Not a Big Deal: Narrating to Unsettle

The study explores how texts can unsettle readers when they reject unwelcome information as fake news or rebutted with alternative facts. It draws from philosophy, narratology, social neuroscience, critical theory, and other disciplines to read texts ranging from novels and short stories to graphic novels, films, and fiction broadcasted and podcasted. Texts by Kyle Baker, Scott Brown, Percival Everett, Daniel Handler, David Robert Mitchell, Jordan Peele, and Colson Whitehead suggest new strategies for unsettling the category-based perceptions behind what Everett calls "the insidious colonialist readers eye which infects America." The study encourages readers to challenge their perceptions of the world and texts and to do the same.

Format: Hardback
Length: 318 pages
Publication date: 01 August 2021
Publisher: University of Nebraska Press

When readers encounter texts that challenge their existing beliefs or disrupt their comfortable narratives, it can be difficult for them to engage with these texts in a meaningful way. This study explores the strategies used by various texts, including novels, short stories, graphic novels, films, and podcasts, to provoke thought and disrupt the status quo.

Drawing from a wide range of disciplines such as philosophy, narratology, social neuroscience, critical theory, and more, the study examines how these texts enact curious strategies of disruption while simultaneously insisting that they do not necessarily challenge or undermine established beliefs.

One approach to unsettling the category-based perceptions that underpin what Percival Everett calls "the insidious colonialist readers eye" is to suggest new strategies for reading and interpreting texts. Texts by authors such as Kyle Baker, Scott Brown, Percival Everett, Daniel Handler, David Robert Mitchell, Jordan Peele, and Colson Whitehead offer innovative approaches to reading and engaging with literature, challenging readers to think beyond the boundaries of established categories and perceptions.

Another strategy used by these texts is to subvert traditional narrative structures and conventions. By breaking the rules of storytelling and presenting information in unexpected ways, these texts can create a sense of confusion and disorientation, forcing readers to reevaluate their assumptions and perspectives. This can be seen in the works of authors such as David Robert Mitchell, who employs nonlinear narrative structures and multiple perspectives to explore complex themes and questions.

Furthermore, these texts often challenge the boundaries between reality and fiction, blurring the lines between what is known and what is believed. This can be seen in the works of Jordan Peele, who has become known for his genre-bending films that explore social and political issues through the lens of horror and suspense. By blending different genres and styles, Peele creates a sense of unease and discomfort that forces viewers to question their own beliefs and assumptions.

In addition to these strategies, these texts also use humor and irony to subvert expectations and challenge readers' assumptions. By employing these devices, authors can create a sense of playfulness and lightness that makes it easier for readers to engage with difficult and complex topics. This can be seen in the works of Daniel Handler, who is known for his dark and satirical novels such as "A Series of Unfortunate Events" and "Attachments." Handler's use of humor and irony allows readers to confront difficult subjects while also finding moments of levity and humor.

Overall, this study highlights the ways in which texts can be used to provoke thought and disrupt the status quo
quo. By employing a range of strategies such as suggesting new ways of reading and interpreting texts, subverting traditional narrative structures and conventions, blurring the lines between reality and fiction, and using humor and irony, these texts can create a sense of unease and discomfort that forces readers to reevaluate their beliefs and assumptions. While it may be difficult for readers to engage with texts that challenge their existing beliefs or disrupt their comfortable narratives, it is important to recognize the value of these texts in promoting critical thinking and promoting a more nuanced understanding of the world. By doing so, we can create a more inclusive and equitable society.

Dimension: 229 x 152 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781496221957