Patriotism: America became obsessed with presenting themselves as a country of high culture. It was always in dialogue and in resistance to Europe, who had a centuries-long rich cultural history and literary canon, trying to prove its worth against the global scene. There was a huge focus on patriotism, with ideas of the ‘American Way’ and ‘American Dream’ - the idea that anyone can make their fortune in America.

The Real America: The canon represented the ideal portrayal of American society, however the reality for most Americans was not one of freedom and adventure. There is the assumption that ‘American’ is one thing - literature cannot tell the story of one nation because the nation is so many different statuses and ethnicities. The canon initially excluded Native American literature, works by people of colour and female authors. In The House of Mirth, a satirical novel navigating the politics of New York high society, Wharton detailed a kind of America that people who wanted a great American canon did not want to see. She wrote about people she knew in real life, who then recognised themselves in her novel, causing a hugely publicised scandal. Wharton highlighted an America driven by greed, hypocrisy, and puritanism, directly interrogating patriotic values.

Influences: Real American literature did not take itself too seriously. The global success of novels such as Gentlemen Prefer Blondes cemented the popularity of satire and comedy that contradicted the precious aspirations of the canon. Writers also became greatly influenced by Hollywood and cinema, creating more visual works as seen in the highly popular and sensational California noir genre.

The House of Mirth (1905) - Edith Wharton

Gentlemen Prefer Blondes (1925) - Anita Loos

The Formation and Transformation of the American Literary Canon - Šárka Bubíková

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Wednesday 28th January

Thursday 29th January

Monday 2nd February