We Take Care of Our Own
Faith, Class, and Politics in the Art of Bruce Springsteen
Format:Paperback
Publisher:Rutgers University Press
Published:4th Nov '24
£17.99
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We Take Care of Our Own traces the evolution of Bruce Springsteen’s beliefs, beginning with his New Jersey childhood and ending with his most recent works from Springsteen on Broadway to Letter to You. The author follows the singer’s life, examining his albums and a variety of influences (both musical and nonmusical), especially his Catholic upbringing and his family life, to show how he became an outspoken icon for working-class America—indeed for working-class life throughout the world. In this way, the author emphasizes the universality of Springsteen’s canon and depicts how a working-class sensibility can apply to anyone anywhere who believes in fairness and respect. In addition, the author places Springsteen in the historical context not only of literature (especially John Steinbeck) but also of the art world (specifically the work of Thomas Hart Benton and Edward Hopper). Among the themes explored in the book include community, a sense of place, America as the Promised Land, the myth of the West, and, ultimately, mortality.
"Insightful . . . . Going beyond the stereotype of Springsteen as chronicler of the white everyman, Sawyers examines his focus on social issues like AIDS and the Iraq War and provides an intriguing analysis of how his Catholic roots intersect with his political consciousness . . . . It's a dynamic portrait of the complicated political and social influences of a rock legend." * Publishers Weekly *
"Springsteen authority Sawyers explores how Catholicism and an evolving political philosophy informed the art of this central figure in American popular culture. . . . Sawyers defines Springsteen's body of work as one that celebrates humanity." * Booklist *
“Sawyers covers a remarkable amount of ground in a compact space, which will make for a resonant book and a piece of cultural criticism that looks at Springsteen’s work through a series of lenses, some of them unexpected, to help us understand the American experience in a new light.” -- Jim Cullen * author of Born in the U.S.A. Bruce Springsteen in American Life, 3rd edition, Revised and Expanded *
"We Take Care of Our Own is a great read, an important addition to the Springsteen canon, and a serious look at the historical context of Springsteen's work in both American literature and visual art." -- Mary Gauthier * author of Saved by a Song: The Art and Healing Power of Songwriting *
“Sawyers maps some of the most important issues at stake in Bruce Springsteen’s music, especially his twenty-first-century work. By drawing on recent interviews and writing, she brings a fresh perspective to his story.”
-- Lauren Onkey * professor of music, George Washington University *
"Wonderfully insightful and important exploration of one of our country's most essential artists." -- Andre Dubus III
ISBN: 9781978835702
Dimensions: 203mm x 132mm x 13mm
Weight: 172g
168 pages
Revised and Expanded, With an Afterword by Andre Dubus III