This week:
Regionalism
Rags-to-Riches
Regionalism
Local color writing Regions outside New York City
New EnglandSouthMidwestWest
Regionalism
North wins Civil War
Urbanization increases
Industrialization changes society
So why does it develop?
Regionalism
Reaction to ”homogenization” process
Link to past
Regionalism - examples
Bre’r Rabbit & Bre’r Fox (1882)Use of dialectTales of Old Plantation lifeGrandfatherly figure as link to pastAuthentic tales of slavesLink to African pastAnimal trickster figures
Influence on 20th century
Influence on 20th century
Link to blackface minstrelsy
Travelling show tradition (1830s on)White actors dress as blacks Imitate ”black” behavior Reinforce racist stereotypes”Jumping Jim Crow”
Stereotypes
Lazy Cowardly Unintelligent Comical Dancer
20th century versions
Al Jolson
One of first ”talking” films
20th century versions
Amos & Andy
Radio show (1920-50)
TV show (1950s)
Regionalism
Kate Chopin
Louisiana (Cajun country)
”Desiree’s Baby” The Awakening
Regionalism
Willa Cather
Midwest O Pioneers (1912) My Antonia (1918)
Regionalism
Hamlin Garland
Upper Midwest Short stories Depicts rugged life on frontier Social reform
Regionalism
Mary E. Wilkins Freeman
New England Marries late Psychological writer Solely local color?
Other regionalists
Mark Twain
Bret Harte
Jack London
Sarah Jewett
Best-selling author of 19th century?
Horatio Alger
Born 1832 Failed Unitarian
minister Turned to writing after
Civil War Rags-to-riches
Ragged Dick (1866)
Basic plot never changes
Rags-to-riches plot
Poor boy (immigrant) goes to city Struggles to survive Fails/ suffers set back Sticks to virtue (honesty, hard-work) Chance encounter Succeeds
Appeal of rags-to-riches
In Benjamin Franklin tradition
Urbanization of USVirtue of countryside in new environmentMiddle class values
Role models found in real-life
Role models
Andrew Carnegie John D. Rockefeller
”Gospel of Wealth”Advocates philanthropyMild form of social Darwinsim
Gospel of Wealth
In bestowing charity, the main consideration should be to help those who will help themselves; to provide part of the means by which those who desire to improve may do so; to give those who desire to rise the aids by which they may rise; to assist.... Neither the individual nor the race is improved by almsgiving. Those worthy of assistance... seldom require assistance. The really valuable men of the race never do....
Gospel of Wealth
The best means of benefiting the community is to place within its reach the ladders upon which the aspiring can rise parks... by which men are helped in body and mind; works of art, certain to give pleasure and improve the public taste... in this manner returning their surplus wealth to the mass of their fellows in the form best calculated to do them lasting good....
Modern Horatio Algers?
Ross Perot
Bill Gates
Hewlett & Packard
Howard Hughes (the Aviator)
Next week:
E. A. Robinson
Progressivism
Palefaces & Redskins