This week, we had an in-depth exploration into the heart of what defines a novel or literary work as truly exemplifying the “Americana” genre. While there are clear overlaps between Americana and American literature as a whole, Americana has a distinct aesthetic and perspective that evokes a strong sense of nostalgia, harkening back to fading memories and ways of life.
NoteThe following is an editorialized transcript of the podcast episode about the defining traits of Americana books. If you would like to listen to the podcast, click the play above orlisten on your favorite platform with the links below.
It frequently centers the narrative on characters’ profound connections to and reverence for the natural landscape, rural lifestyles, and the struggles of the oppressed in overcoming adversity – all prominent threads woven into the greater American story.
The Major Characteristics of Americana
The Great Gatsby
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Author:
F. Scott Fitzgerald
Published:
01/05/2021
Genre:
American Literature
Publisher:
Modern Library
Number of pages:
192
ISBN:
9780593133569
Show Details
A hallmark of archetypal Americana works is how they render the vast American landscape itself as almost a character, providing a rich backdrop that the people’s narratives play out against. Iconic examples like Steinbeck’s The Grapes of Wrath depict the harsh reality of the Dust Bowl through the lens of migrant farmworker families, contrasting their plights against the harsh yet majestic expanse of the countryside they traverse.
This ties directly into another prominent Americana theme – the restless spirit of mobility that has defined America, with people pulling up roots and migrating long distances in pursuit of new economic opportunities and fresh starts wherever possible.
However, we discussed the nuances of how Americana encompasses various subgenres that deviate from the nostalgia-driven, memory-centric core aesthetics. Dystopian novels set in America like Fahrenheit 451 or The Handmaid’s Tale have a futuristic, often cautionary tone diverging from Americana’s wistful longing for the past.
Yet the horror genre as shaped by ...
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