Scribd Logo
Upload

Welcome to Scribd!

  • 6 views

    Reform and Resistance in American Literature

    Uploaded by

    Frank Hering
    Reforms become oppressive when their power relationships cease to be reversibly relational and instead become blocked or frozen. I turn to narratives that appeared when these reforms were still new and fluid to find, through close readings, resistances that can be reworked to acquire meaning in present struggles. For example. Alcoholics Anonymous-style treatment programs urge members to subordinate themselves to higher powers by having them create narratives that decontextualize illicit behaviors from political activism and social problems. Whitman's Franklin Evans suggests that instead of making people conform to this temperance narrative, we all should be asking, "How many stories and styles of producing stories can we generate as strategic responses to the failure of the social order ever to achieve closure?" Addressing such a question, Moby-Dick urges us to abandon our reliance on inner-selves and unmodifiable law in order to engage constantly in remaking the present in such a way that reminds others about that from which we are forever barred. This ethic is further explored in Nella Larsen's Passing, which responds to post-Reconstruction reform movements, particularly the fantasy that if everyone could be made to stay in his or her "proper" place, all domestic problems would be solved. In the push-and-pull encounters between the two main characters, Larsen's novel provides a model of friendship that could usefully respond to today's dangerous appeals to the "safety" of idealized domesticity and "secure" identities. How these ethical responses can contribute to collective counter-formations is addressed by my readings of Fannie Flagg's Fried Green Tomatoes at the Whistle Stop Cafe. This novel shows how storytelling, especially the exchange of anecdotes, motivates both individual and social change.

    Copyright:

    © All Rights Reserved
    Download as PDF or read online from Scribd
    Flag for inappropriate content

    You might also like

    Reform and Resistance in American Literature

    Uploaded by

    Frank Hering
    6 views171 pages
    Reforms become oppressive when their power relationships cease to be reversibly relational and instead become blocked or frozen. I turn to narratives that appeared when these reforms were still new and fluid to find, through close readings, resistances that can be reworked to acquire meaning in present struggles. For example. Alcoholics Anonymous-style treatment programs urge members to subordinate themselves to higher powers by having them create narratives that decontextualize illicit behaviors from political activism and social problems. Whitman's Franklin Evans suggests that instead of making people conform to this temperance narrative, we all should be asking, "How many stories and styles of producing stories can we generate as strategic responses to the failure of the social order ever to achieve closure?" Addressing such a question, Moby-Dick urges us to abandon our reliance on inner-selves and unmodifiable law in order to engage constantly in remaking the present in such a way that reminds others about that from which we are forever barred. This ethic is further explored in Nella Larsen's Passing, which responds to post-Reconstruction reform movements, particularly the fantasy that if everyone could be made to stay in his or her "proper" place, all domestic problems would be solved. In the push-and-pull encounters between the two main characters, Larsen's novel provides a model of friendship that could usefully respond to today's dangerous appeals to the "safety" of idealized domesticity and "secure" identities. How these ethical responses can contribute to collective counter-formations is addressed by my readings of Fannie Flagg's Fried Green Tomatoes at the Whistle Stop Cafe. This novel shows how storytelling, especially the exchange of anecdotes, motivates both individual and social change.

    Copyright

    © © All Rights Reserved

    Available Formats

    PDF or read online from Scribd

    Did you find this document useful?

    Is this content inappropriate?

    Report this Document
    Reforms become oppressive when their power relationships cease to be reversibly relational and instead become blocked or frozen. I turn to narratives that appeared when these reforms were still new and fluid to find, through close readings, resistances that can be reworked to acquire meaning in present struggles. For example. Alcoholics Anonymous-style treatment programs urge members to subordinate themselves to higher powers by having them create narratives that decontextualize illicit behaviors from political activism and social problems. Whitman's Franklin Evans suggests that instead of making people conform to this temperance narrative, we all should be asking, "How many stories and styles of producing stories can we generate as strategic responses to the failure of the social order ever to achieve closure?" Addressing such a question, Moby-Dick urges us to abandon our reliance on inner-selves and unmodifiable law in order to engage constantly in remaking the present in such a way that reminds others about that from which we are forever barred. This ethic is further explored in Nella Larsen's Passing, which responds to post-Reconstruction reform movements, particularly the fantasy that if everyone could be made to stay in his or her "proper" place, all domestic problems would be solved. In the push-and-pull encounters between the two main characters, Larsen's novel provides a model of friendship that could usefully respond to today's dangerous appeals to the "safety" of idealized domesticity and "secure" identities. How these ethical responses can contribute to collective counter-formations is addressed by my readings of Fannie Flagg's Fried Green Tomatoes at the Whistle Stop Cafe. This novel shows how storytelling, especially the exchange of anecdotes, motivates both individual and social change.

