The Alienated War Veteran in Film and Literature

The veterans’ culture in postwar eras from World War I to the present is examined in this book, with specific attention to the historic events of each era as they influence veterans, and the literature and movies produced about veterans and by veterans. The intention is to highlight the reciprocal interactions among the influences of the war, the veterans, and the culture. The common alienation of the veterans of foreign wars is thoroughly explored. Films and literary works featuring war veterans of each era are examined in detail for their various views of alienation. Homer’s Odyssey, myths, fairy tales, modern novels, memoirs, and short stories are all discussed with an emphasis on detailing what is common and expected with returning veterans, and what is unique for each postwar era.

Emmett Early is a semiretired psychologist who lives in Seattle, Washington.

Emmett Early
Format: softcover (6 x 9)
Pages: 240
Bibliographic Info: 6 photos, bibliography, index
Copyright Date: 2014
pISBN: 978-0-7864-7499-8
eISBN: 978-1-4766-1385-7
Imprint: McFarland

Table of Contents


Preface  1

Introduction  3

1. Kurosawa’s Masterless Samurai and

the Modern War Veteran  13

2. Films Featuring Veterans of the Wars on Terror  20

3. The War Veteran in a Dark Time  27

4. The Vietnam War Veteran as America’s Shadow  37

5. The Odyssean Man  46

6. The Creature and the Child: Postwar Adjustment Through Relationships  60

7. Psychological Trauma and Creativity  80

8. Movies and the Alienation of War Veterans  114

9. Movies Reviewed  122

Postscript  209

Bibliography  213

Index  225