Writing the Global Riot: Literature in a Time of Crisis

The history of the modern riot parallels the development of the modern novel and lyric, but there has been no sustained attempt to trace or theorize the various ways writers have shaped cultural perceptions of the riot. This collection is the first cross-cultural study of the interrelatedness of a prevalent mode of political and economic protest and the variable styles of writing that riots inspired. It argues that literature has used riots as raw material to stimulate and accelerate its own formal development and critical responsiveness, manifesting in a move away from classical norms of propriety and accord and toward a more openly contingent, chaotic, and unpredictable scenography and cast of dramatis personae.

Format: Unspecified
Length: 288 pages
Publication date: 07 November 2023
Publisher: Oxford University Press

The history of the modern riot shares similarities with the evolution of the modern novel and lyric, yet there has been a lack of a comprehensive effort to trace or theorize the diverse ways in which writers across different eras and contexts have shaped cultural perceptions of the riot as a unique form of political and social expression. This collection aims to fill this gap by exploring the interconnectedness of a prevalent mode of political and economic protest and the diverse styles of writing that riots have inspired. Through a focus on issues of voice, massing, and mediation, this cross-cultural study seeks to provide a comprehensive understanding of the relationship between riots and the various writing styles they have influenced.

This volume will offer historical depth and cultural nuance, while also examining recent theoretical attempts to comprehend the resurgence of rioting in a time of unprecedented global uncertainty. One of the central arguments of this collection is that literature has played a more active role than merely recording riotous practices. Rather, literature has utilized them as raw material to stimulate and accelerate its own formal development and critical responsiveness. For certain writers, this has manifested in a departure from classical norms of propriety and accord, leading to a more openly contingent, chaotic, and unpredictable scenography and cast of dramatis personae. On the other hand, some writers have shifted towards narrative realism or, more recently, digital media platforms to convey the crises that riots unleash. The essays in this collection are meticulously attentive to these formal variations, analyzing the intricate dialogue between literature and the histories of violence inherent in the riot as a volatile form of collective action.

In conclusion, this collection offers a groundbreaking exploration of the interrelatedness of a prevalent mode of political and economic protest and the diverse styles of writing that riots have inspired. By delving into issues of voice, massing, and mediation, it provides a comprehensive understanding of the relationship between riots and the various writing styles they have influenced. This volume will be of immense value to scholars, researchers, and students interested in the fields of literature, politics, and social movements, as it sheds light on the complex and multifaceted ways in which literature has responded to and shaped our understanding of riots as a distinctive form of political and social expression.

Weight: 626g
Dimension: 140 x 163 x 30 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780192862594