The 'War on Terror' and American Film

This is an important and comprehensive study of Hollywood cinema and its representation of the impact of 9/11. In particular McSweeney’s investigation of genre enables the reader to explore ideological connections between the explicit (United 93) and implicit text (Batman Begins) and question the notion of the 'war on terror'. -- Karen Randell, University of Bedfordshire
McSweeney convincingly shows how the action genre has incorporated the discourse of the war on terror into its narratives, by including post-9/11 debates on masculinity, the legitimacy of revenge as well as the role of the US in international affairs…the arguments and conclusions are convincing and at times surprising, resulting in a fresh take on several films and their relation to 9/11…an engaging and critically lucid monograph' -- Thomas Ærvold Bjerre * American Studies in Scandanavia *
Both [of Terence McSweeney's] publications provide fascinating and timely discussions of contemporary cultural texts in an accessible and engaging way. They are guaranteed to spark the interest of varied audiences, from students of American studies to researchers theorizing post-9/11 representations, ideologies and discourses in popular culture, politics and the media. The authors’ fast-paced style and passion for academically overlooked, yet hugely popular films, will certainly appeal to the non-specialist public intrigued by the subtexts of box office hits. -- Maria-Irina Popescu, University of Essex * European Journal of American Culture *
This is an important and comprehensive study of Hollywood cinema and its representation of the impact of 9/11. In particular McSweeney’s investigation of genre enables the reader to explore ideological connections between the explicit (United 93) and implicit text (Batman Begins) and question the notion of the "war on terror".' -- Karen Randell, University of Bedfordshire