american regionalism literature

American Regionalism Literature: A Deep Dive into the Heart of America

Introduction:

Ever wondered why certain stories resonate so deeply, feeling intimately familiar even if you've never experienced the setting firsthand? That's the magic of American regionalism literature. This vibrant literary movement, flourishing primarily in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, captured the unique spirit, dialects, and landscapes of specific American regions. From the dusty plains of the Midwest to the humid bayous of the South, regionalist writers painted vivid portraits of American life, revealing the diversity and complexity often overlooked in broader national narratives. This article will delve into the core tenets of American regionalism, explore its key figures, and examine its enduring legacy on American literature and culture. We'll uncover why understanding this movement is crucial to truly grasping the rich tapestry of American identity. Ready to embark on this literary journey?

Outline:

I. Defining American Regionalism:
a. Key characteristics (setting, dialect, local color, social issues)
b. Distinction from other literary movements (realism, naturalism)

II. Key Figures and Their Works:
a. Willa Cather (My Ántonia, O Pioneers!) – exploring the Great Plains
b. William Faulkner (As I Lay Dying, Absalom, Absalom!) – capturing the complexities of the South
c. Zora Neale Hurston (Their Eyes Were Watching God) – showcasing the African American experience in the South
d. John Steinbeck (The Grapes of Wrath) – depicting the plight of migrant workers during the Dust Bowl

III. Themes and Motifs in Regionalist Literature:
a. The impact of environment on character and narrative
b. Social and economic inequalities
c. The search for identity and belonging
d. The changing face of America

IV. Legacy and Enduring Influence:
a. Regionalism's impact on subsequent literary movements
b. Continued relevance in contemporary literature and film
c. The ongoing conversation about regional identity in America

Article Body:

I. Defining American Regionalism:

American regionalism isn't just about setting a story in a particular place; it's about deeply immersing the reader in that place's unique character. Think of it like a really detailed travelogue, but instead of just describing the sights, it explores the lives and experiences of the people who call that place home. Regionalist writers meticulously capture the local dialect, the customs, and the social fabric of a specific area. They don't shy away from portraying the realities of that region, both its beauty and its harshness. This differs from realism and naturalism, which might focus more on universal human experiences or the impact of environment as a deterministic force. Regionalism adds a layer of cultural specificity, making the stories feel uniquely "of a place."

II. Key Figures and Their Works:

Let's meet some literary giants who mastered the art of regionalism: Willa Cather, with her evocative portrayals of the Great Plains in My Ántonia and O Pioneers!, paints a picture of resilience and the transformative power of the land. Then there’s William Faulkner, whose complex and often tragic narratives about the American South in As I Lay Dying and Absalom, Absalom! explore the lingering effects of history and the intricate relationships within Southern communities. Zora Neale Hurston's Their Eyes Were Watching God offers a vibrant and nuanced portrayal of African American life in the rural South, showcasing the strength and resilience of its people. And who can forget John Steinbeck's The Grapes of Wrath, a heartbreaking depiction of the struggles faced by migrant workers during the Dust Bowl era, highlighting the devastating consequences of economic hardship and environmental disaster. Each of these authors utilized regionalism to not only showcase their region's beauty but also confront the social and economic inequalities within it.

III. Themes and Motifs in Regionalist Literature:

What binds these seemingly disparate works together? Several recurring themes emerge. First, the environment often acts as a major character itself, shaping the lives and destinies of the people who inhabit it. The harsh landscapes of the Great Plains or the oppressive humidity of the South become integral parts of the narrative. Secondly, regionalist literature consistently grapples with social and economic inequalities. We see this in the plight of migrant workers, the challenges faced by African Americans in the Jim Crow South, and the struggles of farmers battling drought and poverty. The search for identity and belonging also forms a central motif, as characters grapple with their place within their communities and the broader American landscape. Finally, these novels reflect the ever-changing face of America, capturing a nation in transition, grappling with its past and forging its future. They provide a fascinating snapshot of America's multifaceted identity at a specific point in time.

IV. Legacy and Enduring Influence:

The influence of American regionalism extends far beyond the early 20th century. It continues to inspire contemporary writers and filmmakers who seek to capture the particularities of specific regions. Think of the works of Cormac McCarthy, with their stark depictions of the American Southwest, or the films set in specific regions that showcase a distinctive regional culture. Regionalism is more than just a historical literary movement; it's a powerful lens through which we can understand the complexities of American identity and the ongoing conversation about regional differences. It highlights that America is not a monolith, but a diverse collection of unique cultures, experiences, and perspectives, all contributing to the rich tapestry of the nation.

