Brown,Laura

Wednesday,November10,2010 1:32PM

Bio:Ph.D.fromUCBerkeley.CurrentlyatCornell. I. FablesofModernity (2001) a. SUMMARY i. BrownlooksatfivemajorstoriesthatdominatedthepoliticalunconsciousofEuropeans duringthelongeighteenthcentury.Thesestorieswerenotconfinedtoaparticulargenre, andinfact,manyescapedthecategoryofliteraturealtogetherandwereactedout.These "fables"wereculturalresponsestohistoricalconditionsthataccompaniedtheadventof modernity,ortheconsolidationofcapitalism,andthus,exemplifytheanxietiesandhopes ofacultureintransition.BrownisworkinginthelineofMarxistslikeGramsci,Williams,and Jameson;emphasizingtheinterplaysofeconomicsandculture. b. Introduction i. CulturalFable 1) Define:thesefablescannotbefoundinanyonetext,butcanbediscoveredby examiningwheremanytextsandhistoricalaccountsconverge.Theyaremorespecific incontentthanWilliams'structureoffeeling,orJameson'spoliticalunconscious,but theycertainlymakeuptheselargercategories. 2) DiffersfromFrye'suseofMyth.ACulturalFableishistoricalandhasamaterialbasis, whileFrye'smythisauniversal. ii. OnModernity:Browndoesnotengageinthedebateoverdefining"modernity." c. Chapter1 i. SUMMARY:Introducesthe"FableoftheCitySewer."Brownexplainsthatduringthelate 17Candearly18C,"sewer,"shore,"and"shower"wereallpronouncedlike"sure."Pope punsonthisconfusion,demonstratingthelinkbetweenthe"commonshore"andthecity sewagesystemandthedangeroffloodingduringadownpour.Browngoesontoestablish thatthecitysewersystembecameadailyvisiblesignoftheunsavoryaspectsof urbanizationandagrossleveling,notonlyoftheclasses,butbetweenhumansandall mannerofwaste.Thesewermetaphorwasextendedtoincludetheprostituteandthe femalebody,whichwasalsodescribedasalevelingsiteforallmannerofwasteandfluid. d. Chapter2 i. SUMMARY:Introducesthe"FableofTorrentandOceans."HereBrownexplainshowthe hopesandfearsofcapitalistexpansion,whichwasfoundedonseagoingtrade,was capturedinacomplexmetaphoroftheocean.Inthisfable,theoceanwasaninstrumentof spreadingBritishempireandtradeacrosstheglobe,afluidthatfilledinallcracks.Butit wasalsodangerousandunreliable,andcouldoverwhelmtheworld,likeaflood.Inthisway theoceanactedasametaphysicalforcethatdisplacedtheviolenceofimperial mercantilism.Brownclosesbyexplainingthatbythemid18Cthisfablefadedasthe critiquesagainstcapitalismmounted. e. Chapter3 i. SUMMARY:Introducesthe"FableofLadyCredit."Brownexplainsthatinstabilityofthe creditmarketswhichbecameprominentforcesintheBritisheconomyafter1694,leadto writersdescribingcreditmarketsasanemotionallyunstablewoman.Thisdescription coincidedwithmedicaldiscourseofhysteriaandotherdiseaseddescriptionsofthefemale body.TheFableofLadyCreditalsoproducedanahistoricalaccountoftheBritisheconomy thatpushedtheideaofcreditmarketsbackto15C.AsLadyCreditwassomeonewhowas bothdesiredanddifficulttocourt,Brownsuggeststhatshelaterservedastheprototypefor thesentimentalheroine,citingRichardson'sClarissa. f. Chapter4

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i. SUMMARY:Thischapterisdedicatedtoexamininghowthesedifferentfablescombinein thetextofPope'sDunciad inordertodevelopacritiqueofmodernityandcapitalism centeredontheimageofthefemalebodyDullness.Addedtothepreviousfablesisa descriptionofthefableofthecommodity,withitsprincipletropethefemaletoilet. Capitalism,intheformofthebooktrade,isattackedbyPopeforitspowertotransformall things,evenpeople,intocommodities. g. Chapter5 i. SUMMARY:Introducesthe"FableoftheNativePrince."Thisfableescapesanyparticular genreandevenliteratureitself,asitwasplayedoutonseveraloccasionsasforeign,"savage kings"werebroughtbacktoEngland.Brownexplainsthattheywereoftendressedas Europeansandplacedinsituations(likethetheatre)thatshowedthemtobe"menof feeling."Thisformedakindofculturalchiasmusas"savages,"intheRousseauvianmode, wereshowntobemoreoftheEuropeanideal,thanthewickedandcorruptEnglish gentleman. h. Chapter6 i. SUMMARY:Introducesthe"FableofOrangutans,Parrots,andLapdogs."Thisfable examinesthelimitsofthehumanbytellingabouthuman/nonhumancontactsthatblurthe lines.Apesareshowntohavehumanmannersorevenlustfuldesiresforhumaninthecase ofthe"rapeape."Parrotsaresaidtohavebeenabletospeak,particularlytonon Europeans.AndLadiesofqualityareshowntohaveconnectionstolapdogsthatare scandalous.Browntheorizesthatthisinvestigationofthelimitsofthehumanwereput intoplaybytheviolenceofcolonialcontact.

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