For over four decades, Martin Scorsese has been the chronicler of an obsessive society, where material possessions and physical comfort are valued, where the pursuit of individual improvement is rewarded and where male prerogative is respected and preserved. Scorsese has often described his films as sociology and he has a point: his storytelling condenses complex information into comprehensible narratives about society. In this sense, he has been a guide through a dark world of nineteenth century crypto-fascism to a fetishistic twentieth century in which goods, fame, money and power are held to have magical power. Author of Tyson: Nurture of the Beast and Beckham, Ellis Cashmore turns his attention to arguably the most influential living film- maker to explore how Scorsese envisions America. Greed, manhood, the city and romantic love feature on Scorsese's landscape of secular materialism. They are among the themes Cashmore argues have driven and inform Scorsese's work. This is America, as seen through the eyes of Martin Scorsese and it is a deeply unpleasant place. Cashmore's book discloses how, collectively, Scorsese's films present an image of America. It's an image assembled from the perspectives of obsessive people, whether burned-out paramedics, compulsive entrepreneurs, tortured lovers, or celebrity-fixated comedians. It's collected from pool halls, taxicabs, boxing rings and jazz clubs. It's an image that's specific, yet ubiquitous. It is Martin Scorsese's America.

For over four decades, Martin Scorsese has been the chronicler ofan obsessive society, where material possessions and physicalcomfort are valued, where the pursuit of individual improvement isrewarded and where male prerogative is respected and preserved.Scorsese has often described his films as sociology and he has apoint: his storytelling condenses complex information intocomprehensible narratives about society. In this sense, he has beena guide through a dark world of nineteenth century crypto-fascismto a fetishistic twentieth century in which goods, fame, money andpower are held to have magical power.Author of Tyson: Nurture of the Beast and BeckhamEllis Cashmore turns his attention to arguably the most influentialliving film- maker to explore how Scorsese envisions America.Greed, manhood, the city and romantic love feature on Scorsese'slandscape of secular materialism. They are among the themesCashmore argues have driven and inform Scorsese's work. This isAmerica, as seen through the eyes of Martin Scorsese and it is adeeply unpleasant place.Cashmore's book discloses how, collectively, Scorsese's filmspresent an image of America. It's an image assembled from theperspectives of obsessive people, whether burned-out paramedicscompulsive entrepreneurs, tortured lovers, or celebrity-fixatedcomedians. It's collected from pool halls, taxicabs, boxing ringsand jazz clubs. It's an image that's specific, yet ubiquitous. Itis Martin Scorsese's America.

ONE: INTRODUCTION -GRAND, DARK, AMERICAN VISIONTWO: DREAM GONE TOXICTHREE: WHOSE LAW? WHAT ORDER?FOUR: MINDS AND THE METROPOLISFIVE: PAWNS IN THEIR GAMESIX: WHAT THE PEOPLE WANTSEVEN: FAMILY VALUESEIGHT: IDEA OF A MANNINE: WOMEN LOSETEN: SUBMISSION TO ROMANCEELEVEN: PRICE OF MONEY- CONCLUSIONFilmographyBibliography