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Building Cold War Warriors: Socialization of the Final Cold War Generation

Bellavia, Steven Robert
http://orcid.org/0000-0001-5772-178X
http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=bgsu152293636915038

Abstract Details

2018, Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.), Bowling Green State University, American Culture Studies.
This dissertation examines the experiences of the final Cold War generation. I define this cohort as a subset of Generation X born between 1965 and 1971. The primary focus of this dissertation is to study the ways this cohort interacted with the three messages found embedded within the Cold War us vs. them binary. These messages included an emphasis on American exceptionalism, a manufactured and heightened fear of World War III, as well as the othering of the Soviet Union and its people. I begin the dissertation in the 1970s, - during the period of detente- where I examine the cohort’s experiences in elementary school. There they learned who was important within the American mythos and the rituals associated with being an American. This is followed by an examination of 1976’s bicentennial celebration, which focuses on not only the planning for the celebration but also specific events designed to fulfill the two prime directives of the celebration. As the 1980s came around not only did the Cold War change but also the cohort entered high school. Within this stage of this cohorts education, where I focus on the textbooks used by the cohort and the ways these textbooks reinforced notions of patriotism and being an American citizen. The dissertation ends with a textual analysis of the various popular television, film and music that reinforce the three messages found within the us vs. them binary, and the ways these texts served to continue this cohort’s socialization.
Andrew Schocket , Ph.D. (Advisor)
Karen Guzzo , Ph.D. (Other)
Benjamin Greene , Ph.D. (Committee Member)
Rebecca Mancuso , Ph.D. (Committee Member)
336 p.
American Studies; History; Sociology
American civil religion; American Revolution Bicentennial; 1970s; 1980; socialization; Cold War; Generation X; Schoolhouse Rock; American exceptionalism; World War III; Nuclear annihilation; Soviet invasion; Othering; final Cold War generation; textbooks

Recommended Citations

Citations

  • Bellavia, S. R. (2018). Building Cold War Warriors: Socialization of the Final Cold War Generation [Doctoral dissertation, Bowling Green State University]. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=bgsu152293636915038

    APA Style (7th edition)

  • Bellavia, Steven. Building Cold War Warriors: Socialization of the Final Cold War Generation. 2018. Bowling Green State University, Doctoral dissertation. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center, http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=bgsu152293636915038.

    MLA Style (8th edition)

  • Bellavia, Steven. "Building Cold War Warriors: Socialization of the Final Cold War Generation." Doctoral dissertation, Bowling Green State University, 2018. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=bgsu152293636915038

    Chicago Manual of Style (17th edition)

bgsu152293636915038
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This open access ETD is published by Bowling Green State University and OhioLINK.