Deforming American Political Thought: Ethnicity, Facticity, and Genre (Hardcover)

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Key Phrases: tiny treaties, figurative givens, psychic clichés, Native American, African American, Buffalo Bill (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Review

"Shapiro broadens the sources of political thought to include films, crime novels, architecture, and music. His focus on these different genres serves his aim of contesting Enlightenment understandings of politics and the cultural dominance of particular ethnic narratives in America.-- Choice" -- Choice

"Over the last three decades, Michael Shapiro has pioneered a new genre ofcross-disciplinary thinking and writing. In this latest work, he turns hisdiscerning eye to American political thought, offering a fresh alternativeto the standard lineup of thinkers and issues. Here Jefferson, Tocqueville,et al, share the landscape with Jamaica Kincaid, Thomas Pynchon, MichelleCliff, Alexie Sherman, Louis Malle, John Ford, Duke Ellington, and others.This extraordinary book should be read by all students of American politicalideas, ideals--and conceits. -- Jane Bennett, Professor of Political Science and author of The Enchantment of Modern Life" -- Jane Bennett, Professor of Political Science and author of The Enchantment of M

"The clarity of his arguments, his mastery of materials, his always engaging and original readings of texts from diverse artistic genres have produced a book that will need to be grappled with by those within political science with a concern for the fate of the field, those committed to a critical reflection on what political thought is for, and those with an affinity for the arts who will welcome a wider horizon for its politics. A highly influential book for years to come. -- Randy Martin, author of On Your Marx: Relinking Socialism and the Left" -- Randy Martin, author of On Your Marx: Relinking Socialism and the Left

"Literary interventions are exactly what American Political Thought needs if this genre is to be understood for its deeply depoliticizing effects. In this sense then, Shapiro is political science's poet laureate, helping the discipline's practitioners to see the politically biased implications narratively created by their alleged objective facts, starting perhaps most critically with the narratives called American Political Thought. Like any great poet, Shapiro makes you think hard about how the obvious is often in service of power... Shapiro's timing could not be better. His literary interventions highlight the depoliticizing practices of America's master narratives in ways that have direct relevance to the politics of today.--Sanford F. Schram, Bryn Mawr College" -- Sanford F. Schram, Bryn Mawr

Product Description

By affirming the relativity of the American historical imagination, political theorist Michael J. Shapiro offers a powerful polemic against ethnocentric interpretations of American culture and politics. Deforming American Political Thought analyzes issues that range from the nature of Thomas Jefferson's vision of an egalitarian nation to the persistence of racial inequality. Shapiro demonstrates how history, architecture, film, music, literature, and art are valuable resources that help us comprehend several viewpoints of American political thought from the founding to the present. Exploring such diverse works as slave narratives, contemporary films, genre fiction, and blues and jazz music, Shapiro reveals that there have always been dissenting voices casting doubt on the moral purpose and exceptionalism of the American mind. This book will reinvigorate discussions about the essence of American political thought.

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 272 pages
• Publisher: The University Press of Kentucky (October 20, 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0813124123
• ISBN-13: 978-0813124124
• Product Dimensions: 8.9 x 5.6 x 1.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 13.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: No customer reviews yet. Be the first.
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #2,030,367 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)