Overview

Full Product Details

9780700632923

Table of Contents

Reviews

A bold book that doesn't invite neutrality, Soldier Snapshots will delight some readers and annoy others. The field of men's and masculinity studies is burgeoning, and war and soldiering has been examined extensively, yet there is nothing in print quite like what Mechling has written, especially in its wide-ranging interdisciplinary approach and provocative interpretative criteria. Like the author's other work, Soldier Snapshots is utterly distinctive and engagingly written; it should have appeal in several fields and find an audience beyond the academy.--John Ibson, author of Men without Maps: Some Gay Males of the Generation before Stonewall Jay Mechling's astonishing collection of soldiers during downtime--and his deeply thoughtful commentary about them--suggests a far wider emotional versatility than one might imagine from these battle-hardened men. The casual affability, the genuine affection, the embodied fluidity of movement offer such a stark contrast to the toughened mask of the solider. Like those nineteenth-century images of mining camp saloons, whaling ships, and army barracks, these images reveal the homosocial intimacies that can emerge when men let down their guards. As it answers one question about the range of emotion, though, it begs another: How can such tender and loving people also be capable of the barbarism and gratuitous cruelty that war requires?--Michael Kimmel, distinguished professor of sociology and gender studies, emeritus, Stony Brook University, and author of Guyland: The Perilous World Where Boys Become Men Jay Mechling teaches us how to look in Soldier Snapshots. He guides us to a journey deep down into the meaning of photographs, taken not only as keepsake but also to record an action, a memorable moment. In so doing, he opens our eyes to matters we think we know but really don't--masculinity, play, and male friendship. A riveting read as well as captivating visual experience, Soldier Snapshots not only gives us insight into military life and culture but also offers a complex, vivid picture of what it means to be a man in America.--Simon J. Bronner, editor of Manly Traditions: The Folk Roots of American Masculinities In this fascinating study of more than eighty snapshots, Jay Mechling deftly investigates the complexities of servicemen's friendships, customs, and military experiences from World War I to the Gulf War. Expertly drawing on decades of interdisciplinary scholarship on American masculinity, Mechling reveals both the codes of military manhood and the many ways soldiers, sailors, and airmen blurred the boundaries of these rules through play, humor, emotional vulnerability, and deep friendships. This timely and important project will appeal to scholars in a broad range of fields, veterans, and anyone looking to understand the richly layered stories behind the wartime photos in their attics.-- Christina Jarvis, author of The Male Body at War: American Masculinity during World War II

A bold book that doesn't invite neutrality, Soldier Snapshots will delight some readers and annoy others. The field of men's and masculinity studies is burgeoning, and war and soldiering has been examined extensively, yet there is nothing in print quite like what Mechling has written, especially in its wide-ranging interdisciplinary approach and provocative interpretative criteria. Like the author's other work, Soldier Snapshots is utterly distinctive and engagingly written; it should have appeal in several fields and find an audience beyond the academy. - John Ibson, author of Men without Maps: Some Gay Males of the Generation before Stonewall Jay Mechling's astonishing collection of soldiers during downtime-and his deeply thoughtful commentary about them-suggests a far wider emotional versatility than one might imagine from these battle-hardened men. The casual affability, the genuine affection, the embodied fluidity of movement offer such a stark contrast to the toughened mask of the solider. Like those nineteenth-century images of mining camp saloons, whaling ships, and army barracks, these images reveal the homosocial intimacies that can emerge when men let down their guards. As it answers one question about the range of emotion, though, it begs another: How can such tender and loving people also be capable of the barbarism and gratuitous cruelty that war requires? - Michael Kimmel, distinguished professor of sociology and gender studies, emeritus, Stony Brook University, and author of Guyland: The Perilous World Where Boys Become Men Jay Mechling teaches us how to look in Soldier Snapshots. He guides us to a journey deep down into the meaning of photographs, taken not only as keepsake but also to record an action, a memorable moment. In so doing, he opens our eyes to matters we think we know but really don't-masculinity, play, and male friendship. A riveting read as well as captivating visual experience, Soldier Snapshots not only gives us insight into military life and culture but also offers a complex, vivid picture of what it means to be a man in America. - Simon J. Bronner, editor of Manly Traditions: The Folk Roots of American Masculinities In this fascinating study of more than eighty snapshots, Jay Mechling deftly investigates the complexities of servicemen's friendships, customs, and military experiences from World War I to the Gulf War. Expertly drawing on decades of interdisciplinary scholarship on American masculinity, Mechling reveals both the codes of military manhood and the many ways soldiers, sailors, and airmen blurred the boundaries of these rules through play, humor, emotional vulnerability, and deep friendships. This timely and important project will appeal to scholars in a broad range of fields, veterans, and anyone looking to understand the richly layered stories behind the wartime photos in their attics. - Christina Jarvis, author of The Male Body at War: American Masculinity during World War II

Author Information

Jay Mechling is professor emeritus of American studies, University of California, Davis. He is the author of On My Honor: Boy Scouts and the Making of American Youth and coauthor of PTSD and Folk Therapy: Everyday Practices of American Masculinity in the Combat Zone.

Tab Content 6

Customer Reviews

Recent Reviews

Countries Available