Conclusion:

American regionalism literature offers a profound and enduring exploration of the American experience. By focusing on the unique characteristics of specific regions, these writers revealed the richness and complexity of American identity. Their works remain relevant today, reminding us of the importance of understanding the diverse tapestry of cultures and perspectives that make up our nation. From the breathtaking landscapes to the struggles of its people, American regionalism offers a timeless and invaluable perspective on the heart of America.

FAQs:

Q: Is American regionalism still relevant today? A: Absolutely! While the heyday of regionalism was in the early 20th century, its focus on local cultures and unique perspectives remains highly relevant in contemporary literature and film.

Q: How does regionalism differ from other literary movements? A: Unlike realism, which focuses on portraying everyday life accurately, or naturalism, which emphasizes the impact of environment, regionalism adds a strong focus on the cultural specifics of a particular place.

Q: What are some contemporary examples of regionalist writing? A: Contemporary writers often incorporate elements of regionalism, but it's rarely the sole defining characteristic. Many authors blend regional elements with other styles and approaches.

Keywords: American Regionalism, American Literature, Regionalist Writers, Willa Cather, William Faulkner, Zora Neale Hurston, John Steinbeck, My Ántonia, The Grapes of Wrath, Their Eyes Were Watching God, Literary Movements, American Culture, Southern Literature, Great Plains Literature, Local Color, Dialect, American Identity.

