- Hardcover: 352 pages
- Publisher: University of Massachusetts Press; 1 edition (15 Aug 2009)
- Language English
- ISBN-10: 1558497021
- ISBN-13: 978-1558497023
- Product Dimensions: 23.6 x 16 x 2.8 cm
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3 reviews
4 of 4 people found the following review helpful
A Great Read
8 Sep 2009
Format:Paperback
This book is a smart, witty look at how American culture has consistently preferred master mechanics (inventors, applied scientists) to wicked wizards (those whose work seems more mysterious, hidden, foreign, threatening). It goes on to outline the implications of this preference, and urges a reconsideration of our priorities. Allen makes his case with a wide range of examples, including entertaining chapters on science fiction movies and trenchant analyses of the development of the atomic bomb and episodes from the American space program. The author leads readers deftly through an impressive array of information, making connections clear. I think the book will appeal to people from a wide range of backgrounds: science, humanities, cultural studies, sociology, even politics.
4 of 4 people found the following review helpful
A pleasant, readable journey into perceptions of scientists
13 Aug 2009
Format:Paperback
This surprisingly readable investigation into the perception of scientists in American culture was the most stimulating book I've read in some time. Withholding judgement, Allen lays out the two competing views of the scientist and refuses to fall into the trap of telling us which is better or 'the right one'. I liked the way he drew on representations of scientists from the media and literature, as well as from political/historical events. Allen is obviously well grounded in the sciences, yet his literate, engaging writing is accessible for the lay reader.
What I liked, too, was that throughout the book I found myself getting that 'aha' experience, seeing how these two opposing types have been shaped in my subconscious and have also shaped the way science is practiced/viewed in America. What's more, the patient way that Allen lays out his argument helps us see even more broadly how culture shapes the way we think and perceive the world around us.
If you want a thought-provoking read, one that flows nicely and holds your interest, you'll like this insightful book.
What I liked, too, was that throughout the book I found myself getting that 'aha' experience, seeing how these two opposing types have been shaped in my subconscious and have also shaped the way science is practiced/viewed in America. What's more, the patient way that Allen lays out his argument helps us see even more broadly how culture shapes the way we think and perceive the world around us.
If you want a thought-provoking read, one that flows nicely and holds your interest, you'll like this insightful book.
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful
A historical overview of the scientist in popular media
12 Dec 2009
Format:Paperback
Throughout American history from colonial times to the present, scientists have played a major role in not just the technological evolution of the country, but its popular culture as well. In "Master Mechanics & Wicked Wizards: Images of the American Scientist as Hero and Villain from Colonial Times to the Present", Glen Scott Allen (co-developer and director of the Cultural Studies Program at Towson University) presents a historical overview of the scientist in popular media over three centuries of American history. Drawing from such diverse sources and forums as political cartoons, literature, advertising, religious tracts, art, comics, radio, television, music, and film, American stereotypes of the scientist as both hero and villain are explored, illustrated and exemplified in fiction and in fact. From the common image of the 'mad scientist' (e.g. Dr. Strangelove) to the portrayals of the scientist as hero (e.g. Benjamin Franklin), "Master Mechanics & Wicked Wizards" is a fascinating read that is as informed and informative as it is insightful and entertaining, ranging as it does through 19th century utopian fiction, to 20th century achievements in technology, discovery, and advancements. Enhanced with copious notes and a comprehensive index, "Master Mechanics & Wicked Wizards" is a seminal work especially recommended for both academic and community library American History and Popular Culture reference collections and supplemental reading lists.
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