American Masculinity Under Clinton: Popular Media And the Nineties "Crisis of Masculinity"

Malin (broadcast and electronic communication arts, San Francisco State U.) examines the more sensitive model of manhood represented in the media in the 1990s, especially in contrast to the hyper-masculinity of the Reagan years in America. In doing so he unpacks the complex relationship between popular culture and presidential politics, particularly that portion of politics that prefers candidates who openly opt for cosmetic medical procedures. He describes the complex relationship between Clinton (as candidate and president) with the perceptions of the media, the role of the variants of homophobia, cultural capital and class anxiety in the so-called "New Male," the "otherworldly" maleness allowed in politics in parallel with that allowed in the media, and the changes wrought by 9/11. Annotation c2006 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)