Heroes, Monsters, and Messiahs

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Summary: You Have GOT to Be Kidding
Review: I thought this book was a brilliant parody of those humorless, doctoral-thesis tomes on pop culture . . . But no, Hirschman seems to be serious. VERY serious.

She offers us deadpan pyscho-social, mytho-based treatises on Laverne and Shirley, The Beverly Hillbillies, Murphy Brown, etc. At one point she actually presents us with the sentence, "Laura Petrie also represents, of course, the Good Mother/Nurturant Goddess archetype."

At that point, I shot myself.

Rating:
Summary: Why movies and TV shows resonate with viewers
Review: Whenever I leave a really great movie, I find it lingers with me for days after. Now, thanks to Elizabeth Hirschman's book, I understand why. She takes a serious look at some of the most popular movies and TV shows of our time, exposing the timeless mythic elements that are at their core. The text is divided between a recounting of the storylines for the unfamiliar and a discussion of the mythic themes that are present. This book is great for fans of popular entertainment who want a unique perspective on what makes a hit a hit. It is also great for aspiring writers who can use it as a tutorial on how to create stories and characters that resonate with people.