Cambridge studies in American literature and culture ;
Volume Designation
78
INTERNAL BIBLIOGRAPHIES/INDEXES NOTE
Text of Note
Includes bibliographical references (pages 160-170) and index.
CONTENTS NOTE
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Spoken Testimony, Unwritten History -- John Dos Passos and James Agee: You Won't Hear It Nicely -- John Neihardt, William benson, and Ruth Underhill: Telling Native American History -- Zora Neale Hurston: Talking Black, Talking Back -- Tillie Olsen and the Communist Press: Giving the People Voice.
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SUMMARY OR ABSTRACT
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In this innovative study, Michael E. Staub recasts 1930s cultural history by analyzing those genres so characteristic of the Depression era: genres that relied on a presumed relationship to real experience for their effect and that sought to persuade their audiences of urgent political truths. Demonstrating the seldom-discussed multicultural diversity of Depression-era literature, and paying special attention to narrative strategies for representing the speech of disinherited and minority peoples, Staub shows how several writers from the thirties anticipated dilemmas and perspectives currently engaging cultural studies critics. New interpretations of such canonized authors as James Agee, John Dos Passos, Zora Neale Hurston, John G. Neihardt, and Tillie Olsen are coupled with critical discussions of previously little-known works of ethnography, journalism, oral history, and polemical fiction.
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The 1930s concern with recording the speaking voice is virtually unrivaled in American cultural history. In that decade, scores of writers traveled into the field to record the voices of African Americans, American Indians, migrant workers, tenant farmers, and immigrants.
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Voices of Persuasion sheds new light on the relationship between art and politics in the 1930s. It will interest all who are concerned with the problematic relationship between representation and social reality and their mutual inextricability.
CORPORATE BODY NAME USED AS SUBJECT
University of South Alabama
TOPICAL NAME USED AS SUBJECT
American literature-- 20th century-- History and criticism.
Ethnic groups in literature.
Literature and society-- United States-- History-- 20th century.
Minorities in literature.
Persuasion (Rhetoric)-- History-- 20th century.
Politics and literature-- United States-- History-- 20th century.
Representative government and representation in literature.
American literature-- 20th century-- History and criticism.
American literature.
Ethnic groups in literature.
Ethnic groups in literature.
Ethnische Gruppe
Letterkunde.
Literatur
Literature and society-- United States-- 20th century.
Literature and society.
Minorities in literature.
Nationale Minderheit
Persuasion (Rhetoric)
Persuasion (Rhetoric)
Politics and literature-- United States-- History-- 20th century.
Politics and literature.
Politieke bewegingen.
Politik
Repräsentation
Representative government and representation in literature.
Representative government and representation in literature.