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The Films of Robin Williams: Critical Essays PDF

243 Pages·2019·2.012 MB·English
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The Films of Robin Williams AlsoediTedbyJohnsonCheu AndFRommCFARlAnd Tim Burton: Essays on the Films(2016) Diversity in Disney Films: Critical Essays on Race, Ethnicity, Gender, Sexuality and Disability(2013) The Films of Robin Williams Critical Essays e J C diTed by ohnson heu Foreword by david misch McFarland & Company, Inc., Publishers Jefferson, North Carolina libRARyoFCongRessCATAloguing-in-PubliCATiondATA Names: Cheu, Johnson, 1969– editor.. | Misch, David, author of foreword. Title: The films of Robin Williams : critical essays / edited by Johnson Cheu ; foreword by David Misch. Description: Jefferson, North Carolina : McFarland & Company, Inc., Publishers, 2019. | Includes bibliographical references and index. | Includes filmography. Identifiers: LCCN 2018053972 | ISBN 9781476667331 (softcover : acid free paper) ♾ Subjects: LCSH: Williams, Robin, 1951–2014—Criticism and interpretation. Classification: LCC PN2287.W473 F55 2019 | DDC 791.4302/8092— dc23 LC record available at https://lccn.loc.gov/2018053972 bRiTishlibRARyCATAloguingdATAAReAvAilAble ISBN (print) 978-1-4766-6733-1 ISBN (ebook) 978-1-4766-3563-7 © 2019 Johnson Cheu. All rights reserved No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying or recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the publisher. The front cover image is of Robin Williams in Good Morning, Vietnam!, 1987 (buena vista/Photofest) Printed in the united states of America McFarland & Company, Inc., Publishers Box 611, Jefferson, North Carolina 28640 www.mcfarlandpub.com inlovingmemoryof myfriendandcolleague debCarmichael This page intentionally left blank Table of Contents Acknowledgments ix Foreword: Robin Williams—It’s Complicated dAvid misCh 1 Introduction: Robin Williams and the Weight of Representation Johnson Cheu 7 Part 1. Laughing Heroics: Essays on Comedies and Heroes “Can i call you Al?”: Robin Williams’s genie as subversive Countertext in disney’s Aladdin Tom PRAsCh 12 Carnival, Free Play and American horror: mashup in Joe Johnston’s Jumanji sue mATheson 26 Transference and Translation: A Roosevelt/Williams guide to museum space PRAJnA PARAsheR 41 hot Flashes and heroes: mrs. doubtfire as Threshold Figure elizAbeTh leigh sCheRmAn 51 generations of men and masculinity in Dead Poets Society AndReW slAde 62 Cold War Culture in the Films of Robin Williams miChelle CATheRine iden 74 “Fosse! Fosse! Fosse!”: Robin Williams’s Queer Performances gAel sWeeney 85 vii viii Table of Contents Part 2. Dark Spirits: Essays on Politics, Everyman and the Universe “Watch out for the terrible, the ugly undertoad”: The World’s end According to garp PhiliP l. simPson 100 Toying with War: exploring the Connection between militarization and education KenyA WolFF and ludoviC A. souRdoT 116 The Face of Robin Williams and the enigma of stardom RebeCCA A. umlAnd and sAmuel J. umlAnd 131 “i like new york in June”? Terrors of the City in The Fisher King CynThiA J. milleR and A. boWdoin vAn RiPeR 145 Psychological Trauma and the Quest for the grail: supposed Redemption in The Fisher King, Good Will Hunting and What Dreams May Come sTACy C. PARenTeAu and eRiC J. sTeRling 157 The Final Cut: death, memory and the Past as a Contested zone loRi l. PARKs 173 “Caught in a freeze- frame”: The Afterlife of Robin Williams lisA K. PeRdigAo and AlAn m. Rosiene 185 Coda:Robin Williams—The Millennials’ Mentor KAThy meRloCK JACKson 202 Films Referenced 217 About the Contributors 221 Index 225 Acknowledgments First, i must thank mcFarland and all the good people there for their continued faith and all the wonderful work they put in to ensure stellar books and the enduring relevance of Popular Culture studies. Their continued faith in me and my ideas (and their patience), particularly during my own rather turbulent 2017 is particularly appreciated. Thanks to all my contributors for their steadfastness and wanting to get it right. every project comes with its own set of challenges and this one hap - pened during a time of unexpected personal and professional upheaval. Though she’s in the book, i owe a great debt of gratitude to Cindy miller for help in securing some of these essays. The book itself took a rather windy road to its final form and shape, and Cindy’s help was invaluable at crucial times. my respect and gratitude to my colleagues at michigan state: Roger bresnahan, deborah Carmichael (we miss you), Cheryl Ceaser, mary Cook (happy retirement), Kate Fedewa, Richard manderfield, david medei, and elizabeth spence for the willingness to stop and listen whenever i needed it. my department chair malea Powell, as well as former chair Jeffrey grabil, for enduring support with this project. douglas noverr and gary hoppenstand, who started me down this road and who always make time. marsha edington, diana shank, melissa Artherton, Regina boone, Rhonda hibbitt, and Angela hunt who make sure everything keeps spinning. John dowell, who, once again, came through with both friendship and his technical expertise. The library staff at msu is beyond reproach. i am grateful for the continued con- versations with linda mizjewski and debra moddelmog who, likewise, always make the time. matt Wanat and John mcCombe still answer every email. edna Poore, who makes sure i’m up on all the movies and that i’m well- fed. brian and ed for coffee and talk. Robert, Pat, and Carolyn who, likewise, always talk things through. And, of course, my family for all manner of love and support in all things. ix

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