Working Class Hero: A New Strategy for Labor

It is very rare to find a worthwhile book so fraught with fundamental weaknesses. Fortunately, Aronowitz\u27 flawed conclusions readily can be separated from his fine historical and political analysis of the American labor movement. The first two sections of the book are a legitimate contribution to historical progressive labor scholarship. The broader perspective posited by Aronowitz, the union organizer, may enhance future labor scholarship. The crucial task, however, remains: Progressive labor scholars must move from criticism of conventional labor relations modalities to a formulation of realistic plans for the achievement of full human dignity in the employment environment. Working Class Hero is an incremental step toward that goal. It is a pointed illustration of how difficult the task is and of how much work remains for progressive labor scholars. Aronowitz concludes by expressly recognizing the formidable nature of the problem and by encouraging hope for the future

Lollipop, Don\u27t Be a Hero

Lollipop, Don’t Be a Hero explores the conceptual and visual themes that are presented in my MFA thesis exhibition. This thesis recounts the development of my work during the two years of graduate study at the VCU Photography and Film Department. The research looks into historical and contemporary ideas within art, social and philosophical commentary and literature, which influence my creative process and aesthetic. This work investigates the idea of giving a voice to a specific section of the working class

Hard To Stop: Image and Authorship in the Films of Steven Seagal

Little serious scholarly work has been done on the career of Steven Seagal which is surprising given his immense popularity in the early 1990s. In addition to suggesting more work be done on less traditional stars, this thesis asks what factors lead to an understanding of Steven Seagal as a working class action hero. It makes the case for understanding Seagal as a star because of the impressive box office success of his films along with his immense popularity during that time frame. The thesis focuses mainly on Seagal's films from 1988 until 1995, with only occasional references to his later, less commercially successful work which nonetheless helps explicate the essence of the Seagal persona. The main theoretical texts utilized in this thesis are Richard Dyer's Stars, which examines both the sociological and semiotic implications of stardom, and Rick Altman's Film/Genre, which explores the evolution of the working class action film. The way in which Seagal's working class action hero persona was constructed and sustained lies in the dynamic interactions of three competing forces: the studios, Seagal himself, and his audience. In addition to how his persona was created, the thesis looks at those aspects of Seagal's star persona essential to Seagal's status as a working class action hero. Seagal's principal characters are associated with the Vietnam or a Vietnam-like War; they are men enforce their own codes of conduct and justice; and, they connect in multiple ways with numerous ethnicities and cultures. This thesis performs its analysis of Seagal's star persona through historical and sociological approaches, drawing heavily from industry and popular publications to help gauge public interest in the actor

„Working Class Hero is something to be.” Untersuchungen zur Genese eines Subjektmodells des Übergangs in der britischen Literatur der 1950er Jahre

"Working Class Hero is something to be" singt John Lennon im Jahr 1970 und erkennt mit diesen Zeilen ein bereits seit den 1950er Jahren etabliertes Subjektmodell. Gefangen zwischen den Welten der verheißungsvollen aber fremden upper classes und der bereits entfremdeten aber retrospektiv idealisierten Herkunftskultur der working class reaffirmieren die beiden "original angry young men" Jimmy Porter und Joe Lampton ihre verunsicherte Klassen- und Genderidentitäten durch den Rückgriff auf das Subjektmodell des Working Class Hero, das eine authentische Emotionalität ins Zentrum wahrer Subjekthaftigkeit stellt. Der Working Class Hero bleibt als Subjektmodell in Literatur, Film und medialer Öffentlichkeit über die 1950er Jahre hinaus bis in die Gegenwart erhalten: An der kulturellen Peripherie existiert das Subjektmodell als Identitätsangebot für Individuen, die ihre eigene Subjekthaftigkeit als eine scheiternde wahrnehmen – und als ein Reservoir möglicher Identitätsmodi und Versatzstücke für das multivalente Kreativsubjekt der Postmoderne

'Where You Once Belonged' Class, Race and Liverpool Roots of Lennon and McCartney's Songs

While Lennon and McCartney’s class affiliations are ambiguous to degrees that should remain debatable, the depth and the detail in which working-class life defines their work have been overlooked, thus misrepresenting The Beatles’ cultural significance. Initial New Left criticisms of The Beatles—almost exclusively in response to one composition, ‘Revolution’ (1968)—have recently been adapted by commentators eager to portray The Beatles as a culturally and politically conservative force. I argue that early left-wing and recent right-wing criticisms of The Beatles’ legacy are misleading, because both overlook Lennon and McCartney’s different relationships to working-class culture. I also emphasize an importantly related, even more marginalized aspect of The Beatles’ history: the significance of black musical and cultural influences from Liverpool. The article seeks to offer new interpretations of songs including ‘Norwegian Wood’, ‘A Day In The Life’, ‘Revolution’, ‘Ob-la-di, Ob-la-da’ and ‘Working Class Hero’. KEYWORDS: : avant-garde; The Beatles; left wing; Liverpool; race; working clas

White Working-Class Voices

Popular views of white working-class communities are common but knowledge of their views on multiculturalism and change less so. This important book provides the first substantial analysis of white working-class perspectives on themes of multiculturalism and change in the UK, creating an opportunity for these 'silent voices' to be heard. Based on over 200 interviews in multiple sites the results are startling - challenging politicians, policy makers and researchers. Improving our understanding of how this group went from 'hero to zero', became framed as racist, resistant to change and disconnected from politics, the book suggests a new and progressive agenda for white working class communities to become a fully inclusive part of a modern and diverse country in the 21st century. The book will be valuable to academics and students as well as policy-makers and practitioners in national government and organisations

White Working-Class Voices

Popular views of white working-class communities are common but knowledge of their views on multiculturalism and change less so. This important book provides the first substantial analysis of white working-class perspectives on themes of multiculturalism and change in the UK, creating an opportunity for these 'silent voices' to be heard. Based on over 200 interviews in multiple sites the results are startling - challenging politicians, policy makers and researchers. Improving our understanding of how this group went from 'hero to zero', became framed as racist, resistant to change and disconnected from politics, the book suggests a new and progressive agenda for white working class communities to become a fully inclusive part of a modern and diverse country in the 21st century. The book will be valuable to academics and students as well as policy-makers and practitioners in national government and organisations