An essay I wrote in 1994 for North American Review is now available online at
www.jstor.org/stable/25125837
"The Last Day of Baseball."
An early writing piece, at the time my "New Philistine" was making waves. Not the better of the two essays I wrote for them, but might be worth a look.
Monday, March 29, 2010
Wednesday, March 24, 2010
Caste America
A GREAT IRONY is that American liberals today are as incapable as anyone of recognizing, and acknowledging, the caste nature of U.S. society.
Many differences in this country aren't simply differences of circumstance. Our brains are wired differently, according to how we were raised.
For example, I'm unable to listen to National Public Radio. The bloodless, monotone presentation puts me immediately to sleep, as it does to many. I'm convinced that much of the appeal of a Sean Hannity isn't what he says, so much that he looks and sounds like a "regular guy." (No accident that he used to work as a house painter.) This puts him on a level of instant acceptability with much of the public.
Sarah Palin is a classic example of caste. Her homey, twangy presentation bonds her with her fans, at the same time it creates instant, incredible hostility from the Genteel Caste; hostility unaccountable for simply because of her ideas. (Where's comparable hatred of Mitt Romney?) The like or dislike of Palin works on a conscious but also unconscious level. Emotion from below drives the positive or negative reaction-- extremes of sympathy and unsympathy outside the bounds of reason and logic.
**************************************
Much of my conflict with the established lit world has been because our tastes are radically different. The writing of postmodernists like David Foster Wallace does nothing for me. I see them as fakirs; semi-talented poseurs. On the other hand, the innate snobbery of the Genteel Caste prevents recognition of Jack London and O. Henry as great American authors. Why do those two writers from 100 years ago speak directly to me in ways that many well-hyped authors of now can't? In this case, caste trumps era.
****************************************
Caste America becomes more noticeable when you examine the underclass. In 2005 I worked as an uncertified substitute teacher in Philly schools, sent to inner city high schools most subs wouldn't touch. An example of financial desperation on my part. Tough places! The thing that hits you quickly enough is that these kids have NO chance in today's America. In the worst schools, of 5,000 kids, perhaps five a year took the SAT exam. Maybe things have improved-- but when you factor in the high dropout rate, the odds of upward mobility for these young people aren't good. The problem isn't confined to schooling. In punctuality, dress, dialect, presentation, these kids are in no way suited for entry into a workworld dominated by the Genteel Caste and its variants. (I'm not sure I was ever suited for it myself!) The advantages higher caste people grow up with are enormous. They're beyond quantification.
In a more challenging caste circumstance is the Hispanic situation. These people are slotted for bottom caste roles. They're not encouraged even to learn the dominant caste's language! Much less be acculturated into the subliminal nuances of those at the top.
*****************************************
Yes, we have the example of President Obama, seemingly shattering caste stereotypes-- until you consider that he was raised by upper-class grandparents, and educated at the top upper-caste universities of Columbia and Harvard.
Caste trumps race also.
Many differences in this country aren't simply differences of circumstance. Our brains are wired differently, according to how we were raised.
For example, I'm unable to listen to National Public Radio. The bloodless, monotone presentation puts me immediately to sleep, as it does to many. I'm convinced that much of the appeal of a Sean Hannity isn't what he says, so much that he looks and sounds like a "regular guy." (No accident that he used to work as a house painter.) This puts him on a level of instant acceptability with much of the public.
Sarah Palin is a classic example of caste. Her homey, twangy presentation bonds her with her fans, at the same time it creates instant, incredible hostility from the Genteel Caste; hostility unaccountable for simply because of her ideas. (Where's comparable hatred of Mitt Romney?) The like or dislike of Palin works on a conscious but also unconscious level. Emotion from below drives the positive or negative reaction-- extremes of sympathy and unsympathy outside the bounds of reason and logic.
**************************************
Much of my conflict with the established lit world has been because our tastes are radically different. The writing of postmodernists like David Foster Wallace does nothing for me. I see them as fakirs; semi-talented poseurs. On the other hand, the innate snobbery of the Genteel Caste prevents recognition of Jack London and O. Henry as great American authors. Why do those two writers from 100 years ago speak directly to me in ways that many well-hyped authors of now can't? In this case, caste trumps era.
****************************************
Caste America becomes more noticeable when you examine the underclass. In 2005 I worked as an uncertified substitute teacher in Philly schools, sent to inner city high schools most subs wouldn't touch. An example of financial desperation on my part. Tough places! The thing that hits you quickly enough is that these kids have NO chance in today's America. In the worst schools, of 5,000 kids, perhaps five a year took the SAT exam. Maybe things have improved-- but when you factor in the high dropout rate, the odds of upward mobility for these young people aren't good. The problem isn't confined to schooling. In punctuality, dress, dialect, presentation, these kids are in no way suited for entry into a workworld dominated by the Genteel Caste and its variants. (I'm not sure I was ever suited for it myself!) The advantages higher caste people grow up with are enormous. They're beyond quantification.
In a more challenging caste circumstance is the Hispanic situation. These people are slotted for bottom caste roles. They're not encouraged even to learn the dominant caste's language! Much less be acculturated into the subliminal nuances of those at the top.
*****************************************
Yes, we have the example of President Obama, seemingly shattering caste stereotypes-- until you consider that he was raised by upper-class grandparents, and educated at the top upper-caste universities of Columbia and Harvard.
Caste trumps race also.
Friday, March 19, 2010
"Mistakes of the ULA"
An examination of what went wrong with a previous project of mine is now up at my premium blog,
www.happyamericaliterature.blogspot.com
Most of the mistakes of course were mine. It was my plan!
www.happyamericaliterature.blogspot.com
Most of the mistakes of course were mine. It was my plan!
Hard Times
It's always troublesome to meet a woman you dated when you first moved to a city now out hooking on the street.
"I'm hungry," she told me.
"So am I," I agreed.
"I'm hungry," she told me.
"So am I," I agreed.
Thursday, March 11, 2010
The Unknowing
The intellectual establishment reveals its bankruptcy when, for instance, it regards Alexander Dumas as a mere writer for young people. Yet it's only when one has been around awhile, been knocked around, that his two great novels, Count of Monte Cristo and The Vicomte de Braggelone, can truly be appreciated. Both works have vast penumbras of meaning beyond all but a few of all other novels by all other novelists.
Tuesday, March 09, 2010
New Story at Pop Lit!
I've managed to get a great new story from one of the best young underground writers in America, Brady Russell. The story is "Ezra Meets Esther." You can read it ahead of the crowd at
www.americanpoplit.blogspot.com
NOW!
www.americanpoplit.blogspot.com
NOW!
Thursday, March 04, 2010
Programming Note
At American Pop Lit I'll be interspersing pop stories with short cultural remarks designed to put the stories into context. (There'll be other features as well.)
Up now: The remark, "Color It Up," at
www.americanpoplit.blogspot.com
Up now: The remark, "Color It Up," at
www.americanpoplit.blogspot.com
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