Hit The Road Jack

Product Description

All travellers know the seductive power of the open road & its suggestions of possibility, escape, renewal, & reinvention. Hit the Road, Jack is an interdisciplinary exploration of the significance of the road as reality & metaphor. Engaging with varied cultural mediums such as literature, reality television, philosophy, & political rhetoric, this collection delves deeply into the symbolic implications of the road. Insightful & accessible essays draw upon both classic ”road” texts & films, while investigating themes of individual & national freedom, independence & mobility, & destiny. Referencing postmodern theory, gender & queer studies, as well as personal reminiscence & narrative research, Hit the Road, Jack considers the impact that identity
- particularly race, ethnicity, gender, & sexual orientation
- has on the way various journeys are taken. While literary depictions of the road have a long history, scholarship about the phenomenon is sparse. This anthology makes a significant contribution to the study of the road, bringing to light aspects of its iconic status in American culture. Contributors include Paul Attinello (Newcastle University), Stacilee Ford (University of Hong Kong), Eleanor Heginbotham (University of Maryland), Susan Kuyper (Des Moines Area Community College), Gina Marchetti (University of Hong Kong), Cotton Seiler (Dickinson University), Max J. Skidmore (University of Missouri-Kansas City), Gordon Slethaug (University of Southern Denmark), Michael Truscello (Mount Royal University), & Wendy Zierler (Hebrew Union College -Jewish Institute of Religion, New York).