James William Gibson's Novel, Warrior Dreams: Analysis
English 1A
Fall 2009
Warrior Dreams
This paper will examine the writings and opinion of James William Gibson in his publication of “Warrior Dreams”. I strongly support Gibson’s suggestions about how the world today is negatively affected by the political and popular culture. By supporting his idea I strongly agree that warrior fantasies can easily be obtained from the worlds events. He argues that the shame of defeat of the United States in the Vietnam War by such a skillfully inferior enemy. For most men, their definition of masculinity includes strength, adventure and the will to compete in violent struggles. This theory is reinforced in popular movies, television shows, music, and books that glorify this behavior and have dangerous consequences for our country and even around the world. The seriously threatening and real-world implications that can be found in the political and popular culture varies from all kinds of different movies, television shows, and even video games. Movies that have real world gun fights and bloody cringing scenes like the Saw series movies, and war movies like Saving Private Ryan, Full Metal Jacket, Gladiator and the Rambo series has contributed to the promotion and acceptance of violence in our society. These movies all portrayed a strong leader and warrior hero that was dominant and is what may have led to most warrior fantasies for males that watch these films and cannot control their actions. Especially movies that were about the Vietnam War, showing how different things were during and after the war. For example, when the United States had to deal with an extremely disappointing loss in the Vietnam War, it was almost as if no one knew what to do. The people in America were nearly dazed and confused on how to take action and how they truly felt after the shameful defeat in Vietnam. I also agree with Gibson’s sociological theories and interpretation of response of American subculture after the disillusionment
Fall 2009
Warrior Dreams
This paper will examine the writings and opinion of James William Gibson in his publication of “Warrior Dreams”. I strongly support Gibson’s suggestions about how the world today is negatively affected by the political and popular culture. By supporting his idea I strongly agree that warrior fantasies can easily be obtained from the worlds events. He argues that the shame of defeat of the United States in the Vietnam War by such a skillfully inferior enemy. For most men, their definition of masculinity includes strength, adventure and the will to compete in violent struggles. This theory is reinforced in popular movies, television shows, music, and books that glorify this behavior and have dangerous consequences for our country and even around the world. The seriously threatening and real-world implications that can be found in the political and popular culture varies from all kinds of different movies, television shows, and even video games. Movies that have real world gun fights and bloody cringing scenes like the Saw series movies, and war movies like Saving Private Ryan, Full Metal Jacket, Gladiator and the Rambo series has contributed to the promotion and acceptance of violence in our society. These movies all portrayed a strong leader and warrior hero that was dominant and is what may have led to most warrior fantasies for males that watch these films and cannot control their actions. Especially movies that were about the Vietnam War, showing how different things were during and after the war. For example, when the United States had to deal with an extremely disappointing loss in the Vietnam War, it was almost as if no one knew what to do. The people in America were nearly dazed and confused on how to take action and how they truly felt after the shameful defeat in Vietnam. I also agree with Gibson’s sociological theories and interpretation of response of American subculture after the disillusionment