Andretta Schellinger

Very disappointed in this. I was expecting the book would explore nose art ie. pictures and identifying the unit of the service that used that plane or perhaps the stories of the service people who used the planes or just fantastic photographs. This is not that book. This is more of a social history explaining the fashion, music, and current events that may have influenced plane designs from WWI to current conflicts. While I appreciate that what generally may have influenced them, I was expecting to hear what specifically influenced each plane design.

II was also disturbed by the particular bent of the artist. The book seemed to be written by someone coming from the modern feminist perspective. One of the most irritating things about reading history and historical fiction today is placing modern morals on a historical time period. We need to view what was done with the morals of the time in mind. The author seemed to particularly hate the pinups. For many nose art lovers, that is the best art. When reading this book, I got the distinct impression of anti-Americanism as well. The author often implied the French and British were civil, while the Americans were the barbarians with their art. It really seemed like the author hated aircraft nose art which is why I was so confused why they were writing about a subject allegedly from the point of view of loving it - yet the text made it seemed like they hated it.

What was also incredibly frustrating was there were several major mistakes that appeared in the book. Spellcheck issues. Much repetition. The most glaring being not understanding that Disney does NOT make Warner Brothers cartoons like Bugs Bunny. Bugs was NOT a Disney property. They specifically were opposites and there has been a feud of sorts for nearly a century. That seems like something that should be easy enough to fact check.

I usually adore McFarland books. They have fascinating subjects and cover topics I usually love like history, Hollywood, etc. I can't believe how this book was the opposite of what I anticipated it would be. Such high hopes. It could have been such a good book. If you want a summary of 20th century social popular culture or nose art through a feminist "Men only objectify women and think of them as nothing but bodies" point of view, this is the only value I can find.… (plus d'informations)

As others have noted, this is a book that isn't likely to match the preconceived expectations of many purchasers. Most books on this subject are large, horizontal-format, coffee-table affairs printed on coated paper, intended primarily to celebrate the art behind decorated military aircraft. There is some of that artistic appreciation here, but it seems peripheral to the main focus of this effort: a sociological study of how aircraft nose art serves as a reflection of the popular and political cultures of the eras in which they were created.

It's an interesting concept, and the book is a well-written exposé of that approach. In tone and content, it appears to be written primarily for academic audiences, and for behavioral scientists rather than historians. As a former academic historian, though, I don't think the book really breaks any new ground -- it basically confirms that, like most popular and commercial art, aircraft nose art was indeed a product reflective of the social norms of the culture that created it. It's also a bit troubling that, at least in some sections, the author also displays a feminist perspective that reads as being both preconceived and not balanced.

In the end, we're left with a book that really isn't going to appeal to the general reader, but still doesn't offer a level of depth or insight to make it a valuable contribution to the academic field.… (plus d'informations)

Andretta Schellinger takes the reader on a trip from the earliest days of aviation through the Vietnam War and presents the reader with a perspective on Aircraft nose art in a scholarly yet fresh context. Drawing on the culture, popular art, and evocative imagery of each wartime period as well as how technology developments may have influenced aircraft art, he tells a well rounded story of why certain images were used. His deep look into these perspectives run from the chivalrous images of World War I to the Playboy imagery of Vietnam. The author demonstrates a keen understanding of how military art on the battlefield serves as a bond between the man and the machine and also reflected the social and fashion trends of the day. (On a Personal note: Unit imagery played a huge role in my units during several wars.) Sorry for all you coffee table book fans - This book is not large print low substance glossies for your fleeting pleasure. It is a scholarly work deserving a careful read. Enlightening!… (plus d'informations)