Ethics for Apocalyptic Times: Theapoetics, Autotheory, and Mennonite Literature

In Ethics for Apocalyptic Times, Daniel Shank Cruz explores the role of literature in helping readers cope with contemporary crises such as the COVID-19 pandemic, climate change, and the rise of fascism. He argues that reading literature aporetically can provide a relational ethic that teaches us how to act in difficult times. Cruz theorizes theapoetics, a feminist reading strategy that reveals the Divine through literature based on lived experiences, and demonstrates how it is queer, decolonial, and applicable to secular and religious discourse. He analyzes Mennonite literature, alongside practices of haiku and tarot, to show how reading aporetically is transferable to other literary traditions. The book makes a significant contribution to Mennonite literary studies and will interest literary scholars in queer theory and the role of literature in society.

Format: Hardback
Length: 178 pages
Publication date: 21 November 2023
Publisher: Pennsylvania State University Press

Ethics for Apocalyptic Times delves into the profound role that literature can play in helping readers navigate the challenges of our contemporary world, encompassing the COVID-19 pandemic, climate change, and the rise of fascism in global politics. Through the lens of Mennonite literature and his own personal experiences as a culturally Mennonite, queer, Latinx individual, Daniel Shank Cruz explores the age-old question of what the role of literature should be in society. Drawing upon the rich tradition of Mennonite literature, including works such as Sofia Samatar's short story collection Tender and Miriam Toews' novel Women Talking, Cruz theorizes the apoetics—a feminist reading strategy that reveals the Divine through literature based on lived experiences. He expands this concept to demonstrate its applicability to secular and religious discourse, making it a queer, decolonial, and inclusive approach.

Cruz's analysis centers on Mennonite literature but also examines a non-Mennonite text, Samuel R. Delany's novel The Mad Man, alongside practices of haiku and tarot, to showcase how reading the apoetically can be transferred to other literary traditions. By weaving together close reading and personal narrative, Ethics for Apocalyptic Times makes a significant and original contribution to the field of Mennonite literary studies. Cruz's arguments will also resonate with literary scholars interested in queer theory and the role of literature in society.

Weight: 424g
Dimension: 158 x 237 x 19 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780271095646