Pop Culture Goes to War: Enlisting and Resisting Militarism in the War on Terror [Paperback]

Pop Culture Goes to War, by Geoff Martin and Erin Steuter, explores the persistence of militarism in American popular culture in the war on terror, from 9/11 to the present day. The authors detail the role of Hollywood and the entertainment industries in rallying both the troops and the public for war and show how toys, video games, music, and television support contemporary militarism. At the same time that popular culture is enlisting support for militarism, it is also serving as a major source of resistance to the war on terror through the traditional mediums of music and movies, and increasingly through the humor and insight of anti-war artists who are jamming the culture of militarism. The satire ofThe Daily Show,The Simpsons, andSouth Parkare further examples of so-called culture jamming. This book is for readers who question the persistence of a warrior culture and offers new insights into the perpetuation of militaristic values throughout American culture.

Geoff Martinis assistant professor of continuous learning and political science at Mount Allison University.

Erin Steuteris professor of sociology at Mount Allison University.

This book provides an essential guide for the public to identify and deconstruct the pro-war messages lurking in much of commercial popular culture, including myths complicit with President Obama's sugar-coated militarism. Readers then learn how this menace to a potentially peaceful America can be subverted and reclaimed by and for a savvy public. Commendably, the authors' clearly written text avoids jargon making their crucial analysis available to a broad audience. Thomas Conroy, co-editor Constructing America's War Culture: Iraq, Media, and the War at Home

One of the most impressive aspects ofPop Culture Goes to Waris the extent to which the topics and arguments are well-documented, usually with sources drawn from a variety of disciplines and points of viewlóQ