The Shadow Knows: The Counter-Fantasy of the American Antihero and Symbolic Divergence in Golden Age Radio

Treat, Shaun; Grano, Daniel A.; Croghan, Jon

doi:10.1080/19376520902847949

Cited by 3 publications

(1 citation statement)

References 18 publications

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“…The antihero can be defined as a character that “often acts outside accepted values, norms, roles, and behaviors as a hapless everyman, a charismatic rebel, or a roguish outlaw who challenges the status quo in their often morally ambivalent quest” (Treat et al. 37). For American audiences, antiheroes balance their recognizable flaws with redemptive acts in order to present more identifiable and, ideally, more likeable versions of the Greek tragic hero (Janicke and Raney 487).…”

Section: Hero/antihero Literary Traditionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Deadpool: When Our (Anti)Heroes Do Less and We Reward Them More

Triana¹

2018

The J of Popular Culture

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Section: Hero/antihero Literary Traditionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Deadpool: When Our (Anti)Heroes Do Less and We Reward Them More

Triana¹

2018

The J of Popular Culture

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Peter Quill : Multimedia, Anti-Communism, and Science Superhero

Killmeier

2024

Journal of Radio & Audio Media

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Window Dressing: Isolation in Cornell Woolrich's Short Fiction

Deutsch¹

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For my mom Marie and my dad Bill, who have always supported and encouraged me. For my sisters Elizabeth and Emily (and nephew Kingsley-I can't forget you!), who always have confidence in me even when I don't. For my dog Sawyer, who has provided me with 10 years of unconditional love. For my husband Ben, who is a recent addition but stands by me like the family he now is. v ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS Special thanks to my chair, Jacky O'Connor, for being excited by this project and working alongside me to make it what it is today. Thanks also to my committee member Ralph Clare for the support and brainstorming help and committee member Jeff Westover for the feedback. To Summer, Rob, Melanie, and Jean-Louise, I could not have made it without our dinners, brunches, and work sessions. vi ABSTRACT Cornell Woolrich was a prolific American noir detective fiction writer. Though recognized by some as the father of noir fiction, he is often overshadowed by other writers of his era, such as Dashiell Hammett, Raymond Chandler, and James M. Cain. Many of the themes found in Woolrich's writing, particularly isolation and the associated fear and anxiety, are as palpable today as they were in the times he was writing. In this thesis, I argue that Woolrich's continued relevance is the result of his unique portrayal of American city life. Woolrich utilizes recognizable themes from the noir, mystery, and thriller genres in his short fiction but dresses them up in such a way that he not only comments on life but encourages his readers to live their lives to the fullest, to avoid the dangers his characters face. There are a number of gaps in the scholarship on Woolrich, and I attempt to fill a few of these by focusing on his short fiction rather than the film adaptations of his works or his novels. Each chapter focuses on different aspects of isolation portrayed in the stories: physical isolation ("New York Blues"), emotional isolation ("Rear Window" and "Fire Escape"), and alienation associated with police ("Rear Window," "Murder at the Automat," and "Detective William Brown"). While Woolrich's fiction is permeated with a sense of isolation, it is impossible to feel that isolation without also showing some form of community. Woolrich's protagonists are not originally part of their neighborhood, but by the end of each story, there are hints that they might become active members in their communities of neighbors and friends. For a man like Woolrich who did not have a lasting marriage and very little is known about his vii romantic relationships, it is quite possible that he was highlighting friendships over romantic relationships for a reason. In an age when social media superficially aids the formulation and ability to maintain friendships yet really inhibits meaningful friendships, Woolrich's appeal to his readers not to isolate themselves stands out as even more critical than it may have been at the time he was writing. viii TABLE OF CONTENTS

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The Shadow Knows: The Counter-Fantasy of the American Antihero and Symbolic Divergence in Golden Age Radio

Cited by 3 publications

References 18 publications

Deadpool: When Our (Anti)Heroes Do Less and We Reward Them More

Deadpool: When Our (Anti)Heroes Do Less and We Reward Them More

Peter Quill : Multimedia, Anti-Communism, and Science Superhero

Window Dressing: Isolation in Cornell Woolrich's Short Fiction

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