It's official: January 9 is the publication date for
Sensing the Past: Hollywood Stars and Historical Visions. Here's the back cover copy:
"How do perceptions of the
past -- not just of particular events, but of the trajectory of history as
a whole -- shape our experience of the world? Sensing the Past tackles
this question with an unlikely source of historical insight--the work of
six major Hollywood stars: Clint Eastwood, Daniel Day-Lewis, Denzel
Washington, Tom Hanks, Meryl Streep, and Jodie Foster. By focusing on
the career choices made by these iconic actors, Cullen uncovers a
discrete set of historical narratives, revealing the surprising ways
historical forces shape our understanding of the world."
This project's roots go back to my first days as a high school teacher a decade ago. But the actual writing process began in the spring of 2010 and continued for the next two and a half years. Early drafts of individual chapters appeared on this blog. My post on Daniel Day-Lewis and Gangs of New York, "Native American Study," has been viewed thousands of times and remains among my most popular.
Thanks to those of you who have had a look over the last couple years. I'm hoping that a few of you will be willing to have a look at the finished product. You can buy it here. Thanks.
--Jim Cullen
