The Myths That Made America - Paul, Heike

This essential introduction to American studies examines the core
foundational myths upon which the nation is based and which still determine
discussions of US-American identities today. These myths include the myth of
discovery,& the Pocahontas myth, the myth of the Promised Land, the myth of
the Founding Fathers, the melting pot myth, the myth of the West, and the
myth of the self-made man. The chapters provide extended analyses of each of
these myths, using examples from popular culture, literature, memorial
culture, school books, and every-day life. Including visual material as well
as study questions, this book will be of interest to any student of American
studies and will foster an understanding of the United States of America as
an imagined community by analyzing the foundational role of myths in the
process of nation building.