Midwestern Literature

In this article I examine the link between ancient Greek epic and American Midwestern Agrarianism. Specifically, I examine how Greek and Roman epic influenced Modernism as evidenced in one of the earliest Modernist works, Anderson’s Winesburg, Ohio. I find that Anderson employs many epic elements to convey the link between the two empires and emphasize the epic nature of the collapse of American Agrarianism.

The Freedom to Try: Voltairine de Cleyre in Postmodern Pedagogy Voltairine de Cleyre has been virtually ignored by both the radical and academic communities in the last one hundred years. Unlike Emma Goldman, who has had a PBS documentary made about her life, and is credited with introducing feminism to anarchism, Voltairine de Cleyre seems to be fading quickly from the limelight. Not only should de Cleyre be taught in Humanities courses because of her Midwestern roots, but so too should the teaching of

In their film musical State Fair (1945), Rodgers and Hammerstein attempted to capitalize on audiences’ enthusiasm for their earliest collaboration, Oklahoma! (1943). The 1945 film echoed Oklahoma!’s pastoral themes while allowing the stage musical to continue its lucrative Broadway run. The songwriters chose source material with proven appeal: Phil Stong’s popular 1932 novel about an Iowa farm family’s trip to the annual fair. Despite its promising pedigree, Rodgers and Hammerstein’s State Fair received indifferent reviews and remains one of their lesser-known musicals. 

In an effort to understand why State Fair failed to resonate with viewers, this paper investigates the ways in which the film’s ambivalent representation of Midwesterners diverges from those of its literary and theatrical sources and undermines its apparent pastoralism. In particular, I focus on “All I Owe Ioway,” a number that bears close similarities to Oklahoma!’s title song, but has a much different tone and diegetic context. “All I Owe Ioway”’s venue and staging accentuate the distinction between professional and amateur singers. The song is rehearsed rather than spontaneous; in contrast to Oklahoma! characters’ native expression of state pride, Iowans in State Fair learn “their” state song from urban, out-of-state professionals, several of whom parody the locals as countrified hicks. The song vacillates between an appealingly wholesome portrayal of Iowans and a disdainful one that smacks of urban condescension. The tensions inherent in this exemplary scene highlight the film’s superficial pastoralism. I contend that State Fair’s lukewarm reception was due to its failure to replicate Oklahoma!’s unequivocal endorsement of the Midwest.

"Book description (from publisher):

Internationally recognized poet Michael Dickel commemorates his March 2012 U.S. poetry tour with this book of poems. The poems begin with an invocation, visit the Midwest, travel to the Mid-East, then settle into contemporary times within global contexts. Dickel received top awards in the 2008 and 2009 international Reuben Rose Poetry Competitions. He co-edited Voices Israel Volume 36 (2010). Recently, he and Israeli filmmaker David Fisher received a National Endowment for the Humanities Bridging Cultures through Film grant. Dickel's poetry, stories, art, and photographs have appeared in literary journals, anthologies, books, and online. His previous book, The World Behind It, Chaos, was released by why vandalism? e-book publisher in 2009. Born near Chicago, Michael Dickel taught at The University of Minnesota and Macalester College. In 2007, he moved to Jerusalem, Israel."