| Twentieth-century realism has destroyed many of America's legendary heroes, and rendered most imaginary heroes obsolete. A direct consequence of this phenomenon has been the widespread perception that we live in an age void of heroes.; Focusing upon war heroes in American literature and film, over the last sixty years, this study utilizes archetypal criticism to examine the changing face of the American hero in the last half century. Key sociopolitical factors impacting this transformation are also addressed.; This study concludes that the American hero is alive and well as we enter the twenty-first century, although his profile has changed markedly since the middle of the twentieth century. Once a legendary figure of superhuman proportions, the modern day hero is revealed as one who has the courage to become fully human. |
