This is an interdisciplinary collection of essays which studies the complex relationship between the historical Gulf war of 1990-1991, and those myths, narratives and images commonly drawn on to explain it. A linking theme through the volume is the shadow of Vietnam, how the Gulf war was perhaps the culminating event in what has come to be known as "the Vietnam syndrome". As well as focusing upon the central role of mass media the contributors address issues and events that are not usually treated in the same political and historical context, for example, popular music, comic books, was memorials, anti-war expression, literature, and the effects of war upon language. The essays should be of interest to students of history, politics, war studies, American studies, cultural studies, oriental and Middle East studies, the social sciences, media studies, literature and art history.