What do digital media, a pioneering African American TV show and the ecological history of stone have in common? They are among the topics addressed in books by Columbian College faculty this year. From historical drama to religious reconstruction, there are dozens of thought-provoking titles in this scholarly library. The following is a sampling of recent books.
It’s Been Beautiful: Soul! and Black Power Television
Professor of English
Gayle Wald examines the cultural and social impact of the first African American variety show on public television "Soul!" From 1968-1973, the pioneering program—where Stevie Wonder sang, Toni Morrison read from her debut novel and James Baldwin discussed gender and power—was instrumental in beaming black culture, arts and political discourse directly into America’s living rooms. Wald argues that “Soul!” united both the radical and traditional voices in the civil rights movement with performances that ranged from opera to rap. The “brave, bold and downright simply wonderful” show, she writes, was influential in expressing the diversity of black popular culture, thought and politics, as well as helping to create and define the notion of black community.
Judaism in Transition: How Economic Choices Shape Religious Tradition
Drawing on her Jewish upbringing, her journey as a Jewish parent and her academic perspective, Professor of Economics
Carmel Chiswick uses the lens of economics to reveal the various constraints facing Judaism in the United States and the overall Jewish culture. By casting religion as a “good,” she illustrates the “cost” of being a mainstream American Jew—financially and in terms of time and effort—and examines the ways economic decisions affect religion. She asks: “How does one maintain a distinctive Jewish culture while keeping pace with the steady march of American life?” Chiswick demonstrates how tradeoffs, often on an individual and deeply personal level, produce the brand of Judaism that predominates America today. Along the way, she explores controversial topics, such as intermarriage, immigration, egalitarianism and connections with Israel.
Liberty, Equality, Power: A History of the American People
How did America transform itself, in a relatively short period of time, from a land inhabited by hunter-gatherer and agricultural Native American societies into the most powerful industrial nation on earth? Co-authored by Associate Professor History Denver Brunsman, this volume uses a pop-culture lens to examine the surprising impact of the ideals of liberty and equality, which, for better or worse, are intrinsically tied to the American story. Featuring essays that follow the country from Reconstruction and industrialization to the economic, social and cultural shifts of the late 20th century, the book helps readers recognize how dominant and subordinate groups have affected and been affected by an ever-shifting balance of power. Individual sections discuss movies and other forms of popular culture that tell the stories of the nation's past.
Democracy's Double-Edged Sword
Digital media is omnipresent in our lives. It has transformed the way we communicate and share information, and has profoundly altered the global political spectrum. In
Democracy’s Double-Edged Sword, Catie Snow Bailard, assistant professor of media and public affairs, examines the intersection of politics and digital media and considers the political repercussions of having an ever-growing volume of information at ordinary citizens’ fingertips. Bailard urges political scientists and communication scholars to recognize digital media’s influence on all aspects of the political process, from campaigning to governance. She argues that the Internet directly influences the ability of individuals to evaluate government performance, affects public satisfaction with the quality of democratic practices and helps motivate political activity. Ultimately, she concludes, access to information does not necessarily ensure that democracy will automatically flourish.
Stone: An Ecology of the Inhuman
Stone is often characterized as the most lifeless of substances—heavy, inert and motionless. But in
Stone:
An Ecology of the Inhuman, Professor of English
Jeffrey Jerome Cohen attempts to rescue rock from its mundane geological reputation. “Stone like water is alive,” he maintains, as he maps the force, vivacity and stories surrounding the much-maligned matter. From ecological examinations to medieval myths, Cohen charts the history of stone in its relations to humans, pointing to stone’s remarkable incarnations like the architecture of Bordeaux and the spectacle of Stonehenge. Traveling from the Yucca Mountains to the cliffs of Iceland, Cohen shows how stone shapes cultures and civilizations.
For a complete list of new books, visit our Faculty Books page.
