(De)constructing “America”: the Case of Emir Kusturica’s Arizona Dream (1993)
By means of an analysis of Kusturica’s only film about America, Arizona Dream, this article argues that while the United States offers a vision of a united society founded on diversity, it also represses, altering in the process both society and the landscape. National unity is consequently a dream...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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European Association for American Studies
2010-11-01
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| Series: | European Journal of American Studies |
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| Online Access: | https://journals.openedition.org/ejas/8653 |
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| author | David Roche |
| author_facet | David Roche |
| author_sort | David Roche |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | By means of an analysis of Kusturica’s only film about America, Arizona Dream, this article argues that while the United States offers a vision of a united society founded on diversity, it also represses, altering in the process both society and the landscape. National unity is consequently a dream – a dream the film suggests that has often been dreamed up by un-Americans. Filtered through Kusturica’s own perceptions of America – and his position on the Balkan War (1991-2001) – the film seems to suggest sadness at the loss of a multi-ethnic, multi-cultural perspective. Through its representations of geography and ethnic diversity, and its dense network of filmic citations, what Arizona Dream ultimately offers is consequently a European auteur’s view of the United States rather than a systematic deconstruction of the “imagined community” of “America.” |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-d7afefa292d84775b1a7b3a271cbabbd |
| institution | DOAJ |
| issn | 1991-9336 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2010-11-01 |
| publisher | European Association for American Studies |
| record_format | Article |
| series | European Journal of American Studies |
| spelling | doaj-art-d7afefa292d84775b1a7b3a271cbabbd2025-08-20T02:54:14ZengEuropean Association for American StudiesEuropean Journal of American Studies1991-93362010-11-015410.4000/ejas.8653(De)constructing “America”: the Case of Emir Kusturica’s Arizona Dream (1993)David RocheBy means of an analysis of Kusturica’s only film about America, Arizona Dream, this article argues that while the United States offers a vision of a united society founded on diversity, it also represses, altering in the process both society and the landscape. National unity is consequently a dream – a dream the film suggests that has often been dreamed up by un-Americans. Filtered through Kusturica’s own perceptions of America – and his position on the Balkan War (1991-2001) – the film seems to suggest sadness at the loss of a multi-ethnic, multi-cultural perspective. Through its representations of geography and ethnic diversity, and its dense network of filmic citations, what Arizona Dream ultimately offers is consequently a European auteur’s view of the United States rather than a systematic deconstruction of the “imagined community” of “America.”https://journals.openedition.org/ejas/8653Arizona DreamAlaskaEskimosInuitNew YorkGeography |
| spellingShingle | David Roche (De)constructing “America”: the Case of Emir Kusturica’s Arizona Dream (1993) European Journal of American Studies Arizona Dream Alaska Eskimos Inuit New York Geography |
| title | (De)constructing “America”: the Case of Emir Kusturica’s Arizona Dream (1993) |
| title_full | (De)constructing “America”: the Case of Emir Kusturica’s Arizona Dream (1993) |
| title_fullStr | (De)constructing “America”: the Case of Emir Kusturica’s Arizona Dream (1993) |
| title_full_unstemmed | (De)constructing “America”: the Case of Emir Kusturica’s Arizona Dream (1993) |
| title_short | (De)constructing “America”: the Case of Emir Kusturica’s Arizona Dream (1993) |
| title_sort | de constructing america the case of emir kusturica s arizona dream 1993 |
| topic | Arizona Dream Alaska Eskimos Inuit New York Geography |
| url | https://journals.openedition.org/ejas/8653 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT davidroche deconstructingamericathecaseofemirkusturicasarizonadream1993 |