The terms “Romanticism” and “Romantic” should not be confused with the popular meaning, as pertaining to love. “Romanticism” derives from the genre of the medieval romance, a heroic narrative emphasizing the importance of chivalry and valor in battle. Many Romantic… Read More ›
Herman Melville’s (August 1, 1819 – September 28, 1891) career as a novelist breaks down, somewhat too neatly, into a three-part voyage of frustration and disappointment. The first part of his career is characterized by the heady successes of Typee… Read More ›
Whiteness studies investigates the parameters of white racial identity, locating its scope and function in systems of representation. This field of study takes as its founding premise the constructed nature of identity, a poststructuralist concept heralded by race theorists who… Read More ›