American superrealism : Nathanael West and the politics of representation in the 1930s / Jonathan Veitch.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Veitch, Jonathan.

Series:

Wisconsin project on American writers.

The Wisconsin project on American writers

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

West, Nathanael, 1903-1940--Criticism and interpretation.

West, Nathanael.

Capitalism and literature--United States--History--20th century.

Capitalism and literature.

Politics and literature--United States--History--20th century.

Politics and literature.

Literature and society--United States--History--20th century.

Literature and society.

National characteristics, American, in literature.

Surrealism (Literature)--United States.

Surrealism (Literature).

Depressions in literature.

Economics in literature.

Mimesis in literature.

Physical Description:

1 online resource (206 p.)

Edition:

1st ed.

Place of Publication:

Madison : University of Wisconsin Press, c1997.

Language Note:

English

Summary:

Nathanael West has been hailed as "an apocalyptic writer, " "a writer on the left, " and "a precursor to postmodernism." But until now no critic has succeeded in fully engaging West's distinctive method of negation. In American Superrealism, Jonathan Veitch examines West's letters, short stories, screenplays and novels-some of which are discussed here for the first time-as well as West's collaboration with William Carlos Williams during their tenure as the editors of Contact. Locating West in a lively, American avant-garde tradition that stretches from Marcel Duchamp to Andy Warhol, Veitch explores the possibilities and limitations of dada and surrealism-the use of readymades, scatalogical humor, human machines, "exquisite corpses"-as modes of social criticism. American Superrealism offers what is surely the definitive study of West, as well as a provocative analysis that reveals the issue of representation as the central concern of Depression-era America.

Contents:

Intro

Contents

Acknowledgments

Preface

Introduction: Who Can We Shoot? The Crisis of Representation in the 1930s

PART I

1. American Superrealism

2. Euclid's Asshole: The Dream Life of Balsa Snell

PART II

3. "Lousy with Pure / Reeking with Stark": Contact

4. The People Talk: Miss Lonelyhearts

5. The Folklore of Capitalism: A Cool Million

6. The Cliches Are Having a Ball: The Day of the Locust

Postscript: Madonna's Bustier

or "The Burning of Los Angeles

Notes

Index.

Notes:

Bibliographic Level Mode of Issuance: Monograph

Includes bibliographical references (p. 139-174) and index.

ISBN:

9786612424168

9781282424166

1282424165

9780299157036

0299157032

9780585071879

058507187X

OCLC:

44962550

Publisher Number:

2027/heb08796 hdl