Henry Thompson

This book analyses the work of Oliver Stone - arguably one of the foremost political filmmakers in Hollywood during the last thirty years. From early productions like Platoon (1986) and Wall Street (1987) to contemporary dramas and documentaries such as World Trade Center (2006), Wall Street: Money Never Sleeps (2010) and The Untold History of the United States (2012) Stone has re-defined political filmmaking in an era when Hollywood and the United States in general has been experiencing rapid and radical change. Drawing on previously unseen production files as well as hours of interviews with the director and his associates within the industry, this book is a thematic exploration of Stone's life and work, charting the development of political and aesthetic changes in his filmmaking. Those changes are mapped onto academic debates about the relationship between film and history as well as wider critiques about Hollywood and the film industry.'A wonderful, bracing book, Scott and Thompson have brought exemplary clarity and thoroughness to the complex and multifaceted career of Oliver Stone. Dividing Stone's work into major themes such as War, Money and Love, the authors provide a focused exploration of the critical intelligence that permeates all of the filmmaker's work - and the political thinking that informs it. Full of insights, this beautifully written book is a major contribution to the literature of film.' Robert Burgoyne, Chair in Film Studies at the University of St Andrews, and author of Film Nation: Hollywood Looks at US History (2010)'Oliver Stone has cast greater light on late-twentieth and early twenty-first century America than any other movie-maker. In this incisive, erudite, and very well conceived volume, Ian Scott and Henry Thompson offer a nuanced and accessible thematic analysis of Stone's cinematic importance and - with the benefit of their numerous interviews with him - his understanding of the United States and its place in the world. Well-written and deeply researched, this fine book is a major contribution to film studies and should also be read by anyone interested in America's recent past and current politics.' Iwan Morgan, Commonwealth Fund Professor of American History, University College London, and author of Reagan: American Icon. An electronic edition of this book is freely available under a Creative Commons (CC BY-NC-ND) licence.

This text integrates trade theory and open economy macroeconomics with straightforward diagrams and numerous examples. The emphasis is on the gains from competitive trade and the limits of policy. Economics began with the political debate over import tariffs in England. Tariffs lead to net economic losses, except in a few circumstances, and would then lead to retaliation. Consumers and firms importing intermediate inputs lose due to tariffs, as do export industries when other countries retaliate with tariffs of their own. Import competing industries and the government gain from tariffs. The present approach integrates theories of market behavior and general equilibrium on the microeconomic side. Exchange rate theory bridges from trade theory into balance of payments theory. In the final chapter on open economy macroeconomics, the limits of monetary and fiscal policies due to the competitive foreign exchange market is the focus. Theoretical diagrams present the theory without assuming intermediate theory. Numerous problems for each section build confidence in applying the theory. Boxed examples illustrate the importance of theory. Each chapter includes a concise mathematical appendix that should appeal to students with interest and to instructors preparing for class.

This text integrates trade theory and open economy macroeconomics with straightforward diagrams and numerous examples. The emphasis is on the gains from competitive trade and the limits of policy. Economics began with the political debate over import tariffs in England. Tariffs lead to net economic losses, except in a few circumstances, and would then lead to retaliation. Consumers and firms importing intermediate inputs lose due to tariffs, as do export industries when other countries retaliate with tariffs of their own. Import competing industries and the government gain from tariffs. The present approach integrates theories of market behavior and general equilibrium on the microeconomic side. Exchange rate theory bridges from trade theory into balance of payments theory. In the final chapter on open economy macroeconomics, the limits of monetary and fiscal policies due to the competitive foreign exchange market is the focus. Theoretical diagrams present the theory without assuming intermediate theory. Numerous problems for each section build confidence in applying the theory. Boxed examples illustrate the importance of theory. Each chapter includes a concise mathematical appendix that should appeal to students with interest and to instructors preparing for class.

Reprint of the original, first published in 1883.