms of their historical context and the context of film production and distribution.

Editorial Reviews

Review

Celluloid Mushroom Clouds offers powerful evidence of how quickly the Hollywood branch office of the popular culture business tamed the bomb--and the act of bombing--creating a genre that scholars could analyze just as they might juvenile delinquency or beach blanket bingo teen films. -- The Los Angeles Times Sunday Book Review, Tom Engelhardt

From the Publisher

Part of the Critical Studies in Communication and in the Cultural Industries Series, Herbert I. Schiller, Series Editor.

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 212 pages
• Publisher: Westview Pr (Short Disc) (March 1998)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0813326133
• ISBN-13: 978-0813326139
• Product Dimensions: 9.5 x 6.5 x 1.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.1 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #7,756,184 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5.0 out of 5 stars Review of Dr. Evans book, June 22, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Celluloid Mushroom Clouds: Hollywood And Atomic Bomb (Critical Studies in Communication and in the Cultural Industries) (Paperback)

This is a wonderful summary and deep analysis of a highly important subject to American society, the use of media in portraying icons of poplular culture derived from the most frightening scientific accomlishements of the decade. Professor Evans does an amazing job of simplifying and displaying for the reader the complexity of modern life, while emphasizing the impressive nature of modern life. This is a wonderful book, an intensely interesting subject and an excellent analysis. I would recommend it to any reader.

5.0 out of 5 stars This book really made me think differently about movies., November 4, 1998

By A Customer

This review is from: Celluloid Mushroom Clouds: Hollywood and the Atomic Bomb (Critical Studies in Communication and in the Cultural Industries) (Hardcover)

I really liked this book, it made me think differently about movies and what they portray. This study points out how decisions about what movies contain are influenced by the profit motives of the industry. It also provides a new look at science fiction movies of the 1950s and 1960s, how atomic culture contributed to the development of that genre.