Ronald Reagan, The Movie: And Other Episodes In Political Demonology

By Michael Rogin

Book Overview

The fear of the subversive has governed American politics, from the racial conflicts of the early republic to the Hollywood anti-Communism of Ronald Reagan. Political monsters--the Indian cannibal, the black rapist, the demon rum, the bomb-throwing anarchist, the many-tentacled Communist conspiracy, the agents of international terrorism--are familiar figures in the dream life that so often dominates American political consciousness. What are the meanings and sources of these demons? Why does the American political imagination conjure them up? Michael Rogin answers these questions by examining the American countersubversive tradition.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0520059379
• ISBN13: 9780520059375
• Release Date: May 1987
• Publisher: University of California Press
• Length: 366 Pages
• Weight: 1.82 lbs.

Customer Reviews

A brilliant series of essays

Rogin is always interesting and the essays collected in this volume are no exception. Dense and fascinating, the book is full of insights into what Rogin calls the countersubversive tradition in America (and on many other things as well). In other reviews posted here, there are arguments over his politics (which are, indeed, on the left). The problems I have with this book have more to do with Rogin's Freudianism. Nevertheless, even if you don't accept the full weight of the phallic significance of Civil War swords for D.W. Griffith, you'll still get fascinating insights into BIRTH OF A NATION. A book everyone interested in 20th century American political culture should read, even if they don't end up agreeing with it.

Don't listen to the other review!

While there are certainly points in this book where Rogin does go to far, and this may be because of some sort of liberal bias - the other review posted here is so far off the truth in terms of most of this book that I had to write this review. Rogin is brilliant. His multidisciplinary approach is wonderful. His film analysis is terrific. His historical inquiry is insightful. You should definitely take a look at this book if you are interested in the Reagan phenonemenon and the intersection of culture and politics.