Contemporary American Memoirs In Action: How To Do Things With Memoir (american Literature Readings In The 21st Century)
by Jane Danielewicz /
2017 / English / PDF
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This book analyzes a collection of literary memoirs to
demonstrate how this genre is an avenue for participation in
public life. Writers are repurposing the memoir, a genre
known for its personal and expressive function, to engage in
debate and serve political goals. The chapters provide
case studies for memoir as social action that effects change by
looking at the writing of Joan Didion, John Edgar Wideman,
James McBride, M. Elaine Mar, Janisse Ray, Lucy Grealy, and Ann
Patchett. Drawing on theories of genre and agency,
Danielewicz asserts how these writers are acting pragmatically.
Memoirs contribute to democratic society by offering solutions,
creating new knowledge, revealing social trends, bringing
issues to light, creating empathy and connection, and changing
public opinion.
This book analyzes a collection of literary memoirs to
demonstrate how this genre is an avenue for participation in
public life. Writers are repurposing the memoir, a genre
known for its personal and expressive function, to engage in
debate and serve political goals. The chapters provide
case studies for memoir as social action that effects change by
looking at the writing of Joan Didion, John Edgar Wideman,
James McBride, M. Elaine Mar, Janisse Ray, Lucy Grealy, and Ann
Patchett. Drawing on theories of genre and agency,
Danielewicz asserts how these writers are acting pragmatically.
Memoirs contribute to democratic society by offering solutions,
creating new knowledge, revealing social trends, bringing
issues to light, creating empathy and connection, and changing
public opinion.