Generations of Jewish Directors and the Struggle for America's Soul

From generation to generation, three outstanding American Jewish directorsWilliam Wyler, Sidney Lumet, and Steven Spielberg--advance a tradition of Jewish writers, artists, and leaders who propagate the ethical basis of the American Idea and Creed. They strive to renew the American spirit by insisting that America must live up to its values and ideals. These directors accentuate the ethical responsibility for the other as a basis of the American soul and a source for strengthening American liberal democracy. In the manner of the jeremiad, their films challenge America to achieve a liberal democratic culture for all people by becoming more inclusive and by modernizing the American Idea. Following an introduction that relates aspects of modern ethical thought to the search for America's soul, the book divides into three sections. The Wyler section focuses on the director's social vision of a changing America. The Lumet section views his films as dramatizing Lumet's dynamicand aggressive social and ethical conscience. The Spielberg section tracks his films as a movement toward American redemption and renewal that aspires to realize Lincoln's vision of America as the hope of the world. The directors, among many others, perpetuate a New Covenant that advocates change and renewal in the American experience.

Looks at how William Wyler, Sidney Lumet, and Steven Spielberg advance a tradition and history dating from the late 19th century to the present day Jewish writers and thinkers who assume a responsibility for articulating the American Idea for a changing culture and history Analyzes and discusses the relationship of the films and directors to the New Covenant history of Jewish thinkers, writers, artists, and leaders who express the American Idea and Creed in the ethical and moral terms of the jeremiad Responds to issues that are dominant in current political, historical, and cultural discourse Takes a fresh approach to contemporary issues and crises in America and in the Jewish experience

Autorentext

Sam B. Girgus is a retired professor of English and American Studies who has taught at the Universities of New Mexico, Alabama, Oregon, and Vanderbilt University. A recipient of a Rockefeller Humanities Fellowship, he has written and published more than ten books on film, modernism, and American literature, thought, and culture.

Klappentext

From generation to generation, three outstanding American Jewish directors William Wyler, Sidney Lumet, and Steven Spielberg--advance a tradition of Jewish writers, artists, and leaders who propagate the ethical basis of the American Idea and Creed. They strive to renew the American spirit by insisting that America must live up to its values and ideals. These directors accentuate the ethical responsibility for the other as a basis of the American soul and a source for strengthening American liberal democracy. In the manner of the jeremiad, their films challenge America to achieve a liberal democratic culture for all people by becoming more inclusive and by modernizing the American Idea. Following an introduction that relates aspects of modern ethical thought to the search for Americäs soul, the book divides into three sections. The Wyler section focuses on the director s social vision of a changing America. The Lumet section views his films as dramatizing Lumet s dynamicand aggressive social and ethical conscience. The Spielberg section tracks his films as a movement toward American redemption and renewal that aspires to realize Lincoln s vision of America as the hope of the world. The directors, among many others, perpetuate a New Covenant that advocates change and renewal in the American experience.

Inhalt
Chapter 1: Introduction: Jewish Directors and the The New Covenant.- Chapter 2: William Wyler's America.- Chapter 3: Sidney Lumet: The Long Struggle for Conscience and Social Justice.- Chapter 4: Steven Spielberg: American Redemption.