Suchergebnisse

This is a book critique of Lauren Berlant's 2011 book Cruel Optimism (Duke University Press). In this book, Berlant explores how people in Europe and the United States survive neoliberal postwar restructuring. This review defines the term cruel optimism which Berlant has created to describe the process of survival individuals undertake. Next, this review critiques the shortcomings of Berlant's discussion as well as highlights the important contributions that cruel optimism presents in political and performative literature. Through a detailed discussion of the good life, Berlant introduces a compelling examination of social thought on topics related to sovereignty, slow death, capitalism, and queer theory. Berlant delineates the good life as relating to four areas: promises of upward mobility, job security, political and social equality, and durable intimacy. Berlant draws from examples across disciplines and within numerous genres to make a strong societal critique of why and how people cling to false promise. This review also briefly pinpoints a few drawbacks or challenges to Berlant's book. Ultimately, this review concludes that Berlant's book is valuable call to action in the humanities and social sciences which utilizes numerous historical and cultural sources to paint a troubling critique of individual lives in post-war societies.

This is a book critique of Lauren Berlant's 2011 book Cruel Optimism (Duke University Press). In this book, Berlant explores how people in Europe and the United States survive neoliberal postwar restructuring. This review defines the term cruel optimism which Berlant has created to describe the process of survival individuals undertake. Next, this review critiques the shortcomings of Berlant's discussion as well as highlights the important contributions that cruel optimism presents in political and performative literature. Through a detailed discussion of the good life, Berlant introduces a compelling examination of social thought on topics related to sovereignty, slow death, capitalism, and queer theory. Berlant delineates the good life as relating to four areas: promises of upward mobility, job security, political and social equality, and durable intimacy. Berlant draws from examples across disciplines and within numerous genres to make a strong societal critique of why and how people cling to false promise. This review also briefly pinpoints a few drawbacks or challenges to Berlant's book. Ultimately, this review concludes that Berlant's book is valuable call to action in the humanities and social sciences which utilizes numerous historical and cultural sources to paint a troubling critique of individual lives in post-war societies. ; Published version

It has been claimed that writing is not directly 'gendered'; that all, or at least most, subjects are universal and can be written about by anyone. Regardless of this, novels written by men, those seen to emphasize 'men's' values, have traditionally been granted more recognition and
respect. So-called 'women's fiction' - arguably some of the most commercially successful fiction in recent decades - is often criticized and ridiculed, though the reason for this may be as simple as the fact that, particularly in the case of male critics and reviewers, they simply may not
comprehend women's fiction, with its natural and understandable emphasis on woman-centred values and experiences, and, as such, feel uncomfortable in a strange, woman-centred environment. This raises an interesting point: whether typically woman-centred fiction would gain more respect and
recognition if it were written by men. This article will examine the situation of male writers of woman-centred fiction; it will discuss the reception these authors have typically received; and it will explore the work of Andrew O'Connor - also known as A. O'Connor - something of a rarity
as a male chick lit author, with the aim of revealing whether a man can effectively and convincingly write about women and their experiences.

pt. 1. Taking the land -- Before the land was taken -- The British and the Americans take the Chesapeake -- The land of San Francisco Bay: cleared but not taken -- pt. 2. Making the municipality: the city and the pueblo -- Erecting Baltimore into a city : democracy as urban space, 1796-1819 -- Shaping the spaces of California : ranchos, plazas and pueblos, 1821-1846 -- pt. 3. Making the modern capitalist city -- Making Baltimore a modern city, 1828-1854 -- The capitalist "pueblo" : selling San Francisco 1847-1856 -- pt. 4. These united cities -- Baltimore, San Francisco and the Civil War -- Epilogue