Kirjahaku

Issues of race, gender, women’s rights, masculinity, and sexuality continue to be debated on the national scene. These subjects have also been in the forefront of American literature, particularly in the last fifty years. One significant trend in contemporary fiction has been the failure of the heroic masculine protagonist. In Hypermasculinities in the Contemporary Novel: Cormac McCarthy, Toni Morrison, and James Baldwin, Josef Benson examines key literary works of the twentieth century, notably Blood Meridian (1985), All the Pretty Horses (1992), Song of Solomon (1977), and Another Country (1960). Benson argues that exaggerated masculinities originated on the American frontier and have transformed into a definition of ideal masculinity embraced by many southern rural American men. Defined by violence, racism, sexism, and homophobia, these men concocted or perpetuated myths about African Americans to justify their mistreatment and mass murder of black men after Reconstruction. As Benson illustrates, the protagonists in these texts fail to perpetuate hypermasculinities, and as a result a sense of ironic heroism emerges from the narratives. Offering a unique and bold argument that connects the masculinities of cowboys and frontier figures with black males, Hypermasculinities in the Contemporary Novel suggests alternative possibilities for American men going forward. Scholars and students of American literature and culture, African American literature and culture, and queer and gender theory will find this book illuminating and persuasive.

Since its publication in 1951, The Catcher in the Rye has been a cultural phenomenon, not only as an assigned text for English courses, but as a touchstone for generations of alienated youth. As the focus of recent major films and a successful off-Broadway play attest, J.D. Salinger and his novel continue to fascinate an American reading public. But who was J.D. Salinger, and how did he come to write a novel whose impact continues to resonate with millions of readers? In J.D. Salinger’s The Catcher in the Rye: A Cultural History, Josef Benson examines the legacy of an elusive author and his work. After exploring how the novel reflected Salinger’s tortured psyche, the study discusses how the book made an impact on multiple generations of readers—from 1960s counter-culture youth and followers of the Black Power movement of the 1970s to the disenfranchised teens of the Reagan era and the celebrity-fixated masses of the present day. Benson also unravels the mystery behind Salinger’s reclusiveness, the effects the novel had on the reading public who adored it, and why three American assassins cited the novel as an inspiration. The author also considers why this work of fiction has been among the most widely taught—and most frequently banned—books of all time. By looking at the novel as both an artifact of the 1950s as well as a living testament to the turmoil of teenage angst, J.D. Salinger’s The Catcher in the Rye provides a riveting discussion of one of the most enigmatic novels and authors of all time.

Star Wars: The Triumph of Nerd Culture engagingly reveals how the most popular film franchise of all time sprang from the mind of a deeply insecure nerd, who then inspired and betrayed a generation of fans. Josef Benson offers an unauthorized and provocative expose of the Star Wars franchise, fueled by George Lucas’s insecurities and the vengefulness of a fervent fan-base who felt betrayed when Lucas defiled the original films. Benson presents the conflict between George Lucas and Star Wars fans as comparable to the twisted relationship between Darth Vader and Luke Skywalker. Just as there is a riveting saga within the Star Wars universe that centers on the rise and fall of Anakin Skywalker and the redemption of Darth Vader, so too has a saga unfolded in relation to George Lucas and Star Wars fandom. Star Wars fans both love and hate Star Wars and George Lucas, he is equally responsible for their pleasure and pain. Star Wars: Triumph of Nerd Culture delves deeper into the Star Wars universe than any book has gone before. Providing a must-read for Star Wars fans and sending readers away able to watch Star Wars in the same way again.

Since its publication in 1951, The Catcher in the Rye has been a cultural phenomenon, not only as an assigned text for English courses, but as a touchstone for generations of alienated youth. As the focus of recent major films and a successful off-Broadway play attest, J.D. Salinger and his novel continue to fascinate an American reading public. But who was J.D. Salinger, and how did he come to write a novel whose impact continues to resonate with millions of readers? In J.D. Salinger’s The Catcher in the Rye: A Cultural History, Josef Benson examines the legacy of an elusive author and his work. After exploring how the novel reflected Salinger’s tortured psyche, the study discusses how the book made an impact on multiple generations of readers—from 1960s counter-culture youth and followers of the Black Power movement of the 1970s to the disenfranchised teens of the Reagan era and the celebrity-fixated masses of the present day. Benson also unravels the mystery behind Salinger’s reclusiveness, the effects the novel had on the reading public who adored it, and why three American assassins cited the novel as an inspiration.The author also considers why this work of fiction has been among the most widely taught—and most frequently banned—books of all time. By looking at the novel as both an artifact of the 1950s as well as a living testament to the turmoil of teenage angst, J.D. Salinger’s The Catcher in the Rye provides a riveting discussion of one of the most enigmatic novels and authors of all time.

In 1988, a thirteen-year-old girl named Meko arrived in Milwaukee as a refugee from Thailand. Not long after, she met Jeffrey Dahmer—the notorious serial killer and sex offender who, between 1978 and 1991, murdered and dismembered at least seventeen men and boys. Over the course of three years, Meko, along with Laotian victims Somsack and Konerak Sinthasomphone, developed an unlikely and disturbing friendship with Dahmer, offering a rare, firsthand perspective on one of America’s most infamous criminals. Based on author Josef Benson’s interviews with Meko, Infinity Land: The Untold Story of Jeffrey Dahmer presents exclusive, never-before-revealed information that radically reshapes our understanding of Dahmer, his crimes, and the city that enabled them. Meko’s story sheds light on Dahmer’s victim selection process, daily life, personal fascination with Adolf Hitler, and views on Milwaukee’s Black community. Through Meko’s eyes, readers are introduced to some of Dahmer’s haunts—such as the Milwaukee Rescue Mission and Charles Allis Museum—as well as previously unreported murder victims, including gay porn star Billy London. Infinity Land also reveals how Milwaukee’s deeply rooted segregation and fractured relationship between police and marginalized communities allowed Dahmer to operate with near-total impunity for years. This volume not only deepens our understanding of Dahmer and his victims but situates his crimes within American’s long history of racial violence.

In 1988, a thirteen-year-old girl named Meko arrived in Milwaukee as a refugee from Thailand. Not long after, she met Jeffrey Dahmer—the notorious serial killer and sex offender who, between 1978 and 1991, murdered and dismembered at least seventeen men and boys. Over the course of three years, Meko, along with Laotian victims Somsack and Konerak Sinthasomphone, developed an unlikely and disturbing friendship with Dahmer, offering a rare, firsthand perspective on one of America’s most infamous criminals. Based on author Josef Benson’s interviews with Meko, Infinity Land: The Untold Story of Jeffrey Dahmer presents exclusive, never-before-revealed information that radically reshapes our understanding of Dahmer, his crimes, and the city that enabled them. Meko’s story sheds light on Dahmer’s victim selection process, daily life, personal fascination with Adolf Hitler, and views on Milwaukee’s Black community. Through Meko’s eyes, readers are introduced to some of Dahmer’s haunts—such as the Milwaukee Rescue Mission and Charles Allis Museum—as well as previously unreported murder victims, including gay porn star Billy London. Infinity Land also reveals how Milwaukee’s deeply rooted segregation and fractured relationship between police and marginalized communities allowed Dahmer to operate with near-total impunity for years. This volume not only deepens our understanding of Dahmer and his victims but situates his crimes within American’s long history of racial violence.