New Books Network Michael D. Dwyer, "Tinsel and Rust: How Hollywood Manufactured the Rust Belt" (Oxford UP, 2025)
Dec 10, 2025
Michael D. Dwyer, an associate professor of media and communication at Arcadia University, dives into Hollywood's influence on the Rust Belt in his insightful discussion. He unpacks how films like *The Blues Brothers* shaped cultural perceptions of deindustrialized cities. Dwyer emphasizes the distinction between economic and cultural decline, and reveals how racial dynamics have driven narratives in film. He also explores cinematic representations of cities like Detroit and Pittsburgh, reflecting shifting identities and social issues in 2025.
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Book Originated From A Film Moment
- Michael Dwyer traced his interest to watching Reckless (filmed in Western Pennsylvania) in 2009 and later the 2016 election surge in Rust Belt searches.
- Those moments turned a curiosity about regional film narratives into the book Tinsel and Rust.
Personal Roots Shaped Research Lens
- Dwyer connected his upbringing and education in the Rust Belt to his skepticism about simple labels.
- Personal background informed his focus on cultural meanings rather than strict geographic boundaries.
Rust Belt Is A Cultural Role, Not A Map
- Defining the Rust Belt geographically fails; it's more useful to ask what the Rust Belt does culturally.
- The label shifted from 'arsenal of democracy' to a symbol of malaise in the 1980s.
