Inequality, poverty, and precarity in contemporary American culture

This book analyzes the discourse generated by pundits, politicians, and artists to examine how poverty and the income gap is framed through specific modes of representation. Set against the dichotomy of the structural narrative of poverty and the opportunity narrative, Lemke's modified concept of precarity reveals new insights into the American situation as well as into the textuality of contemporary demands for equity. Her acute study of a vast range of artistic and journalistic texts brings attention to a mode of representation that is itself precarious, both in the modern and etymological sense, denoting both insecurity and entreaty. With the keen eye of a cultural studies scholar her innovative book makes a necessary contribution to academic and popular critiques of the social effects of neoliberal capitalism. This Book Analyses The Discourse Generated By Pundits, Politicians, And Artists To Examine How Poverty And The Income Gap Is Framed Through Specific Modes Of Representation. Set Against The Dichotomy Of The Structural Narrative Of Poverty And The Opportunity Narrative, Lemke's Modified Concept Of Precarity Reveals New Insights Into The American Situation As Well As Into The Textuality Of Contemporary Demands For Equity. Her Acute Study Of A Vast Range Of Artistic And Journalistic Texts Brings Attention To A Mode Of Representation That Is Itself Precarious, Both In The Modern And Etymological Sense, Denoting Both Insecurity And Entreaty. With The Keen Eye Of A Cultural Studies Scholar Her Innovative Book Makes A Necessary Contribution To Academic And Popular Critiques Of The Social Effects Of Neoliberal Capitalism. Sieglinde Lemke. Includes Bibliographical References And Index. Front Matter....Pages i-ix Introduction....Pages 1-28 Discourse: The Great Inequality Debate....Pages 29-60 The Documentary: Barbara Ehrenreich’s Nickel and Dimed and David Shipler’s The Working Poor ....Pages 61-84 The Icon: Dorothea Lange’s Migrant Mother ....Pages 85-105 The Precarious Gaze: Contemporary Documentary Photography by Jeff Wall and Tom Stone....Pages 107-133 The Nation: American Exceptionalism in Our Time....Pages 135-161 Conclusion: Precarity....Pages 163-170 Back Matter....Pages 171-176