Back to the Fifties

Michael D. Dwyer is an Assistant Professor of Media and Communication at Arcadia University, teaching courses in film, writing, and media studies. In various outlets, he writes about fandom, DIY culture and politics, pop music, memory, Hollywood film, cultural geography, American soccer and the Internet. He lives in Philadelphia with his partner Rachel.

• Acknowledgements ; Introduction ; Chapter One - Fixing the Fifties: Reaganism, Nostalgia, and Back to the Future ; Chapter Two: Re-Reading American Graffiti ; Chapter Three: "Old Time Rock and Roll" on Re-Generation Soundtracks ; Chapter Four: Michael Jackson, MTV, and Crossover Nostalgia ; Chapter Five: Star Legacies: James Dean and Sandra Dee in the Re-Generation ; Epilogue: The Futures of Nostalgia ; Works Cited ; Index

"A vital and innovative book that accomplishes the critical task of evolving our conceptions of nostalgia, the Fifties, and the Reagan Era itself through richly detailed analyses of landmark films, soundtracks, music videos, performers, and star legacies. Dwyer's text is accessible, thoroughly compelling, and deftly attuned to the complexities of popular culture and the nuances of our relationship with its history and expressions."--Christine Sprengler, authorof Screening Nostalgia, Western University"Dwyer's examination of the '70s and '80s re-appropriation of an idealized Fifties proves a fascinating read, one which finds a number of parallels between the political climate of the era and the pop cultural landscape."--PopMatters