Transnational American studies for what?
Author: Pfister, Joel
Source: Comparative American Studies, Volume 6, Number 1, March 2008 , pp. 13-36(24)
Publisher: Maney Publishing
Key:
- Free Content
- New Content
- Subscribed Content
- Free Trial Content
- Free Content
- New Content
- Subscribed Content
- Free Trial Content
Abstract:
Transnational critique for what and for whom? In the early 20th century, socialist internationalists fused the theoretical front and the organizing front, but, at the start of the 21st century, is globe-trotting, border-interrogating scholarship any more than the latest academic fashion industry or tourism industry? This article reassesses the transnational turn. It offers cautionary perspectives on the class implications of American universities-without-borders and the globalization of elite students, some ideas about American-Studies-on-tour and what shouldn't get ejected while on the road, a few thoughts on the political development of transnational critique into transnational activism-and-organizing studies, and some reflections on the tactics of postmodern diversity capitalism and diversity Americanization. Reconsidering contributions by F. O. Matthiessen, Lawrence Chisolm, Alan Trachtenberg, Stanley Aronowitz, Jeremy Brecher, Tim Costello, Michael Denning, Timothy Brennan, Evelyn Hu-DeHart and others, it helps formulate a usable American-Studies-takes-on-the-world project.Keywords: TRANSNATIONALISM; GLOBAL; CRITIQUE; AMERICAN STUDIES; SOCIALISM; CLASS; ORGANIZING; SOCIAL MOVEMENTS; CAPITALISM; DIVERSITY
Document Type: Research article
DOI: 10.1179/147757008X267213
Key:
- Free Content
- New Content
- Subscribed Content
- Free Trial Content
- Free Content
- New Content
- Subscribed Content
- Free Trial Content
Click here for Page Help