Frank Sinatra Has a Cold: myth, masculinity, and the modern hero in New Journalism

Abstract

This paper examines Gay Talese’s landmark 1966 profile Frank Sinatra Has a Cold through the lens of mythic narrative structure and its ideological function. Arguing that Talese crafts a modern Hero’s Journey around Sinatra at a moment of cultural uncertainty, the study reveals how Talese constructs Sinatra as an embattled but resilient figure. Drawing upon Joseph Campbell’s theory of the Monomyth and Roland Barthes’ critique of myth as ideology, the paper demonstrates that Talese’s portrayal transcends conventional celebrity journalism. Rather than presenting Sinatra merely as an entertainer, Talese mythologizes him as a symbol of shifting ideals of masculinity, fame, and individualism, thereby naturalizing these concepts as innate truths. However, the analysis suggests that the article’s true lasting influence derives not only from its pioneering style of New Journalism, but also from its deeper narrative function which de-naturalizes the hero myth by exposing its construction. In doing so, Talese simultaneously critiques and perpetuates the celebrity myth, offering a portrait of Sinatra that resonates far beyond its immediate historical moment.