{"title":"Terence McSweeney","description":"\u003cp\u003eTerence McSweeney’s works explore the dynamic intersection of film and society, offering insightful analyses on how cinema reflects and shapes cultural debates. His books delve into contemporary themes such as the superhero genre and its cultural implications, providing a critical lens on popular and academic perspectives alike.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eReaders can expect thoughtful discussions rooted in \u003cem\u003eArts \u0026amp; Culture\u003c\/em\u003e, combining scholarly rigour with accessible commentary. McSweeney’s writing invites a deeper understanding of film as a medium engaged in ongoing cultural conversations.\u003c\/p\u003e","products":[{"product_id":"the-contemporary-superhero-film-by-terence-mcsweeney-9780231192415","title":"The Contemporary Superhero Film","description":"\u003cdiv class=\"book-description\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAudiences around the globe continue to flock to see the latest releases from Marvel and DC studios, making it clear that superhero films resonate with the largest global audience that Hollywood has ever reached. Yet despite dominating theatre screens like never before, the superhero genre remains critically marginalised—ignored at best and more often actively maligned.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eThe Contemporary Superhero Film\u003c\/em\u003e by Terence McSweeney examines this global phenomenon, providing a concise and up-to-date overview of the superhero genre. He lays out its narrative codes and conventions, exploring why it appeals to diverse audiences and what it has to say about the world in the first two decades of the twenty-first century.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eUnpacking the social, ideological, and cultural content of superhero films, McSweeney argues that the genre should be considered a barometer of contemporary social anxieties and a reflection of cultural values. He scrutinises representations of gender, race, and sexuality as well as how the genre's conventions relate to and comment on contemporary political debates. Beyond American contributions to the genre, the book also features extensive analysis of superhero films from all over the world, contrasting them with the dominant U.S. model.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eThe book's presentation of a range of case studies and critical debates is accessible and engaging for students, scholars, and enthusiasts at all levels.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"Unknown","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":47432853291244,"sku":"9780231192415","price":41.99,"currency_code":"NZD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0705\/7784\/8556\/files\/9780231192415.jpg?v=1774766268"},{"product_id":"american-film-and-the-culture-wars-by-terence-mcsweeney-9798765140741","title":"American Film and the Culture Wars","description":"\u003cdiv class=\"book-description\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003ci\u003eAmerican Film and the Culture Wars: Battleground in the Trump Era\u003c\/i\u003e is an exploration of the relationship between American cinema and what many have referred to as the “Trump era,” the “Trump age,” or even the “Trump phenomenon.”\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eThis book contends that American cinema offers an insight into this fractious period and emerged as one of the primary battlegrounds on which a war of interpretation was fought, a frontline in what many refer to as the “culture wars.” This resulted in a body of films which should not be regarded as disposable entertainment, but rather as visceral cultural artefacts which reflect, engage with, and have even been able to influence the tumultuous period in a range of palpable ways.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eFilms discussed include: \u003ci\u003eSound of Freedom\u003c\/i\u003e (2023), \u003ci\u003eTop Gun: Maverick\u003c\/i\u003e (2022), \u003ci\u003eGet Out\u003c\/i\u003e (2017), \u003ci\u003eSuperman\u003c\/i\u003e (2025), \u003ci\u003eSicario: Day of the Soldado\u003c\/i\u003e (2018), \u003ci\u003e13 Hours: The Secret Soldiers of Benghazi\u003c\/i\u003e (2016), and \u003ci\u003eThe Hunt\u003c\/i\u003e (2020), among many others.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eAcross six theoretically informed but accessible chapters, McSweeney interrogates how American film emerged as a striking manifestation of the political and historical moment in which they were formed. Engaging with a broad tapestry of social movements (Black Lives Matter [2013-], Me Too [2017-], and Times Up [2018-]); genres (superhero, horror, action, science fiction film); and key issues, debates, and events (gun control, abortion, religion), revealing that it is still the cinematic medium which provides a frame of reference for how we understand and comprehend the world, as much as, if not more than, it has ever done.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"Allen \u0026 Unwin Aotearoa New Zealand","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":48317910417644,"sku":"9798765140741","price":120.0,"currency_code":"NZD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0705\/7784\/8556\/files\/9798765140741-american-film-and-the-culture-wars-1.jpg?v=1788748973"},{"product_id":"american-film-and-the-culture-wars-by-terence-mcsweeney-9798765140758","title":"American Film and the Culture Wars","description":"\u003cdiv class=\"book-description\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eAmerican Film and the Culture Wars: Battleground in the Trump Era\u003c\/em\u003e is an exploration of the relationship between American cinema and what many have referred to as the “Trump era,” the “Trump age,” or even the “Trump phenomenon.”\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eThis book contends that American cinema offers an insight into this fractious period and emerged as one of the primary battlegrounds on which a war of interpretation was fought, a frontline in what many refer to as the “culture wars.” This resulted in a body of films which should not be regarded as disposable entertainment, but rather as visceral cultural artefacts which reflect, engage with, and have even been able to influence the tumultuous period in a range of palpable ways. Films discussed include: \u003cem\u003eSound of Freedom\u003c\/em\u003e (2023), \u003cem\u003eTop Gun: Maverick\u003c\/em\u003e (2022), \u003cem\u003eGet Out\u003c\/em\u003e (2017), \u003cem\u003eSuperman\u003c\/em\u003e (2025), \u003cem\u003eSicario: Day of the Soldado\u003c\/em\u003e (2018), \u003cem\u003e13 Hours: The Secret Soldiers of Benghazi\u003c\/em\u003e (2016), and \u003cem\u003eThe Hunt\u003c\/em\u003e (2020), among many others.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eAcross six theoretically informed but accessible chapters, McSweeney interrogates how American film emerged as a striking manifestation of the political and historical moment in which they were formed: engaging with a broad tapestry of social movements (Black Lives Matter [2013-], Me Too [2017-], and Times Up [2018-]); genres (superhero, horror, action, science fiction film); and key issues, debates, and events (gun control, abortion, religion), revealing that it is still the cinematic medium which provides a frame of reference for how we understand and comprehend the world, as much as, if not more than, it has ever done.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"Allen \u0026 Unwin Aotearoa New Zealand","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":48317910450412,"sku":"9798765140758","price":385.0,"currency_code":"NZD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0705\/7784\/8556\/files\/9798765140758-american-film-and-the-culture-wars-1.jpg?v=1788748984"}],"url":"https:\/\/bookhero.live\/collections\/terence-mcsweeney.oembed","provider":"Book Hero","version":"1.0","type":"link"}