{"product_id":"american-cinema-of-the-1980s-themes-and-variations-9780813540344","title":"American Cinema of the 1980s: Themes and Variations","description":"During the 1980s, American cinema underwent enormous transformations. Blockbusters like \u003ci\u003eRaiders of the Lost Ark\u003c\/i\u003e, \u003ci\u003eE.T.\u003c\/i\u003e, and \u003ci\u003eThe Empire Strikes Back\u003c\/i\u003e grabbed huge revenues for the studios. At the same time, the growth of home video led to new and creative opportunities for independent film production, resulting in many of the decade's best films. Both large- and small-scale filmmakers responded to the social, political, and cultural conditions of the time. The two-term presidency of Ronald Reagan spawned a new Cold War with the Soviet Union, which Hollywood film both embraced and critiqued. Also during this time, Hollywood launched a long-awaited cycle of films about the Vietnam War, exploring its impact both at home and abroad. But science fiction remained the era's most popular genre, ranging from upbeat fantasies to dark, dystopic visions. \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003eBringing together original essays by ten respected scholars in the field, \u003ci\u003eAmerican Cinema of the 1980s\u003c\/i\u003e examines the films that marked the decade, including \u003ci\u003eOrdinary People\u003c\/i\u003e, \u003ci\u003eBody Heat\u003c\/i\u003e, \u003ci\u003e Blade Runner\u003c\/i\u003e, \u003ci\u003eZelig\u003c\/i\u003e, \u003ci\u003e Platoon\u003c\/i\u003e, \u003ci\u003eTop Gun\u003c\/i\u003e, \u003ci\u003eAliens\u003c\/i\u003e, \u003ci\u003eBlue Velvet\u003c\/i\u003e, \u003ci\u003eRobocop\u003c\/i\u003e, \u003ci\u003e Fatal Attraction\u003c\/i\u003e, \u003ci\u003eDie Hard\u003c\/i\u003e, \u003ci\u003eBatman\u003c\/i\u003e, and \u003ci\u003esex, lies \u0026amp; videotape\u003c\/i\u003e.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eAbout the Author\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003eSTEPHEN PRINCE is a professor of communication at Virginia Polytechnic Institute.\u003cbr\u003e","brand":"Rutgers University Press","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":50845518496018,"sku":"9780813540344","price":40.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0831\/4771\/8930\/files\/img_19451c39-b543-48b5-98c7-bcadbd65ca13.jpg?v=1737352587","url":"https:\/\/surprise-castle.myshopify.com\/products\/american-cinema-of-the-1980s-themes-and-variations-9780813540344","provider":"Surprise Castle","version":"1.0","type":"link"}