David Mamet and American Macho

Why did Americans reject the British gentleman as their dominant model of masculinity? Why is a boy's relationship to his mother a crucial factor in shaping his masculinity? What and how do boys learn about what it means to be a man? Holmberg demonstrates how David Mamet's plays provide insights into these questions, and into the masculine malaise. Through the gangsters, businessmen, soldiers, sailors, athletes, frontiersmen and thugs he created, Mamet celebrates and criticizes American macho. The book provides close readings of Mamet's well-known plays as well as plays which have not previously received the critical attention they deserve, and includes discussions of recent films and unpublished film scripts that shed light on Mamet's attitudes to American macho. Holmberg also presents detailed analysis of Mamet as director of his own plays, which gives fascinating insights into the playwright's intentions through his instructions to actors on how to play a part.

Reviews & endorsements

'Holmberg uncovers Mamet's complex approach to American masculinity, revealing how the playwright celebrates men but also critiques the structures by which they define their identities. He offers a comprehensive discussion of masculinity across Mamet's work, from the earliest plays to the latest dramas, from the lowliest one-act play to the blockbuster film screenplay, including unpublished works such as his screenplay of a James Fenimore Cooper novel.' D. E. Magill, Choice

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Product details

• Date Published: July 2015
• format: Paperback
• isbn: 9781107532281
• length: 322 pages

• dimensions: 230 x 153 x 20 mm
• weight: 0.6kg
• contains: 19 b/w illus.
• availability: Available