In a strange episode that includes a fascinating thought experiment by Katie involving Canada and Mexico, the hosts discuss the controversy over American Dirt, a novel that many people are outraged about without being able to quite give a clear account as to why. In addition to getting multiple geographical and demographic facts wrong about Latin American countries, Jesse talks about his obsessive fixation on this story as it unfolded last year, and the hosts discuss the bind many major media organizations are in: Do you produce stuff people buy and like, or do you cater to the whims of a small group of over-educated, perpetually aggrieved faux radicals who will make your life difficult if you don't comply? Also: How will disgust over literature afflicted by The White Gaze impact future migration patterns?
Show notes/Links:
Vulture: The Implosion of 'American Dirt,' by Jeanine Cummins - https://www.vulture.com/article/american-dirt-jeanine-cummins-book-controversy.html
Myriam Gurba: Pendeja, You Ain’t Steinbeck: My Bronca with Fake-Ass Social Justice Literature - https://tropicsofmeta.com/2019/12/12/pendeja-you-aint-steinbeck-my-bronca-with-fake-ass-social-justice-literature/
Jesse's pieces on this:
UnHerd: The truth about ‘American Dirt’ - https://unherd.com/2020/02/the-truth-about-american-dirt/
Navigating Online Controversy In An Age Of Unrelenting, Exhausting, Ubiquitous Bullshit: The American Dirt Story - https://jessesingal.substack.com/p/navigating-online-controversy-in
Medium: David Bowles’ Criticism Of “American Dirt” Is Riddled With Unfair Inaccuracies And Distortions - https://medium.com/@jesse.singal/david-bowles-criticism-of-american-dirt-is-riddled-with-unfair-inaccuracies-and-distortions-e40071cdf646
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