    Copyright:

    © All Rights Reserved
    Download as PDF or read online from Scribd
    Flag for inappropriate content
    Download as pdf
    6 views171 pages

    Reform and Resistance in American Literature

    Uploaded by

    Frank Hering
    Reforms become oppressive when their power relationships cease to be reversibly relational and instead become blocked or frozen. I turn to narratives that appeared when these reforms were still new and fluid to find, through close readings, resistances that can be reworked to acquire meaning in present struggles. For example. Alcoholics Anonymous-style treatment programs urge members to subordinate themselves to higher powers by having them create narratives that decontextualize illicit behaviors from political activism and social problems. Whitman's Franklin Evans suggests that instead of making people conform to this temperance narrative, we all should be asking, "How many stories and styles of producing stories can we generate as strategic responses to the failure of the social order ever to achieve closure?" Addressing such a question, Moby-Dick urges us to abandon our reliance on inner-selves and unmodifiable law in order to engage constantly in remaking the present in such a way that reminds others about that from which we are forever barred. This ethic is further explored in Nella Larsen's Passing, which responds to post-Reconstruction reform movements, particularly the fantasy that if everyone could be made to stay in his or her "proper" place, all domestic problems would be solved. In the push-and-pull encounters between the two main characters, Larsen's novel provides a model of friendship that could usefully respond to today's dangerous appeals to the "safety" of idealized domesticity and "secure" identities. How these ethical responses can contribute to collective counter-formations is addressed by my readings of Fannie Flagg's Fried Green Tomatoes at the Whistle Stop Cafe. This novel shows how storytelling, especially the exchange of anecdotes, motivates both individual and social change.

    Copyright:

    © All Rights Reserved
    Download as PDF or read online from Scribd
    Flag for inappropriate content
    Download as pdf
    of 171
    REFORM AND RESISTANCE IN AMERICAN LITERATURE by FRANK G. HERING A DISSERTATION PRESENTED TO THE GRADUATE SCHOOL, OF THE UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA IN PARTIAL FULFILLMENT OFTHE REQUIREMENTS FOR THE DEGREE OF DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA, 2000 ACKNOWLEDGMENTS In wha follows, 1 argue forthe need to culivat relationshipsin which frends (tc.) push and pul one ancther ot of comfortable postions by playing upon each other's imuliple and contradictory identifications. | was fortunate to have such relationships with the members cf my dissertation committe. From the beginning of gmduateschocl, Stephanie Smith and David Leverenz have generously offered sympathetic yet challenging comments on my wnitings. Without the many conversations Ihave had with them, I would never have asked the questions | explore in what follows. Phil Wegner and Louise ‘Newman challenged meto make stronger arguments about the problems with reform and the benefits of resistances while kindly offering suggestion forhow to do so, Maude Hines generously agreed tosit in on my defense ofthe dissertation and offered insights that have helped me to revise my undefended manvseript. Eventhough they were not members ‘of my committee, Susan Hegeman and Kim Emery shared with me theirinsightful and informed readings of Nella Larsen’s Passing and Fannie Flagg’s Fried Green Tomatces at the Whistle Stop Cafe. Last bat certainly not least, Lwould like to thank my parents, Frank and Sharon: my wife, Beth Braccio Hering: and my son, Zachary, forall their sacrifices and suppor, both emotional and financial. Without them, I would never have been able to take advantage ofthe edvecational opportunities | have encountered over the past ten years. ‘TABLE OF CONTENTS pase ACKNOWLEDGMENTS ii ABSTRACT y CHAPTERS 1 INTRODUCTION. 1 Foucault's Critique of Reform 5 Creating Reform in the Present 9 ‘The Role of Literary Criticism. 7 2. “IEYOU WANT WHAT WE HAVE, YOU DO WHAT WE DID": ‘TEMPERANCE AND ITS OTHERS IN WHITMAN'S FRANKLIN EVANS Sobering Up(wards).. Founding Stor Excessive Storytelling Good as Gold. Going Backstage 3. ALL ABOARD: CORPORATE LIBERALISM VERSUS ‘COFFIN-ING IN MOBY-DICK... 2 Reform and the Liberal Tradition. 2 Looming Doubt. %6 “Traps and Quits. 4 ‘The Personality and the “Personified Impersonal -..-sc.s. n “A Dumb Blankness, Full of Meaaing™ 8 Conceits and Confidence Games.. jSusinarcctiaue da 291 4. SNEAKING AROUND: IDEALIZED DOMESTICITY, IDENTITY POLITICS, AND GAMES OF FRIENDSHIP INNELLA LARSEN’S PASSING. 96 ‘The Politics of Safety. 96 dealized Domestiit) 101 eenity and Sneaking Around. 107 Games of Friendship 17

    You might also like