Fascination: Trance, Enchantment, and American Modernity

In response to the dramatic scientific and cultural changes of the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, many American thinkers and writers came to conceive of the modern world as fundamentally fascinating. Fascination argues that, rather than being distracting, modern life had an almost magical capacity to capture attention and overwhelm rational thought.

Format: Hardback
Length: 228 pages
Publication date: 14 December 2022
Publisher: Louisiana State University Press

Theorists of culture often describe modernity as a state of disenchanted distraction, deeply intertwined with the rationalizing impulses of scientific and technological innovation and the fragmented attention that characterizes the experience of mass culture. However, Patrick Kindig's book "Fascination" presents a different narrative, revealing that many fin-de-siècle Americans were genuinely concerned about and intrigued by the modern world's remarkable ability to captivate and hold attention in quasi-supernatural ways. Contrary to popular belief, they perceived modern life not as a source of distraction but rather as possessing an almost magical capacity to capture attention and overwhelm rational thought.

In response to the profound scientific and cultural transformations of the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, a group of American thinkers and writers began to conceive of the modern world as fundamentally fascinating. They observed and analyzed diverse phenomena such as the electric generator, the movements of actresses, and ethnographic cinema with a sense of wonder and awe, describing them as supernaturally alluring. These thinkers and writers employed the language of fascination to process and critique both popular ideologies of historical progress and the racializing logic upon which these ideologies were constructed.

To explore this intriguing perspective, Kindig draws on a rich archive of primary texts from various fields, including medicine, psychology, philosophy, cultural criticism, and anthropology. He also incorporates creative works by notable authors such as Harriet Prescott Spofford, Charles Chesnutt, Theodore Dreiser, Paul Laurence Dunbar, Edward S. Curtis, Robert J. Flaherty, and Djuna Barnes. By carefully examining these diverse sources, Kindig reconsiders what it meant for Americans to be (and to be called) modern at the turn of the twentieth century.

Through his meticulous research and thoughtful analysis, Kindig reveals that fascination was a powerful mode of thinking and expression that helped individuals make sense of the rapidly changing world around them. It allowed them to navigate the complexities of modernity, challenge prevailing ideologies, and explore new ways of understanding the human experience. Fascination became a tool for critiquing the dominant narratives of progress and for challenging the racial hierarchies that shaped American society.

In conclusion, "Fascination" offers a fresh and compelling perspective on the cultural and intellectual landscape of the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. By challenging the notion of modernity as a state of disenchanted distraction, Kindig reveals that many Americans were in fact captivated by the modern world's ability to attract and hold attention in extraordinary ways. Through his meticulous research and insightful analysis, he provides a valuable contribution to our understanding of this period and its enduring impact on American society.

Dimension: 216 x 140 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780807178515