{"id":753,"date":"2019-07-17T18:18:47","date_gmt":"2019-07-17T18:18:47","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/wcsu.wpengine.com\/news-archives\/perettibookreading\/"},"modified":"2019-07-17T18:18:47","modified_gmt":"2019-07-17T18:18:47","slug":"perettibookreading","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.wcsu.edu\/news-archives\/perettibookreading\/","title":{"rendered":"2013 WCSU professor’s book examines presidential links to Hollywood"},"content":{"rendered":"
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DANBURY, CONN. <\/strong>\u2014 U.S. presidents have danced with Hollywood\u2019s image-makers since the 1920s, a phenomenon Dr. Burton W. Peretti<\/a>, professor of History at Western Connecticut State University<\/a>, explores in a new book, \u201cThe Leading Man<\/a>.\u201d<\/p>\n

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Peretti shows that George Washington set the stage for presidents to take the role as the country\u2019s cultural leader, and every president from Herbert Hoover to Barack Obama has taken cues from the movie industry about how to act in public.<\/p>\n

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Peretti will read from his book and sign copies at 5:30 p.m. on Monday, April 15, 2013<\/strong>, in Warner Hall on Western\u2019s Midtown campus, 181 White St., Danbury. The event is free and open to the public.<\/p>\n

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\u201cThe book deepens our understanding of Hollywood\u2019s increasingly central role in American political culture and reveals the ways in which many 20th century Presidents adapted Hollywood communication techniques to sell themselves and their policies to voters,\u201d said Steven J. Ross, author of \u201cHollywood Left and Right.\u201d<\/p>\n

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Peretti analyzes how, since the 1920s, the president, like the lead actor in a movie, has been given the central place on the political stage under the intense glare of the spotlight. Like other American men, future presidents were taught by lead movie actors how to look and behave, what to say, and how to say it.<\/p>\n

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Some, like John F. Kennedy and Richard M. Nixon, took particular care to learn from the grooming, gestures, movements and vocal inflections of film actors and applied these lessons to their political careers. Ronald Reagan was a professional actor. Bill Clinton, a child of the post\u2013World War II Baby Boom, may have been the biggest movie fan of all presidents. Others, including Lyndon Johnson, showed little interest in movies and their lessons for politicians. <\/p>\n

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The book also discusses image and advertising consultants who have staged politicians\u2019 public events, and who have been criticized for cheapening their offices. <\/p>\n

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\u201cThe Leading Man\u201d traces the evolution and the significance of the presidential cinematic image. Peretti demonstrates how movies have been the main force in promoting appearance and drama over the substance of governing, and how Americans\u2019 lives today may be dominated by entertainment at the expense of their engagement as citizens. <\/p>\n

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Peretti is the author of four other books, including \u201cThe Creation of Jazz: Music, Race and Culture in Urban America<\/a>\u201d and \u201c Nightclub City: Politics and Amusement in Manhattan<\/a> .\u201d<\/p>\n

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For more information, call the Office of University Relations at (203) 837-8486.<\/p>\n

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Western Connecticut State University offers outstanding faculty in a range of quality academic programs. Our diverse university community provides students an enriching and supportive environment that takes advantage of the unique cultural offerings of Western Connecticut and New York. Our vision: To be an affordable public university with the characteristics of New England\u2019s best small private universities.<\/em><\/p>\n

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