The American Dream and American Cinema in the Age of Trump uses both
film theory and insights from object relations theory in order to
examine how recent films address and reflect the state of the 'American
Dream'. This fascinating book looks at how the American Dream is one of
the organising ideas of American cinema, and one of the most influential
cultural outputs of the twenty-first century, at a time of internal
crisis.
In an era characterised by populism, climate change and economic
uncertainty, the book considers nine auteur films in how they illustrate
the challenges of contemporary America. Graham S. Clarke and Ross Clarke
present a bifocal perspective on some of the most well-received American
films of recent years and how they relate to the American Dream in the
context of the Trump presidency. For each of the nine films discussed,
two different accounts are presented side by side so that each film is
considered from an object relations psychoanalytic point of view
(internal world) as well as a film and cultural theory perspective
(external world). This unique approach is complemented by discussion of
political and critical theory, providing a thorough and engaging
analysis.
Challenging and insightful, The American Dream and American Cinema in
the Age of Trump will be of great interest to scholars of cinema,
popular culture, American studies and psychoanalytic studies.