Know Your Enemy

Political Fictions (w/ Vinson Cunningham)

Aug 31, 2024

01:08:51

Snipd AI

Vinson Cunningham, a staff writer at the New Yorker and author of the debut novel *Great Expectations*, joins the discussion. They delve into the intersection of personal identity and politics, particularly through the lens of Obama's 2008 campaign. Cunningham explores how storytelling shapes perceptions of figures like Kamala Harris and Barack Obama. The conversation also touches on themes of race, faith, and the performative nature of politics, while using basketball as a metaphor for identity. Notable comparisons are drawn between literary characters and real-world politicians, illuminating today's political dynamics.

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Quick takeaways

Vinson Cunningham's debut novel, Great Expectations, intricately weaves the personal growth of its protagonist with the historical significance of Obama's 2008 campaign.

The decision to write fiction allows Cunningham to explore complex themes of identity, race, and belonging while resonating with broader societal questions.

The interplay between political theater and authenticity is key, showcasing how candidates like Obama perform identity to engage with voters emotionally.

Deep dives

The Coming of Age Story through Politics

The novel Great Expectations revolves around a young black man who becomes entangled in Barack Obama’s 2008 presidential campaign, marking a significant coming-of-age journey. The protagonist, reminiscent of the author Vincent Cunningham, navigates the complexities of identity while witnessing the campaign's historical importance. The story delves into how the protagonist's life fundamentally shifts in response to the excitement and promise of such a monumental political event, culminating in Obama's inauguration. This intersection of personal growth with political involvement encapsulates the essence of the book as a reflection on American society and its evolving narrative.

Intro

1min

Exploring Identity and Politics Through Fiction

2min

Housekeeping and Introduction to a Novel Discussion

2min

Politics and Performance: The Art of Presentation

18min

Fiction, Faith, and Identity

24min

Basketball as Identity: A Political Reflection

16min

Navigating Identity and Politics in Contemporary Discourse

6min

Today, we're joined by one of our favorite writers and thinkers, Vinson Cunningham, to discuss his excellent debut novel, Great Expectations, which tells the story of brilliant-but-unmoored young black man, David Hammond, who finds himself recruited — by fluke, folly, or fate — onto a historic presidential campaign for a certain charismatic Illinois senator. A staff writer at the New Yorker, Vinson also worked for Obama's 2008 campaign in his early twenties. (He bears at least some resemblance to his protagonist.) And his novel provides a wonderful jumping-off point for a deep discussion of political theater, the novel of ideas, race, faith, the meaning of Barack Obama, and the meaning of Kamala Harris.

Also discussed: Christopher Isherwood, Saul Bellow, Garry Wills, Ralph Ellison, Marilynne Robinson, Paul Pierce, and Kobe Bryant! If you can't get enough Vinson, check out his podcast with Naomi Fry and Alexandra Schwartz, Critics at Large.

Sources:

Vinson Cunningham, Great Expectations: A Novel (2024)

— "The Kamala Show," The New Yorker, Aug 19, 2024

— "Searching for the Star of the N.B.A. Finals," The New Yorker, June 21, 2024

— "Many and One," Commonweal, Dec 14, 2020.

Saul Bellow, Ravelstein (2001)

Garry Wills, Lincoln at Gettysburg (1992)

Ralph Ellison, Invisible Man (1952)

— Shadow and Act (1964)

David Haglund, "Leaving the Morman Church, After Reading a Poem," New Yorker Radio Hour, Mar 25, 2016.

Phil Jackson, Sacred Hoops: Spiritual Lessons of a Hardwood Warrior (1995)

Glenn Loury, Late Admissions: Confessions of a Black Conservative (2024)