  american regionalism literature: American Literary Regionalism in a Global Age Philip Joseph, 2007-01-01 In this distinctive book, Philip Joseph considers how regional literature can remain relevant in a modern global community. Why, he asks, should we continue to read regionalist fiction in an age of expanding international communications and increasing nonlocal forms of affiliation? With this question as a guide, Joseph places the regionalist tradition of the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries at the center of a contemporary conversation about community. Part of the challenge, Joseph shows, is to distinguish between versions of regionalism that speak nostalgically to modern readers and those that might enter actively into a more progressive collective dialogue. Examining the works of well-known writers including Hamlin Garland, Abraham Cahan, Willa Cather, Zora Neale Hurston, and William Faulkner, Joseph argues that these regionalist authors share a vision of local communities in open discourse with the external world -- capable of shaping public thought and policy and also of benefiting from the knowledge and experiences of outsiders. Their fiction depicts a range of localities, from Jewish American neighborhoods and midwest farming communities to southern African American towns and southwestern mixed-race parishes. Their characters are often associated with the literary-artistic process, a method stressing open-ended critique that -- unlike journalistic, philosophical, or legal processes -- ensures open dialogue.Joseph takes his argument beyond the boundaries of literary scholarship by engaging with art critics such as Lucy Lippard, distance-learning opponents such as David Noble, and civil society proponents such as Robert Putnam and Michael Sandel. Like civil society advocates today, regionalist writers used the idea of community as a discursive topos and explored how values including home and neighborhood were reconciled with such democratic ideals as individual self-determination and collective empowerment.
  american regionalism literature: Cosmopolitan Vistas Tom Lutz, 2004 In a major statement on the relation of art and politics in America, Tom Lutz identifies a consistent ethos at the heart of American literary culture for the past 150 years. Through readings of Sherwood Anderson, Willa Cather, Hamlin Garland, Ellen Glasgow, Sarah Orne Jewett, Sinclair Lewis, Edgar Lee Masters, Claude McKay, Edith Wharton, Anzia Yezierska, and others, Lutz identifies what he calls literary cosmopolitanism: an ethos of representational inclusiveness, of the widest possible affiliation, and at the same time one of aesthetic discrimination, and therefore exclusivity.At the same time that it embraces the entire world, in Lutz's view, literary cosmopolitanism necessitates an evaluative stance, and it is this doubleness, this combination of egalitarianism and elitism, that animates American literature since the Civil War. The nineteenth century's realists and sentimentalists, the writers of the Harlem Renaissance and of the Southern Renaissance, the firebrands who brought in the new canon and the traditionalists who struggled to save the old all ascribe, Lutz argues, to the same cosmopolitan values, however much they disagree on what these values demand of those who hold them.
  american regionalism literature: Writing Out of Place Judith Fetterley, Marjorie Pryse, 2003 In a series of sketches, regionalist writers such as Alice Cary, Mary E. Wilkins Freeman, Sarah Orne Jewett, Grace King, Alice Dunbar-Nelson, Sui Sin Far, and Mary Austin critique the approach to regional subjects characteristic of local color and present narrators who serve as cultural interpreters for persons often considered out of place by urban readers. In their approach to these writers, Fetterley and Pryse offer contemporary readers an alternative vantage point from which to consider questions of regions and regionalism in the global economy of our own time.--Jacket.
  american regionalism literature: A Companion to American Literature Susan Belasco, Theresa Strouth Gaul, Linck Johnson, Michael Soto, 2020-04-03 A comprehensive, chronological overview of American literature in three scholarly and authoritative volumes A Companion to American Literature traces the history and development of American literature from its early origins in Native American oral tradition to 21st century digital literature. This comprehensive three-volume set brings together contributions from a diverse international team of accomplished young scholars and established figures in the field. Contributors explore a broad range of topics in historical, cultural, political, geographic, and technological contexts, engaging the work of both well-known and non-canonical writers of every period. Volume One is an inclusive and geographically expansive examination of early American literature, applying a range of cultural and historical approaches and theoretical models to a dramatically expanded canon of texts. Volume Two covers American literature between 1820 and 1914, focusing on the development of print culture and the literary marketplace, the emergence of various literary movements, and the impact of social and historical events on writers and writings of the period. Spanning the 20th and early 21st centuries, Volume Three studies traditional areas of American literature as well as the literature from previously marginalized groups and contemporary writers often overlooked by scholars. This inclusive and comprehensive study of American literature: Examines the influences of race, ethnicity, gender, class, and disability on American literature Discusses the role of technology in book production and circulation, the rise of literacy, and changing reading practices and literary forms Explores a wide range of writings in multiple genres, including novels, short stories, dramas, and a variety of poetic forms, as well as autobiographies, essays, lectures, diaries, journals, letters, sermons, histories, and graphic narratives. Provides a thematic index that groups chapters by contexts and illustrates their links across different traditional chronological boundaries A Companion to American Literature is a valuable resource for students coming to the subject for the first time or preparing for field examinations, instructors in American literature courses, and scholars with more specialized interests in specific authors, genres, movements, or periods.
