About the book
Many of the sights and sounds that Americans associate with slavery are rooted in a grandiose historical myth. The image of the Big House, sitting atop carefully manicured rolling green hills, is in large part, a fantasy—as is the idea of the plantation as an expansive family home to chivalrous planters and content slaves. Still, these myths persist.
Jason R. Young explores the persistence of these myths and the historical memory of slavery by focusing on the elite white mythmakers who helped shape our understanding of slavery. In the early twentieth century, a group of white writers, artists, and performers from the cultural hub of Charleston, South Carolina, created and curated a highly sanitized view of slavery. They imagined a once and future plantation society that would reestablish them as the proper heirs of the slave past. In the process, they crafted a set of dangerously durable and virulent stereotypes about slavery. Focusing on literature, art, and performance, Young examines both the power and the folly of these ideas. In uncovering their origins, The Mask of Memory resists these racial fantasies and challenges their stubborn resurgence in our own time.
Editions of The Mask of Memory
- Hardcover
- ISBN 9781469694344
- Paperback
- ISBN 9781469694351
- EBook
- ISBN 9781469684529
- PDF
- ISBN 9781469694368
Read an Excerpt
Many of the sights and sounds that Americans associate with slavery are rooted in a grandiose historical myth. The image of the Big House, sitting atop carefully manicured rolling green hills, is in large part, a fantasy—as is the idea of the plantation as an expansive family home to chivalrous planters and content slaves. Still, these myths persist.
Jason R. Young explores the persistence of these myths and the historical memory of slavery by focusing on the elite white mythmakers who helped shape our understanding of slavery. In the early twentieth century, a group of white writers, artists, and performers from the cultural hub of Charleston, South Carolina, created and curated a highly sanitized view of slavery. They imagined a once and future plantation society that would reestablish them as the proper heirs of the slave past. In the process, they crafted a set of dangerously durable and virulent stereotypes about slavery. Focusing on literature, art, and performance, Young examines both the power and the folly of these ideas. In uncovering their origins, The Mask of Memory resists these racial fantasies and challenges their stubborn resurgence in our own time.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is The Mask of Memory about?
Many of the sights and sounds that Americans associate with slavery are rooted in a grandiose historical myth. The image of the Big House, sitting atop carefully manicured rolling green hills, is in large part, a fantasy—as is the idea of the plantation as an expansive family home to chivalrous planters and content slaves. Still, these myths persist.
Jason R. Young explores the persistence of these myths and the historical memory of slavery by focusing on the elite white mythmakers who helped shape our understanding of slavery. In the early twentieth century, a group of white writers, artists, and performers from the cultural hub of Charleston, South Carolina, created and curated a highly sanitized view of slavery. They imagined a once and future plantation society that would reestablish them as the proper heirs of the slave past. In the process, they crafted a set of dangerously durable and virulent stereotypes about slavery. Focusing on literature, art, and performance, Young examines both the power and the folly of these ideas. In uncovering their origins, The Mask of Memory resists these racial fantasies and challenges their stubborn resurgence in our own time.
What core themes, tropes, or subjects are explored in The Mask of Memory?
History and Archaeology > History > History of the Americas
Where can I read a sample of The Mask of Memory?
You can read an official preview of the few pages here https://www.book2look.com/book/9781469694344
How long is The Mask of Memory and how many pages does it have?
The Mask of Memory has 272 page(s)
Is The Mask of Memory part of a series, and can it be read as a standalone?
Yes it is a part of series Boundless South
Who is/are the Author/s of the book The Mask of Memory?
Jason R. Young
What are the ISBN numbers for the physical and digital editions?
The Mask of Memory is available as hardcover(ISBN 9781469694344) and paperback(ISBN 9781469694351) and ebook(ISBN 9781469684529) and pdf(ISBN 9781469694368)
Where can I buy The Mask of Memory online or support local independent bookshops?
You can buy The Mask of Memory from below
Where can I buy The Mask of Memory?