Do you think the United States has a resistance literature?

Question

Resistance literature is prominent where there is political opposition, and it works to restructure things historically, socially, and politically as well as inform and encourage further resistance. Many places have long histories of resistance literature (Palestine, Egypt, El Salvador, South America), but does the U.S.?

I agree with all of you regarding your answers. Sinclair, Steinbeck, Rand, Hayley, Malcolm X were great examples. But what about the present? The resistance lit. of other countries is polemic and partisan with an absolute political message and intention for the text. In the 60's, universities were major centers of resistance, but today . . . no child left unprogrammed. Right? But I sill believe that resistance is out there and that it is being written into our culture. But where and how? I've been obsessing about this for days. Thanks for your posts, and I will look into the graphic novel!

Answer 1

I don't know if I would term it "resistance literature" but there is certainly a huge helping of political literature along similar lines in America. The key, however, is that much of it is hidden as fiction (and by fiction I mean Science Fiction and Fantasy).

Especially if one takes into account things like comics, there is a lot of such literature going on presently.

Answer 2

Yes - of course it does! Take a look at these:

The Jungle by Upton Sinclair
Atlas Shrugged by Ayn Rand
The Grapes of Wrath by John Steinbeck
Born On The Fourth Of July by Ron Kovic

All of these books contain an extremely political message. You just have to take a good look!

This is what make writing such a great art!

Vive La Resistance !

Answer 3

No, not really. There were some deeply socially aware authors like Dreiser and Sinclair Lewis in the 1920's. Then, Steinbeck in the 40's. The most political was Arthur Miller. His play The Crucible focuses on the Witches of Salem, but was really a commentary on the McCarthy witch hunt and Senate hearings for "anti-American" activities of the 1950's.

Answer 4

In the public market? Not that I know of. There were alot of self published books in the 60's, that were highly political and often called a "Manifesto". resistance literatur certainly isn't popular in North America in general. You might still see the occasionally manifesto that somebody printed themselves and are handing out at various places, street corners, small venues, etc.