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Planet of the Apes as American Myth: Race, Politics, and Popular Culture

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In film and telelvision, very few things happen by pure accident. Although Greene may seem at times to "read too much" into 'Planet of the Apes', in reality he presents a clear and very detailed analysis of the series and films in relation to the time in which they were produced. The connections between the two cannot be overlooked, and whether or not you agree with all of Greene's points, it is necessary to have all possible ideas presented in this type of study. This is exactly what we do with Shakespeare, for example--analyze his "art" in historical context. Whether Shakespeare intended all of the possible connections is, ultimately, irrelevent. Television and film, as a modern art form, can be examined in the same way. This book is a fine example of such analysis. Greene is a talented young writer and I look forward to more of his work.

Eric Greene's Planet of the Apes as American Myth: Race, Politics and Popular Culture began its publishing history in 1996 as the finest offering to date of the small but noteworthy American Studies publishers, McFarland. Apparently, this did not escape the attention of the somewhat less small, even more noteworthy Wesleyan University Press (which has, among other things, an exceptional line in popular music studies going), who have kindly made Greene's excellent study of the vicissitudes of race across the Planet of the Apes oeuvre not only more widely available, but, in a new paperback edition, more affordable as well, though adding only a useful introduction by Wesleyan's own Richard Slotkin. Greene's brilliant, thoroughgoing analysis follows the shifting role of race in the films, television series, and even comic books inspired by Pierre Boulle's satiric novel, Planete de les singes, in light of their contexts in the shifting discourses and politics of the Civil Rights and Black Nationalist movements of the 60's and 70's. Interestingly, perhaps only Boulle's originary novel gets short shrift here, albeit undersatndably, as it was the American adaptations which explicitly layered the factor of race on Boulle's ostensibly more general social satire. Greene also reminds us that The Planet of the Apes generated the sort of transmedia merchandising phenomena more generally believed to have begun with Star Wars. An essential work for Apes fans and media students alike ...

As far back as Aesop, the creative community has realized that talking animals can be especially effective surrogates for making social commentary. This book is an extensive treatment of this issue and therefore is especially for those interested in the mythical and social aspects of the Planet of the Apes series. Needless to say, if you want to know more about the movies as movies or you're interested in an apes price guide, you should probably look elsewhere. However, those looking here will not be disappointed with Greene's spot on ability to weave social analysis from the various naunces of the apes movies.
From 1968 to 1975 the apes series produced five movies and two separate television series. This is a very prodigious production rate commensurate with the series' ability to key into the American psyche. Much like the Simpsons today, the apes series gave its writing staff a chance to touch on issues like the war in Vietnam and race relations from an artistically safe vantage point. Like our fast food the Planet of the Apes series was a uniquely American foray into the land of Aesop. It was, perhaps our American "Animal Farm."

Movies are, more often than not, more of a comment on the times in which they were made than the times they represent. Rod Serling and Michael Wilson established their incredible careers writing stories about how human beings treat one another. So it's no coincidence that the futuristic Planet of the Apes films reflect the turbulent times in which they were written and produced - the late 1960s and early 1970s. At the height of the civl rights movement and the dawn of the Black power movement there was alot to say about how people treated other people with different colored skin. And while there are certainly other social issues being addressed in the Apes films, Greene has placed his finger squarely on the pulse of, perhaps, the major ideological force behind the films and their popularity. And he does so with a great sense of what makes a book of this sort entertaining as well as informative. I found the pacing to be excellent and the presentation far from dry. This is no textbook or dusty college paper! In fact, Greene educates and illuminates while giving lots of juicy stories, interviews, and backstage politics. He insightfully diagnoses each film for its symbolic content (both subtle and blatant) and for my money, he's spot on - from the casting of Charlton Heston in "Planet", to the use of School busses in "Battle." It has increased my enjoyment of the films many-fold. Read the book, then watch the films again and you will experience Planet of the Apes with a fresh perspective - one you haven't had since the first time you saw them. Personally, I am glad someone took the time to write about a body of work that means so much to so many people. I look forward to the update after Tim Burton's version debuts.

I can count on the fingers (and fully-opposable thumb) of one hand the number of books that have impressed, entertained, and inspired me as much as this one.

It doesn't hurt that I grew up as a hardcore Ape-o-phile. Still, had "Planet of the Apes as American Myth" been a mere nostalgic retrospective, it would not have riveted me as it did. Something strange happened as I read Greene's lucid, insightful and cogent commentary. I came to understand, finally, just why the Apes series and the world it evoked had, during my pre-teen and teen years, intrigued me on so many levels at once...and why the series' admittedly outlandish sci-fi premise always had to it the ring of truth. Reading this book, I felt vindicated. It was as if the author said, "You were right all along, Paul. These films really DID matter -- and here's why."

Like the final scene in the original 1968 film, Greene's book forces you to look back at all that preceded it (in this case, the POTA films & TV series) in an entirely new light. For Apes fans this is, quite simply, a MUST-READ.

(Paul McComas is the author of UNPLUGGED, TWENTY QUESTIONS, and the upcoming comedic coming-of-age novel PLANET OF THE DATES.)

It's all too rare that I come across a book like this -- one that is profound and intelligent about popular culture. Greene makes you think about the Apes films in whole new ways, but unlike a lot of social analysis of movies doesn't overreach. This book is already in the library of most die-hard Apes fans, but it should also be read by students of film in general and in fact anoyone wanting to hear a fresh, original and intelligent thinker about popular culture and social issues.

The Ape movies were not just mirrors to show us our racial problems but also to show solutions to them. But it wasn't just about race, but also about foreign affairs such as the Cold War and the Vietnam Conflict, religion vs. science, nature vs. nurture, the fears of a nuclear holocaust, even our treatment of animals and how we treat women.
The book really helped me to understand the movies with a detailed background about the times in which the movies were created. The book also has a touch of humor even while explaining about what the films were trying to say or show. Sometimes without even knowing it.

What an outstanding and comprehensive look at this phenomenal series! Eric has thoroughly researched and written about this particular aspect of American pop culture and its relevance to historical events that has been sorely neglected since Planet of the Apes hit the big screen in 1968. Given the tumultuous era in which the Apes series flourished, it is surprising that Eric was able to squeeze so much information and insight into one little book. Nice, breezy narration. Great wit!
Good work, Eric. Hope to see more from you soon!

I think Eric Greene did a good jop on writing this book.Though it does not cover any behind the scenes imformation.Its main focus is the political themes of the apes series.It tells about how the movies,TV shows,and more are related about probems(like Veitnam)in the 60s and 70s.Its a good book over all.

Eric Greene proves in his book to be an intelligent, articulate, scholarly author--with none of the stuffiness than can often accompany scholarship. He has found a fascinating way to examine a genre of entertainment, the entire Apes series, from a new perspective that makes us consider more than just the surface while we're enjoying what we're watching. To paraphrase Taylor from the first movie, although not doing justice to Charlton Heston's delivery, would a scholar...write a thought-provoking book...that ENTERTAINS?? Thankfully, in this case, the answer is a clear "yes."