  american regionalism literature: Seeking the Region in American Literature and Culture Robert Jackson, 2005-10-10 Regionalism often evokes provinciality and an affiliation with minor literary genres, but Robert Jackson shows that region is an integral part of American identity, providing grounding for major independent voices. Jackson offers a new critical model of region that contributes to literary and cultural study across a wide range of topics. He addresses American literature since the Civil War with particular attention to Mark Twain, William Faulkner, Flannery O'Connor, and Toni Morrison. In advancing their own diverse aesthetic and social agendas -- reactionary and progressive, theological and secular, gender-based, race-based, and above all, dissident -- these writers, Jackson argues, articulate some of the most perceptive and innovative expressions of the American region in the literary history of the United States. According to Jackson, the region transcends both rigidly defined spatial categories -- the South of slavery, the North of freedom, the West of unlimited possibility -- and derivative cultural connotations of local color to reveal subtle and powerful insights. He provides a regional reading of Twain's greatest novel, The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, and a meaningful new interpretation of the work and its place in the American canon. He explores Faulkner's obsession with regional identity and places the Mississippian's work in problematic relation to the Depression-era Nashville Agrarian movement. O'Connor, searching for a critical vocabulary to confront mainstream American literature, religion, and gender, transforms the region from a hothouse of sentimentality into a sharp, deadly weapon in her short fiction. Morrison's brilliant appropriation of region enables her to fashion an aesthetic that is both race-conscious and endowed with revisionist agency; through the region she imagines a new grounding for American identity. Jackson illuminates the importance of rethinking long-established assumptions and demonstrates the vast potential of the region in critical considerations of American literature and culture. Even as he devotes significant attention to realism, modernism, southern literature, and African American literature, he speaks to a wide range of fields in American Cultural studies.
  american regionalism literature: Regional Fictions Stephanie Foote, 2001-03-29 Out of many, one—e pluribus unum—is the motto of the American nation, and it sums up neatly the paradox that Stephanie Foote so deftly identifies in Regional Fictions. Regionalism, the genre that ostensibly challenges or offers an alternative to nationalism, in fact characterizes and perhaps even defines the American sense of nationhood. In particular, Foote argues that the colorful local characters, dialects, and accents that marked regionalist novels and short stories of the late nineteenth century were key to the genre’s conversion of seemingly dangerous political differences—such as those posed by disaffected Midwestern farmers or recalcitrant foreign nationals—into appealing cultural differences. She asserts that many of the most treasured beliefs about the value of local identities still held in the United States today are traceable to the discourses of this regional fiction, and she illustrates her contentions with insightful examinations of the work of Sarah Orne Jewett, Hamlin Garland, Gertrude Atherton, George Washington Cable, Jacob Riis, and others. Broadening the definitions of regional writing and its imaginative territory, Regional Fictions moves beyond literary criticism to comment on the ideology of national, local, ethnic, and racial identity.
  american regionalism literature: Resisting Regionalism Donna M. Campbell, 1997 Despite such prickly themes, according to Donna Campbell, local color fiction fulfilled some specific needs of the public - for nostalgia, for a retreat into mildly exotic locales, for a semblance of order preserved in ritual..
  american regionalism literature: The City in American Literature and Culture Kevin R. McNamara, 2021-08-05 This book examines what literature and film reveal about the urban USA. Subjects include culture, class, race, crime, and disaster.
  american regionalism literature: Mary Austin's Regionalism Heike Schaefer, 2004 Mary Austin's decades-old regionalist work still has the power to fascinate and move a wide audience of contemporary readers.Under the Sign of Nature: Explorations in Ecocriticism
  american regionalism literature: Regionalism and the Reading Class Wendy Griswold, 2008-09-15 Globalization and the Internet are smothering cultural regionalism, that sense of place that flourished in simpler times. These two villains are also prime suspects in the death of reading. Or so alarming reports about our homogenous and dumbed-down culture would have it, but as Regionalism and the Reading Class shows, neither of these claims stands up under scrutiny—quite the contrary. Wendy Griswold draws on cases from Italy, Norway, and the United States to show that fans of books form their own reading class, with a distinctive demographic profile separate from the general public. This reading class is modest in size but intense in its literary practices. Paradoxically these educated and mobile elites work hard to put down local roots by, among other strategies, exploring regional writing. Ultimately, due to the technological, economic, and political advantages they wield, cosmopolitan readers are able to celebrate, perpetuate, and reinvigorate local culture. Griswold’s study will appeal to students of cultural sociology and the history of the book—and her findings will be welcome news to anyone worried about the future of reading or the eclipse of place.
