Several people deserve recognition for making this book possible. First is Roberta Jill Craven, whose influence on this endeavor has been immeasurable. A number of key ideas emerged out of discussions with Jill, including using Foucault’s “What Is an Author?” essay to understand Nicholson’s composite persona, defining Nicholson’s dislocation technique to explain his acting style, and citing Comolli and Narboni to analyze subversive film structures. Truly, Jill was a collaborator on this book. William G. Smith also contributed valuable suggestions on exploring the influence of existentialism on Nicholson’s early work. Beverly Schneller also deserves mention for prompting me to scour the archives for early Nicholson interviews.
I would also like to thank Colin Gardner and Patricia McClune for helping with citations, Philippa Gates for offering words of encouragement, Joseph Lacombe for writing the “about the author” page, and Jared Hughes, Christen Karniski, and Stephen Ryan at Scarecrow for their collaborative effort in coming up with the title. Deann Buffington, Mel Upton, and Patrick Sasse from Conestoga Valley deserve recognition for being so supportive while I was working on the book. They may not have realized their impact, but little gestures go a long way. Special thanks to Jason Perkowski, whose early discussions with me about the role of the white male in American society provided a valuable starting point for what would eventually become this book. A special mention must also go to Daniel G. Lehman, without whom I may never have discovered the films of Jack Nicholson.
Thanks also to Photofest for their support with images. Their extensive database proved invaluable when selecting photos to include.
As strange as it may seem, this book never would have gone in the direction it did if not for David Savran’s Communists, Cowboys, and Queers. Savran’s examination of Arthur Miller’s and Tennessee Williams’s treatment of gender, particularly masculinity, gave me my focus for examining Nicholson’s persona. I discovered Savran’s book as a graduate student with the help of one of my professors, the incomparable Steven R. Centola, who became more than just a teacher but a mentor and friend as well. Without Steve’s initial enthusiasm for my subject, I doubt that I ever would have developed it into a book. Words cannot express my sadness that Steve is unable to see the finished product.
Perhaps most deserving of thanks, though, is my family for putting up with my rants about Jack Nicholson over the past ten years. Thank you to Avery and Lillian for understanding when their dad needs to finish editing a chapter before taking them on a walk to the park, and thank you especially Amanda. You make everything I do possible.