1. This week: Regionalism Rags-to-Riches

2. Regionalism Local color writing Regions outside New York City  New England  South  Midwest  West

3. Regionalism North wins Civil War Urbanization increases Industrialization changes society So why does it develop?

4. Regionalism Reaction to ”homogenization” process Link to past

5. Regionalism - examples Bre’r Rabbit & Bre’r Fox (1882)  Use of dialect  Tales of Old Plantation life  Grandfatherly figure as link to past  Authentic tales of slaves  Link to African past  Animal trickster figures

6. Influence on 20th century

8. Link to blackface minstrelsy Travelling show tradition (1830s on)  White actors dress as blacks  Imitate ”black” behavior  Reinforce racist stereotypes  ”Jumping Jim Crow”

9. Stereotypes Lazy Cowardly Unintelligent Comical Dancer

10. 20th century versions Al Jolson One of first ”talking” films

11. 20th century versions Amos & Andy Radio show (1920-50) TV show (1950s)

12. Regionalism Kate Chopin Louisiana (Cajun country) ”Desiree’s Baby” The Awakening

13. Regionalism Willa Cather Midwest O Pioneers (1912) My Antonia (1918)

14. Regionalism Hamlin Garland Upper Midwest Short stories Depicts rugged life on frontier Social reform

15. Regionalism Mary E. Wilkins Freeman New England Marries late Psychological writer Solely local color?

16. Other regionalists Mark Twain Bret Harte Jack London Sarah Jewett

17. Best-selling author of 19th century?

18. Horatio Alger Born 1832 Failed Unitarian minister Turned to writing after Civil War Rags-to-riches  Ragged Dick (1866) Basic plot never changes

19. Rags-to-riches plot Poor boy (immigrant) goes to city Struggles to survive Fails/ suffers set back Sticks to virtue (honesty, hard-work) Chance encounter Succeeds

20. Appeal of rags-to-riches In Benjamin Franklin tradition Urbanization of US  Virtue of countryside in new environment  Middle class values Role models found in real-life

21. Role models Andrew Carnegie John D. Rockefeller ”Gospel of Wealth”  Advocates philanthropy  Mild form of social Darwinsim

22. Gospel of Wealth In bestowing charity, the main consideration should be to help those who will help themselves; to provide part of the means by which those who desire to improve may do so; to give those who desire to rise the aids by which they may rise; to assist.... Neither the individual nor the race is improved by almsgiving. Those worthy of assistance... seldom require assistance. The really valuable men of the race never do....

23. Gospel of Wealth The best means of benefiting the community is to place within its reach the ladders upon which the aspiring can rise ­ parks... by which men are helped in body and mind; works of art, certain to give pleasure and improve the public taste... ­ in this manner returning their surplus wealth to the mass of their fellows in the form best calculated to do them lasting good....

24. Modern Horatio Algers? Ross Perot Bill Gates Hewlett & Packard Howard Hughes (the Aviator)

25. Next week: E. A. Robinson Progressivism Palefaces & Redskins