  american regionalism literature: Keywords for American Cultural Studies Bruce Burgett, Glenn Hendler, 2007-10-01 Explore the Keywords Collaborative interactive website at keywords.nyupress.org According to the Oxford English Dictionary, a “keyword” is “a word that is of great importance or significance.” On the web, “keywords“ organize vast quantities of complex information. Keywords for American Cultural Studies offers these features and more to its readers, providing indispensable meditations on terms and concepts used in cultural studies, American studies, and beyond. Collaborative in design and execution, Keywords for American Cultural Studies collects sixty-four new essays from interdisciplinary scholars, each on a single term such as “America,” “body,” “ethnicity,” and “religion.” Alongside “community,” “immigration,” “queer,” and many others, these words are the nodal points in many of today’s most dynamic and vexed discussions of political and social life, both inside and outside of the academy. Here are essays by scholars working in literary studies and political economy, cultural anthropology and ethnic studies, African American history and performance studies, gender studies and political theory. Some entries are explicitly argumentative, others are more descriptive. Throughout, readers will find clear, challenging, critically engaged thinking and writing. Keywords for American Cultural Studies provides an accessible A-to-Z survey of prevailing academic buzzwords, and a flexible tool for carving out new areas of inquiry. It is equally useful for college students who are trying to understand what their teachers are talking about, for general readers who want to know what’s new in scholarly research, and for professors who just want to keep up. Contributors: Vermonja R. Alston, Lauren Berlant, Mary Pat Brady, Laura Briggs, Bruce Burgett, Christopher Castiglia, Russ Castronovo, Eva Cherniavsky, Krista Comer, Micaela di Leonardo, Brent Hayes Edwards, Robert Fanuzzi, Rod Ferguson, Shelley Fisher Fishkin, Elizabeth Freeman, Kevin Gaines, Rosemary Marangoly George, Kirsten Silva Gruesz, Sandra M. Gustafson, Matthew Pratt Guterl, Judith Halberstam, Glenn Hendler, Grace Kyungwon Hong, June Howard, Janet R. Jakobsen, Susan Jeffords, Walter Johnson, Miranda Joseph, Moon-Ho Jung, Carla Kaplan, David Kazanjian, Kanta Kochhar-Lindgren, Eric Lott, Lisa Lowe, Eithne Luibhéid, Susan Manning, Curtis Marez, Meredith L. McGill, Timothy Mitchell, Fred Moten, Christopher Newfield, Donald E. Pease, Pamela Perry, Carla L. Peterson, Vijay Prashad, Chandan Reddy, Bruce Robbins, David F. Ruccio, Susan M. Ryan, David S. Shields, Caroline Chung Simpson, Nikhil Pal Singh, Siobhan B. Somerville, Amy Dru Stanley, Shelley Streeby, John Kuo Wei Tchen, Paul Thomas, Priscilla Wald, Michael Warner, Robert Warrior, Alys Eve Weinbaum, Henry Yu, George Yúdice, and Sandra A. Zagarell.
  american regionalism literature: Southern Aberrations Richard Gray, 2000-05-01 In this major reassessment of the American South and its literature, Richard Gray explores the idea of regionalism by focusing on those writers whose relationship with the South has been particularly problematical. Asking just what it means to belong to a place, a region—and, more specifically, what it implies for certain Americans to call themselves Southerners—he analyzes conflicting notions of the South that have evolved over the past two centuries. In the process, Gray—one of the leading scholars in the field of Southern studies—offers a provocative new reading of many Southern writers and of the whole notion of a Southern tradition.
  american regionalism literature: Violet America Jason Arthur, 2013-04-05 Violet America takes on the long habit among literary historians and critics of thinking about large segments of American literary production in terms of regionalism or local color writing, thus marginalizing important literary works. Rather than simply celebrating regional difference, Jason Arthur argues, regional cosmopolitan fiction blends the nation's cultural polarities into a connected, interdependent America. Book jacket.
  american regionalism literature: The Color Curtain Richard Wright, 1995 This indispensable work urging removal of the color barrier remains one of the key commentaries on the question of race in the modern era. First published in 1956, it arose from Richard Wright's participation in a global conference held in Bandung, Indonesia, in April 1955. With this report of what occurred at Bandung Wright takes a central spot on the international stage and serves as a harbinger of worldwide social and political change. He exhorts Western nations, largely responsible for the poverty and ignorance in their former colonies, to destroy racial impediments and to work with the leadership of the new nations in moving toward modernization and industrialization under a free democratic system rather than under Communist totalitarianism. With this book, Wright became a precursor to the era of multiculturalism and an advocate for global transformation.
  american regionalism literature: Still the New World Philip Fisher, 1999 A provocative new way of accounting for the spirit of literary tradition, Still the New World makes a persuasive argument against the reduction of literature to identity questions of race, gender, and ethnicity.
  american regionalism literature: A Companion to American Literature and Culture Paul Lauter, 2010-02-12 This expansive Companion offers a set of fresh perspectives on the wealth of texts produced in and around what is now the United States. Highlights the diverse voices that constitute American literature, embracing oral traditions, slave narratives, regional writing, literature of the environment, and more Demonstrates that American literature was multicultural before Europeans arrived on the continent, and even more so thereafter Offers three distinct paradigms for thinking about American literature, focusing on: genealogies of American literary study; writers and issues; and contemporary theories and practices Enables students and researchers to generate richer, more varied and more comprehensive readings of American literature
