Amanda M. Greenwell, "The Child Gaze: Narrating Resistance in American Literature" (UP of Mississippi, 2024)

Mar 22, 2025

Amanda M. Greenwell, an Associate Professor of English at Central Connecticut State University, explores the concept of the 'child gaze' in her work. She discusses how this narrative strategy critiques societal norms across American literature, from James Baldwin to Toni Morrison. The conversation dives into how children's perspectives can challenge power structures and reshape narratives around race, class, and identity. Greenwell also highlights the dynamic interplay of surveillance and resistance, illustrating the profound impact of a child's gaze on literature and society.

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Intro

00:00 • 2min

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The Child Gaze: Resistance and Agency

01:52 • 16min

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Exploring Child Perspectives in Alternate Histories

17:30 • 5min

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The Transactional Child Gaze

22:46 • 10min

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Exploring the Child Gaze in Literature

Set in Lorain, Ohio, during the Great Depression, 'The Bluest Eye' tells the story of Pecola Breedlove, an eleven-year-old African American girl who desperately wants blue eyes, believing they will make her more beautiful and accepted according to white cultural standards. The novel explores themes of race, class, and beauty standards, highlighting the destructive impact of internalized racism and societal pressures on Pecola and her family. Through a non-linear narrative and shifting perspectives, Morrison critiques the systemic racism and social stratification that contribute to Pecola's tragic downfall.

American Born Chinese

Gene Luen Yang

American Born Chinese is a graphic novel by Gene Luen Yang that weaves together three narratives: the legend of the Monkey King, the story of Jin Wang, a Chinese-American boy struggling with identity, and the tale of Chin-Kee, a stereotypical Chinese cousin. The book delves into themes of identity, cultural assimilation, and personal transformation, using these characters to explore the complexities of being Chinese-American.

The plot against America

Senator Wheeler and the Forces Behind Him

David George Plotkin

This book, written by David George Plotkin under the alias 'David George Kin,' is an exposé that targets U.S. Senator Burton K. Wheeler. Published in 1946, it led to significant controversy, including an investigation by the FBI and the House Un-American Activities Committee. The book delves into the political and social forces surrounding Wheeler's career and activities during that period.

March is a graphic novel memoir by John Lewis, Andrew Aydin, and Nate Powell, chronicling Lewis's experiences in the Civil Rights Movement. The book vividly depicts the struggles, triumphs, and sacrifices of the movement, offering a powerful and personal account of a pivotal moment in American history. Through powerful imagery and compelling storytelling, March provides a moving and insightful look at the fight for racial equality. The book has received widespread critical acclaim and has been widely used in educational settings.

Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry

Mildred D. Taylor

Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry is a novel that follows the Logan family as they navigate the challenges of racism and economic hardship during the Great Depression. The story, narrated by Cassie Logan, highlights the family's efforts to maintain their land, fight against racial injustices, and uphold their dignity. The novel emphasizes the importance of material independence, family values, and the different tactics the Logans use to cope with and resist racism. It won the Newbery Medal in 1977 and was a finalist for the National Book Award.

Little Man, Little Man

A Story of Childhood

James Baldwin

Yoran Cazac

James Baldwin's "Little Man, Little Man" is a poignant children's book that offers a glimpse into the life of a young boy named TJ in Harlem. Through vivid illustrations and simple yet profound text, Baldwin captures the everyday experiences of a child navigating his surroundings. The book showcases both the joys and challenges of life in Harlem, presenting a nuanced and complex portrayal of the community. It challenges stereotypical representations of Harlem and celebrates the resilience and spirit of its inhabitants. The book's enduring appeal lies in its ability to connect with readers of all ages, prompting reflection on themes of community, identity, and the power of observation.

The Child Gaze: Narrating Resistance in American Literature (UP of Mississippi, 2024) theorizes the child gaze as a narrative strategy for social critique in twentieth- and twenty-first-century US literature for children and adults. Through a range of texts, including James Baldwin’s Little Man, Little Man, Mildred D. Taylor’s Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry, Toni Morrison’s The Bluest Eye, Gene Luen Yang’s American Born Chinese, and more, Amanda M. Greenwell focuses on children and their literal acts of looking. Detailing how these acts of looking direct the reader, she posits that the sightlines of children serve as signals to renegotiate hegemonic ideologies of race, ethnicity, creed, class, and gender. In her analysis, Greenwell shows how acts of looking constitute a flexible and effective narrative strategy, capable of operating across multiple points of view, focalizations, audiences, and forms.

Weaving together scholarship on the US child, visual culture studies, narrative theory, and other critical traditions, The Child Gaze explores the ways in which child acts of looking compel readers to look at and with a child character, whose gaze encourages critiques of privileged visions of national identity. Chapters investigate how child acts of looking allow texts to redraw circles of inclusion around the locus of the child gaze and mobilize childhood as a site of resistance. The powerful child gaze can thus disrupt dominant scripts of power, widening the lens through which belonging in the US can be understood.

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