New Books in LGBTQ+ Studies cover image

New Books in LGBTQ+ Studies

Sara Marcus, "Political Disappointment: A Cultural History from Reconstruction to the AIDS Crisis" (Harvard UP, 2023)

Sep 30, 2023
Author and cultural historian Sara Marcus discusses her new book on political disappointment and its role in shaping American culture. She explores works by prominent figures like W. E. B. Du Bois, Charles Chesnutt, and Adrienne Rich that express the anguish of different eras. The podcast also delves into the changing political analysis of the Communist Party in the 1930s and explores the origins of backlash against second wave feminism.
44:32

Episode guests

Podcast summary created with Snipd AI

Quick takeaways

  • Disappointment shaped the work and perspectives of literary figures like Charles Chestnut, Tilly Olson, and W.E.B. Dubois as they grappled with the impact of setbacks on political engagement.
  • Work songs and the incorporation of audible and visual cues reflected changing understandings of progress and political strategy during the 1930s.

Deep dives

Chapter One: Disappointment as a recurrent experience in political life

Chapter One explores the concept of disappointment as a recurring experience in the political landscape of the United States in the 20th century. It begins with the failure of reconstruction after the Civil War and the subsequent rollback of progress for African Americans. The chapter focuses on literary figures such as Charles Chestnut, Tilly Olson, and W.E.B. Dubois, who grappled with the idea of progress and the impact of disappointment on political engagement. It highlights Chestnut's novel 'The Marrow of Tradition,' Dubois' collection of essays 'The Souls of Black Folk,' and Ella Shepard's musical transcriptions as examples of how disappointment shaped their work and perspectives on history.

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