  american regionalism literature: Writing the Nation: A Concise Introduction to American Literature 1865 to Present Amy Berke, Robert Bleil, Jordan Cofer, Doug Davis, 2023-12-01 In 'Writing the Nation: A Concise Introduction to American Literature 1865 to Present,' editors Amy Berke, Robert Bleil, Jordan Cofer, and Doug Davis curate a comprehensive exploration of American literary evolution from the aftermath of the Civil War to contemporary times. This anthology expertly weaves a tapestry of diverse literary styles and themes, encapsulating the dynamic shifts in American culture and identity. Through carefully selected works, the collection illustrates the rich dialogue between historical contexts and literary expression, showcasing seminal pieces that have shaped American literatures landscape. The diversity of periods and perspectives offers readers a panoramic view of the countrys literary heritage, making it a significant compilation for scholars and enthusiasts alike. The contributing authors and editors, each with robust backgrounds in American literature, bring to the table a depth of scholarly expertise and a passion for the subject matter. Their collective work reflects a broad spectrum of American life and thought, aligning with major historical and cultural movements from Realism and Modernism to Postmodernism. This anthology not only marks the evolution of American literary forms and themes but also mirrors the nations complex history and diverse narratives. 'Writing the Nation' is an essential volume for those who wish to delve into the heart of American literature. It offers readers a unique opportunity to experience the multitude of voices, styles, and themes that have shaped the countrys literary tradition. This collection represents an invaluable resource for students, scholars, and anyone interested in the development of American literature and the cultural forces that have influenced it. The anthology invites readers to engage with the vibrant dialogue among its pages, fostering a deeper understanding and appreciation of the United States' literary and cultural heritage.
  american regionalism literature: The New Regionalism in American Literature Carey McWilliams, 1930
  american regionalism literature: The Cambridge Companion to the Latin American Novel Efraín Kristal, 2005-05-26 The diverse countries of Latin America have produced a lively and ever evolving tradition of novels, many of which are read in translation all over the world. This Companion offers a broad overview of the novel's history and analyses in depth several representative works by, for example, Gabriel García Márquez, Machado de Assis, Isabel Allende and Mario Vargas Llosa. The essays collected here offer several entryways into the understanding and appreciation of the Latin American novel in Spanish-speaking America and Brazil. The volume conveys a real sense of the heterogeneity of Latin American literature, highlighting regions whose cultural and geopolitical particularities are often overlooked. Indispensable to students of Latin American or Hispanic studies and those interested in comparative literature and the development of the novel as genre, the Companion features a comprehensive bibliography and chronology and concludes with an essay about the success of Latin American novels in translation.
  american regionalism literature: All The Wild That Remains: Edward Abbey, Wallace Stegner, and the American West David Gessner, 2015-04-20 An homage to the West and to two great writers who set the standard for all who celebrate and defend it. Archetypal wild man Edward Abbey and proper, dedicated Wallace Stegner left their footprints all over the western landscape. Now, award-winning nature writer David Gessner follows the ghosts of these two remarkable writer-environmentalists from Stegner's birthplace in Saskatchewan to the site of Abbey's pilgrimages to Arches National Park in Utah, braiding their stories and asking how they speak to the lives of all those who care about the West. These two great westerners had very different ideas about what it meant to love the land and try to care for it, and they did so in distinctly different styles. Boozy, lustful, and irascible, Abbey was best known as the author of the novel The Monkey Wrench Gang (and also of the classic nature memoir Desert Solitaire), famous for spawning the idea of guerrilla actions—known to admirers as monkeywrenching and to law enforcement as domestic terrorism—to disrupt commercial exploitation of western lands. By contrast, Stegner, a buttoned-down, disciplined, faithful family man and devoted professor of creative writing, dedicated himself to working through the system to protect western sites such as Dinosaur National Monument in Colorado. In a region beset by droughts and fires, by fracking and drilling, and by an ever-growing population that seems to be in the process of loving the West to death, Gessner asks: how might these two farseeing environmental thinkers have responded to the crisis? Gessner takes us on an inspiring, entertaining journey as he renews his own commitment to cultivating a meaningful relationship with the wild, confronting American overconsumption, and fighting environmental injustice—all while reawakening the thrill of the words of his two great heroes.
  american regionalism literature: U.S. History P. Scott Corbett, Volker Janssen, John M. Lund, Todd Pfannestiel, Sylvie Waskiewicz, Paul Vickery, 2024-09-10 U.S. History is designed to meet the scope and sequence requirements of most introductory courses. The text provides a balanced approach to U.S. history, considering the people, events, and ideas that have shaped the United States from both the top down (politics, economics, diplomacy) and bottom up (eyewitness accounts, lived experience). U.S. History covers key forces that form the American experience, with particular attention to issues of race, class, and gender.
