Why Arnold Matters: The Rise of a Cultural Icon (Hardcover)

~ (Author), Louise Krasniewicz (Author) "IF YOU ARE NOT IN THE MOVIE BUSINESS, or don't have a rabid fascination with movie production, then you probably don't know that rumors about..." (more)
Key Phrases: kindergarten cop, recall election, recall campaign, Arnold Schwarzenegger, United States, Los Angeles (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description

How Arnold Schwarzenegger has shifted the entire American cultural and political landscape, how he--and we--got there, and why we all should care.

After nearly thirty years in the public eye, Arnold Schwarzenegger's rise to fame and fortune--and statesmanship--represents a celebrity the likes of which we've never seen before. As co-authors and longtime collaborators Blitz and Krasniewicz argue in this humorous but heady book, it is not just a matter of his transformation from bodybuilder to megastar to politician. Nor is his governorship of California just a matter of another actor assuming the position. Instead, at the beginning of the 21st century, "Arnoldness" has spread into every corner of our culture. More than a name, more than a spectacular career, he has become a set of ideas--an ultramodern take on the quintessential American dream.

Having followed the cult of Arnold for twenty years, Blitz and Krasniewicz are uniquely qualified to illuminate his growing hold on our collective imagination. As an adjective, as a metaphor, as an easy reference point for anyone talking about things tough, forceful, and successful, they'll explain exactly why Arnold matters--and for better or worse, richer or poorer, America may never be the same.

About the Author

Michael Blitz is a professor of English and Chair of Thematic Studies at John Jay College, CUNY. Louise Krasniewicz is a Research Associate and digital Media Producer at the School of American Research in Santa Fe. Their work on Arnold Schwarzenegger has been featured in the Los Angeles Times, Chicago Tribune, the Houston Chronicle, and on CNN, NPR, and the BBC.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 320 pages
• Publisher: Basic Books (March 30, 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0465037526
• ISBN-13: 978-0465037520
• Product Dimensions: 8.5 x 5.8 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (16 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #1,523,986 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Perplexed by the negative reviews!, November 12, 2005

By	Pablo Vee (Santa Monica, CA) - See all my reviews

What gives with these one-star reviews??? Have these people actually read this book? I read it in two sittings, and every page has at least one surprising thing on it. I had no idea how far inside the "mind" of American life "Ahnold" had gotten. The authors show example after example of truly bizarre ways that Schwarzenegger has become THE quintessential example of almost everything in the culture! I thought I knew the basics about the guy, but it turns out he is connected to a lot more than movies and bodybuilding. The ways that people have used his name, his image, just the idea of him, amazing. The authors have done VERY thorough research on this guy, and this book goes in a totally different direction than the recent biography (which I read and would rate maybe 3 stars). There is even a chapter about the authors' dreams and the meaning of the fact that they had hundreds of dreams about Arnold while they were learning about him. Besides the fact that the dreams are weird and interesting, the authors connect the dreams to the ways that Arnold has been creeping into our lives. Bottom line: read this book! If you find it boring, it's time to worry about how narrow your imagination has gotten!

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An excellent tool for educators, March 4, 2005

By	Derek Owens (Long Island, NY) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

I know of no better book for introducing students to a creative, scholarly, and cross-disciplinary approach to cultural studies. I've excerpted chapters and passages for undergraduates and graduate students and the response has been overwhelmingly positive. Lively, funny, witty, sharp, deep. An excellent example of how writers can collaborate successfully, and integrate popular culture, politics, philosophy, sociology, technology, and media studies on their own terms. Sophisticated, scholarly, and very unique. Would that all academic analyses were this original, laugh-out-loud funny, and topical.

If you want a taste of what the authors do, check out their website: google "Dreaming Arnold."

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Not informative, July 1, 2004

By A Customer

While these authors have examined themes related to Schwarzenegger, potential readers should be aware that this book touches on themes, but is not a detailed or scholarly work. For example, one chapter consists of the authors' dreams about Schwarzenegger over the years.