Genres of Privacy in Postwar America

Palmer Rampell's book explores how genre fiction played a role in redefining the category of the private person in the postwar period, particularly in response to legal and social issues such as abortion, police surveillance, and euthanasia. He pairs different genres of fiction with historical events and legal developments to argue that genre fiction can theorize the meaning of privacy.

Format: Hardback
Length: 240 pages
Publication date: 30 May 2022
Publisher: Stanford University Press

In his groundbreaking work,Palmer Rampell delves into the surprising impact of genre fiction on the concept of the private person in the postwar era. This exploration becomes particularly pertinent in the aftermath of the Supreme Court's landmark 1965 decision establishing a constitutional right to privacy. Legal scholars, judges, and the general public alike grappled with the intricacies of this newfound right, seeking to understand its scope and implications.

Before and after this pivotal ruling, authors of genre fiction and film reimagined their aliens, androids, and monsters to engage in thought-provoking debates about personal privacy. Rampell employs a multi-faceted approach, combining novels, films, original archival discoveries, historical and legal research, to offer fresh interpretations of renowned authors such as Patricia Highsmith, Dorothy B. Hughes, Philip K. Dick, Octavia Butler, Chester Himes, Stephen King, Cormac McCarthy, and many others.

One of the intriguing aspects of Rampell's book is his pairing of the right to privacy for heterosexual sex with queer and proto-feminist crime fiction. He explores how these genres intersect, shedding light on issues of consent, autonomy, and the boundaries of personal privacy in different contexts. Similarly, he examines racialized police surveillance at midcentury through the lens of Black crime fiction, highlighting the ways in which fiction can challenge and subvert dominant narratives.

Rampell also pairs landmark legal cases and societal events with specific genres of fiction. For instance, he explores Roe v. Wade (1973) in the context of 1960s and 1970s science fiction, examining how these works imagined and responded to the evolving legal landscape surrounding reproductive rights. He also connects the Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act (1974) with horror, highlighting how fiction can evoke fear and anxiety about protecting children from harm.

Furthermore, Rampell delves into the intersection of the right to die with westerns, exploring how these genres have portrayed and debated the issue of euthanasia. He argues that genre fiction can offer unique insights into complex moral dilemmas, allowing readers to engage with ethical questions in a more accessible and thought-provoking manner.

While Rampell's work primarily focuses on genre fiction, he also suggests that we should value a particular strand of this genre for its capacity to theorize the meaning of the protean concept of privacy. He challenges us to think beyond the traditional defenses of fiction for its ability to represent fully rendered private life and consider how it can contribute to our understanding of privacy in a rapidly changing world.

In conclusion, Palmer Rampell's work is a groundbreaking exploration of the role of genre fiction in shaping the concept of the private person in the postwar period. Through his meticulous research and thoughtful analysis, Rampell offers new insights into the ways in which fiction can engage with pressing social and legal issues, challenging our assumptions and expanding our understanding of privacy. This book is a must-read for anyone interested in the intersection of literature, law, and society.

Dimension: 229 x 152 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781503629219