  american regionalism literature: Writing Across the Color Line Lucas A. Dietrich, 2020 Based on the author's disseration (doctoral)--University of New Hampshire, 2015.
  american regionalism literature: Mark Twain in Context John Bird, 2020-01-02 Mark Twain In Context provides the fullest introduction in one volume to the multifaceted life and times of one of the most celebrated American writers. It is a collection of short, lively contributions covering a wide range of topics on Twain's life and works. Twain lived during a time of great change, upheaval, progress, and challenge. He rose from obscurity to become what some have called 'the most recognizable person on the planet'. Beyond his contributions to literature, which were hugely important and influential, he was a businessman, an inventor, an advocate for social and political change, and ultimately a cultural icon. Placing his life and work in the context of his age reveals much about both Mark Twain and America in the last half of the nineteenth century, the twentieth century, and the first decades of the twenty-first century.
  american regionalism literature: Critical Regionalism and Cultural Studies Cheryl Herr, 1996 In this work Cheryl Herr uses architect Kenneth Frampton's idea of critical regionalism to describe a comparative methodology for cultural studies. Demonstrating a process of oscillating perspectives - moving from a subject location to an object social scene and back again - she details the impact of both immediate social forces and behind-the-scenes institutions on two heartlands: rural Ireland and the American Midwest. She also provides the tools to understand symmetrical historical/global patterns in Ireland and the Midwest. Herr strongly supports a crosscultural approach in which every issue is framed by its role in a hierarchy of increasingly global economic institutions. At the same time, she considers the representation of crisis on the local level. She uses creative found and forced assemblages to illustrate historical processes and provides a strong case for a larger place in the university curriculum for a crosscultural studies methodology.
  american regionalism literature: A History of American Literature Richard Gray, 2004-02-23 This major new history of American literature from pre-Columbian times to the present is written in an informed but accessible style by one of the leading authorities in the field. A major new one-volume history of American literature from pre-Columbian times to the present. Extremely broad-ranging, taking in Native American, Anglo American, African American, Asian American and Hispanic American literature. Covers oral literature, folktales, spirituals, the blues, the western, the detective story, the thriller and science fiction, as well as canonical literature. Relates the history of American literature to American social and cultural history. Takes account of changes in critical and theoretical debates about literature in the last 30 years. Written by a leading international authority on American literature.
  american regionalism literature: The New Regionalism in American Literature Carey MacWilliams, 1974
  american regionalism literature: Realism and Regionalism, 1860 - 1910 Roger Lathbury, 2009 This engaging volume discusses sectionalism, industrialism, and literary regionalism; slave narratives and race relations; the life and works of Mark Twain; urban writers and internationalism; regionalism; and naturalism, determinism, and social reform.
  american regionalism literature: Research Guide to American Literature Gary Scharnhorst, 2010
  american regionalism literature: Regionalism in America , 1952
  american regionalism literature: Realism and Regionalism (1860-1910) Roger Lathbury, Jerry Phillips, Michael Anesko, Karen Meyers, 2010 Explores the social, cultural, and historical contexts of American literature from 1860 to 1910.
  american regionalism literature: New World Regionalism David Jordan, 1994 Recognizing regionalism as a characteristic different both in quality and in intensity than local color, examines its manifestation in the fiction of the three literary and linguistic traditions of the Americas over the past two centuries. Takes both well known and obscure examples from Brazil, Mexico, the US, and Canada, and shows how they fit into the literary, political, social, and historical context. Annotation copyright by Book News, Inc., Portland, OR
  american regionalism literature: American Regionalism and the Problem of Minor Literature Christopher D. Lambert, 1989
  american regionalism literature: A Companion to American Literary Studies Caroline F. Levander, Robert S. Levine, 2015-08-17 A Companion to American Literary Studies addresses the most provocative questions, subjects, and issues animating the field. Essays provide readers with the knowledge and conceptual tools for understanding American literary studies as it is practiced today, and chart new directions for the future of the subject. Offers up-to-date accounts of major new critical approaches to American literary studies Presents state-of-the-art essays on a full range of topics central to the field Essays explore critical and institutional genealogies of the field, increasingly diverse conceptions of American literary study, and unprecedented material changes such as the digital revolution A unique anthology in the field, and an essential resource for libraries, faculty, graduate students, and advanced undergraduates
