American Studies in a Moment of Danger

Critical American Studies

by George Lipsitz

What becomes of "national knowledge" in our age of globalization? If dramatic changes in technology, commerce, and social relations are undermining familiar connections between culture and place, what happens to legacies of learning that put the nation at the center of the study of history, culture, language, politics, and geography? In short, what remains of American Studies? At a critical moment, this book offers a richly textured historical perspective on where our notions of national knowledge-and our sense of American Studies-have come from and where they may lead in a future of new ideas about culture and community. The America that seems to be disappearing before our very eyes is, George Lipsitz argues, actually the cumulative creation of yesterday's struggles over identity, culture, and power. With examples from statistics and history, poster designs and music lyrics, Lipsitz shows how American Studies has been shaped by the social movements of the 1930s, 1960s, and 1980s. His analysis reveals the sedimented history of social movement contestation contained in contemporary popular music, visual art, and cinema. Finally, Lipsitz identifies the ways in which the globalization of commerce and culture are producing radically new understandings of politics, performance, consumption, knowledge, and nostalgia; the changing realities present not so much a danger as a clear challenge to a still-evolving American Studies-a challenge that this book helps us to confront wisely, flexibly, and effectively. George Lipsitz is professor of ethnic studies at the University of California, San Diego, where he serves as director of the Thurgood Marshall Institute. He is the author of many books, including Time Passages (see right), The Possessive Investment in How White People Profit from Identity Politics (1998), and Dangerous Popular Music, Postmodernism, and the Poetics of Place (1997). Critical American Studies Series, volume 1

Genres: Nonfiction, United States, History

408 pages, Paperback

First published November 1, 2001

Reviews

[Lisa · Rating 3 out of 5]

I thought the first three chapters, tracing the history of American studies were very helpful. I thought the rest of the book was kind of a strange collection of essays.

[Glad · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very difficult to write a review on something I know damn well I couldn't write, so I'll regress to say it's funny, pointed and informative. It's also a great resource for anyone with an interest in American studies, particularly race relations and the legal, social and moral bs that obstructs the progress of people seeking a resetting of certain elements..which is to say it's good and it's relevant.

[Jennifer · Rating 4 out of 5]

One of the greatest ...some highlights:
Lipsitz breaks down how American politics is all about identity (p.134), how it pits outsiders against each other (Chapter 5, p.120-124).
He notes that there are many different forms of racism (not just one racism) and that different models of citizenship foster different forms of racism (Chapter 12).