this week: regionalism rags-to-riches. regionalism local color writing regions outside new york city...

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