H.C. Westermann at War: Art and Manhood in Cold War America
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Author Description
This book examines the antiwar work of one American artist in relation to the cultural history of the Cold War. The study provides new and detailed information on this important artist, while also contributing to the study of masculinity, dissent, art, violence, and war in the last half of the twentieth century. The study clearly reveals that artists' protests against American foreign policy began well before the official U.S. entry in the Vietnam War, and that not all combat veterans looked back fondly on their experience of the Good War. Finally, in drawing attention to the challenges of being a man in a hostile world, Westermann's art enters into a much broader consideration of gender long before this issue became topical in contemporary art. director of the American Studies Program at Rhodes College in Tennessee.
Menrva's Summary
THE THESIS
This book investigates the intersection of H.C. Westermann's anti-war art with the cultural landscape of Cold War America. It offers novel insights into the artist's oeuvre, situating his work within broader discussions of masculinity, dissent, art, violence, and war during the latter half of the 20th century. The study posits that artistic opposition to American foreign policy predated significant U.S. involvement in Vietnam, and challenges the notion that all veterans held positive views of their wartime experiences. Furthermore, Westermann's art is presented as an early exploration of gendered challenges in a fraught world, preceding contemporary art's focus on such themes.
THE SCOPE MAP
- Analysis of H.C. Westermann's anti-war artistic output.
- Exploration of the cultural history of the Cold War in America.
- Examination of masculinity and gender roles in the mid-to-late 20th century.
- Study of dissent and protest within the American art scene.
- Connection between art, violence, and the experience of war.
- Investigation into the pre-Vietnam War era of artistic protest against U.S. foreign policy.
- Consideration of combat veterans' perspectives on their wartime experiences.
- Westermann's art as a precursor to contemporary discussions on gender in art.
THE AUTHORITY PERSPECTIVE
This scholarly work is positioned to contribute significantly to the fields of American Studies and Art History, particularly concerning the Cold War era. By focusing on H.C. Westermann, the book promises to shed new light on an important artist and his engagement with pressing social and political issues. The analysis of masculinity and dissent within the context of war and art suggests a text that will appeal to academics and those interested in the cultural underpinnings of conflict and artistic expression. The author's credentials as director of the American Studies Program at Rhodes College lend authority to the study's approach and findings.
Page Count:
171
Publication Date:
2004-01-01
Publisher:
University of Delaware Press
ISBN-10:
1936249979
ISBN-13:
9781936249978
History
Art
Non-Fiction
American Studies
Art Criticism
Art History
Community Tags
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