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Not All Propaganda is Art 9: Freedom or Death

Benjamen Walker's Theory of Everything

CHAPTER

Critiquing Mid-Cult: Tensions in American Culture

This chapter explores a complex exchange between an editor and a prominent writer concerning an essay on mass and middlebrow culture, revealing the writer's struggles and the ongoing cultural debates of mid-20th century America. It delves into Dwight McDonald's influential critiques of mid-cult, contrasting it with high and mass culture, while examining iconic works like 'Our Town' and Norman Rockwell's illustrations. The narrative ultimately highlights the nuanced battle over cultural value and the implications of mid-cult's superficiality within artistic expression.

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