Myths in Israeli Culture: Captives of a Dream

by Nurith Gertz

Overview

This work is an attempt to comprehend various aspects of the rapidly changing Israeli culture through some of the texts written before and after the establishment of the State of Israel. The texts studied are taken from the political system (party leaders' speeches, leaflets and posters, election propaganda), the media (newspaper and television), literature and the cinema.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780853033868
Publisher:	Vallentine Mitchell
Publication date:	10/05/2000
Series:	Parkes-Wiener Series on Jewish Studies
Pages:	192
Product dimensions:	6.25(w) x 9.25(h) x 0.80(d)

Editorial Reviews

Gertz's analysis of a variety of texts written before and after the establishment of the State of Israel<-->selected from political speeches and posters, election propaganda, journalism, literature, film, and even street signs and graffiti<-->shows that they're based on identical narratives that appear and reappear in variations according to the specific events of the time. These underlying master narratives, or myths, articulate a shared worldview of Israeli-Jewish society as a struggle between opposing forces: the few against the many. The narratives also serve to provide legitimacy to the social order, foster integration between its members, and lead them to action. Gertz (Open U.; Tel Aviv U.) uses the narratives to shed new light on chapters in the modern history of Israel. Distributed by ISBS. Annotation c. Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)

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