Invisible Barbarians Robert Howard and the Cultural Studies Apparatus
Date of Award
2007
Document Type
Thesis
Degree Name
Bachelors
Department
Humanities
First Advisor
Myhill, Nova
Keywords
Cultural Studies, Pulp Fiction, Howard, Robert
Area of Concentration
British and American Literature
Abstract
The rise of cultural studies in the past decade has allowed for literary texts to be studied and taught based on the text's ability to indicate or suggest social dynamics rather than the text as an aesthetic object. Because of the focus that this puts on how texts are consumed, it is now possible to academically discuss a far wider range of texts than were previously available to literary criticism. There are however exceptions to the inclusive practices of cultural studies. A conspicuous example is Robert E. Howard, who wrote prolifically for the American pulp fiction market in the 1920s and 30s, created the enduring pop culture icon Conan the Barbarian, and is still widely read today. Though these details would seem to mark him as an appealing candidate for the attention of cultural studies, he has largely been ignored by it. This happens because Howard uses transparent, unambiguous narrative realities to satisfy the desires of his readers. Since most syllabi for academic courses are constructed by selecting texts that can be used to facilitate the examination of specific thematic and ideological issues, his focus on transparency makes his fiction less textured and therefore less useful to teach in academic classes than the works of other well-known pulp authors, and therefore invisible to many arms of the cultural studies apparatus.
Recommended Citation
Bell, Justin, "Invisible Barbarians Robert Howard and the Cultural Studies Apparatus" (2007). Theses & ETDs. 3742.
https://digitalcommons.ncf.edu/theses_etds/3742
Rights
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