Peter Stanfield is professor emeritus of film at the University of Kent. His books include A Band with Built-In Hate: The Who from Pop Art to Punk and Pin-Ups 1972: Third Generation Rock 'n' Roll, both also published by Reaktion Books. He lives in Kent.

"Stanfield . . . delivers a discerning deep dive into counterculture films of the late 1960s and early '70s. According to Stanfield, such actors as Peter Fonda, Dennis Hopper, and Jack Nicholson played down the glamour that had previously characterized Hollywood stars in favor of grittier personas that reflected an emerging understanding that movies were no longer 'means of escape but a means of approaching a problem.' Astute analysis of key films of the era reveal how they tackled topical issues. . . . It's a sharp study of the contradictions of post-flower power cinema."-- "Publishers Weekly"

"So full of information, so culturally astute, and so beautifully written."--Mike Scott, The Waterboys

"In a challenging cultural rhapsody about the gritty authenticity characterizing films following the hippie era of the 1960s, Stanfield posits that the 1970s presented problem-based rather than escapist entertainment vehicles."-- "Library Journal"

"Stanfield is a perceptive and graceful writer; he imparts knowledge to the reader while never sounding like he is lecturing. . . . Stanfield's expertise and depth of knowledge make it feel like this is something we're seeing for the first time."-- "Booklist"

Publisher: Reaktion Books

Pub date: 2024-06-12

Length: 344 pages