In 1997, I asked a colleague in American Studies what was the single focus that united all the disparate parts of her field. She answered, “Against American Exceptionalism.”
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@mark_bauerlein
The “New Americanists” In literary studies offered nothing but spiteful “ideological critiques” of the whole of American literary history, particularly of the 19th century. Everywhere they looked they found their preordained conclusions: racism, misogyny, imperialism, etc.
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@mark_bauerlein
“Against American Exceptionalism” is even more simplistic and anti-intellectual than American Exceptionalism was. Now enough time has passed, I think, it is old enough that it has to be taught as just another trendy historiographical theme, not used as the organizing principle.
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@mark_bauerlein
Sad. I was raised on that with the other side being the duty we had as a blessed exceptional country. Noblesse Oblige. Throughout our history we have lived up to that ideal better than any nation on earth.
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@mark_bauerlein
A perfectly woke response. Your colleague stated her position, which isn't what you asked. They cannot distinguish between a culture trait and a position..
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@mark_bauerlein
When the culture war is written and studied properly by future historians, the bequeathing of the education system without a struggle will be seen as one of the stupidest decisions in the 20th century.
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