  american regionalism literature: Literature of Diminishment Juliana Chow, 2015 Literature of Diminishment redefines regionalism as a philosophical approach that prefers a partial view of oneself and of others, whether human or nonhuman, rather than the comprehensive view pursued by nineteenth-century science. I show how American regionalist writings from the 1820s to 1910s adapt scientific techniques of observation to the aesthetics of the regionalist sketch. Their sketchy view of Nature highlights the deficiencies of knowing and nonetheless opens out to a view of biological processes and succession in which life cedes to life through its casualties. Regionalist literature is, then, less a literature of particular cultural or geographical regions as it is a literature whose principles of diminishment might insist on the roughness and limits of a regional setting. The archive of works I draw upon extends from environmental literature--the nature writings of John James Audubon, Henry David Thoreau, and Celia Thaxter--to less conventionally regionalist texts of the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries such as works by Emily Dickinson, Herman Melville, W.E.B. Du Bois, and Gertrude Stein. In regionalist formulations, diminishment is a mode of seeing that relies on imprecise and partial specifications rather than strict definitions. Understanding art and science as approaches that both connote ways of seeing and being in the world, I show how writers like Thoreau, Dickinson, Melville, Thaxter, and Sarah Orne Jewett experiment with partial ways of seeing through concomitantly aesthetic and scientific uses of views, optics, and visual technology. Setting the frame with Thoreau's vista from the eroding shores of Cape Cod, I consider how these writers' engagement with natural history's empirical methods attends to their own perceptual diminishment, and also, critically, to the diminishment of their object of study--Nature, or, more generally, life. The final chapters examine the practice and politics of seeing human races as species, that is, as part of nature, through what I consider snapshots of black workers. Du Bois's and Stein's literary-photographic studies view and review the racialist natural history that pictures African-Americans, as Du Bois writes, somewhere between men and cattle. Regionalism, I argue, instead affords the succession of life through diminishment, rather than a reduction of life to units of data.
  american regionalism literature: A Companion to the Modern American Novel, 1900 - 1950 John T. Matthews, 2013-06-10 This cutting-edge Companion is a comprehensive resource for the study of the modern American novel. Published at a time when literary modernism is being thoroughly reassessed, it reflects current investigations into the origins and character of the movement as a whole. Brings together 28 original essays from leading scholars Allows readers to orient individual works and authors in their principal cultural and social contexts Contributes to efforts to recover minority voices, such as those of African American novelists, and popular subgenres, such as detective fiction Directs students to major relevant scholarship for further inquiry Suggests the many ways that “modern”, “American” and “fiction” carry new meanings in the twenty-first century
  american regionalism literature: Books and Beyond Kenneth Womack, 2008-10-30 There's a strong interest in reading for pleasure or self-improvement in America, as shown by the popularity of Harry Potter, and book clubs, including Oprah Winfrey's. Although recent government reports show a decline in recreational reading, the same reports show a strong correlation between interest in reading and academic acheivement. This set provides a snapshot of the current state of popular American literature, including various types and genres. The volume presents alphabetically arranged entries on more than 70 diverse literary categories, such as cyberpunk, fantasy literature, flash fiction, GLBTQ literature, graphic novels, manga and anime, and zines. Each entry is written by an expert contributor and provides a definition of the genre, an overview of its history, a look at trends and themes, a discussion of how the literary form engages contemporary issues, a review of the genre's reception, a discussion of authors and works, and suggestions for further reading. Sidebars provide fascinating details, and the set closes with a selected, general bibliography. Reading in America for pleasure and knowledge continues to be popular, even while other media compete for attention. While students continue to read many of the standard classics, new genres have emerged. These have captured the attention of general readers and are also playing a critical role in the language arts classroom. This book maps the state of popular literature and reading in America today, including the growth of new genres, such as cyberpunk, zines, flash fiction, GLBTQ literature, and other topics. Each entry is written by an expert contributor and provides a definition of the genre, an overview of its history, a look at trends and themes, a discussion of how the literary form engages contemporary issues, a review of the genre's critical reception, a discussion of authors and works, and suggestions for further reading. Sidebars provide fascinating details, and the set closes with a selected, general bibliography. Students will find this book a valuable guide to what they're reading today and will appreciate its illumination of popular culture and contemporary social issues.
  american regionalism literature: Literature & Place, 1800-2000 Peter Brown, 2008 Ten original essays examine the transactions between real places and the literary imagination, including the reinvention of real places in literary form, from 1800 to the present day. They deal with different kinds of locations (islands, countries, cities), the topoi writers use to articulate a sense of place (maps, ruins, landscape, history), their generic manifestations in fiction, travel writing, topography, (auto)biography and poetry, and the theoretical and methodological issues which arise. The focus moves outwards from local to regional and national issues, covering questions of cultural identity, space, representation, historicity, and modernity in England, Scotland, Ireland, France, Germany, the United States, and the South Pacific. The contributors are drawn from both sides of the Atlantic, and include established scholars as well as newer voices.