The half-life of deindustrialization : working-class writing about economic restructuring / Sherry Lee Linkon.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Linkon, Sherry Lee, 1959- author.

Series:

Class, culture.

Class : culture

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Deindustrialization--United States--History.

Deindustrialization.

Industrial policy--United States.

Industrial policy.

Working class--United States--Economic conditions.

Working class.

United States--Economic conditions--20th century.

United States.

United States--Social conditions--20th century.

Physical Description:

1 online resource (200 pages)

Other Title:

Working-class writing about economic restructuring

Place of Publication:

Ann Arbor, Michigan : University of Michigan Press, 2018.

Summary:

"Starting in the late 1970s, tens of thousands of American industrial workers lost jobs in factories and mines. Deindustrialization had dramatic effects on those workers and their communities, but its longterm effects continue to ripple through working-class culture. Economic restructuring changed the experience of work, disrupted people's sense of self, reshaped local landscapes, and redefined community identities and expectations. Through it all, working-class writers have told stories that reflect the importance of memory and the struggle to imagine a different future. These stories make clear that the social costs of deindustrialization affect not only those who lost their jobs but also their children, their communities, and American culture. Through analysis of poetry, fiction, creative nonfiction, film, and drama, The Half-Life of Deindustrialization shows why people and communities cannot simply "get over" the losses of economic restructuring. The past provides inspiration and strength for working-class people, even as the contrast between past and present highlights what has been lost in the service economy. The memory of productive labor and stable, proud working-class communities shapes how people respond to contemporary economic, social, and political issues. These stories can help us understand the resentment, frustration, pride, and persistence of the American working class."

Contents:

Introduction: The half-life of deindustrialization

Dual visions : work and memory in the half-life

Reconstructing working-class identities

Deindustrialized landscapes : living amid the ruins

Rust belt chic : reclaiming working-class culture

Conclusion: The half-life goes public : why deindustrialization literature matters.

Notes:

Includes bibliographical references (pages 179-187) and index.

Description based on information from the publisher.

Contains:

Michigan Publishing (University of Michigan), issuing body, publisher.

ISBN:

9780472123704

047212370X

OCLC:

1023821956