1) The Appalachian region: For the first time this semester - or the first time that it caught my attention - a writer mentioned the Appalachian region. Yes, we've had some coverage of the South (minimal, Carrie, I know!), but the Appalachian region has gone fairly unexplored. There is rich history in this area, and though the region may be more known for its backwoods/moonshine/anything-else-derogatory, Brown makes the point that "printers and booksellers became familiar figures" the Appalachian periphery (60). Of course, we only get one sentence, but I appreciate the mention. Especially as it leaves the implication that people in this region were become literate and self-educating, as printers and booksellers could only be "familiar figures" if people were seeking their products. I remember reading something about print culture in The Journal of Appalachian Studies, however, I cannot find the article for the life of me today. Of course I wouldn't be able to find it when I needed it!
2) In conjunction with my fondness for the Appalachian region, I have a soft spot in my heart for the common man, especially the rural farmer/rancher, and it doesn't take a Freudian analysis to figure out why I am so interested in this (I grew up on a ranch). As Brown briefly explored Paine's Common Sense, I took note of the rhetoric Brown used to describe Paine's discourse: "blunt message," "blunt language," "familiar vocabulary," "homespun illustrations," and "vernacular language" (65). In taken in isolation, this rhetorical analysis may sound derogatory; however, Brown makes it clear that Paine was quite effective in his writing, as it was this type of rhetoric that reached such a broad audience, especially those (like the commoner) outside of traditional, genteel readership. Common Sense "dwarfed the sales of 'Farmer's Letters'" - a publication written in the "persona of a 'farmer,'" yet clearly composed by a gentleman - primarily due to its ability to relate to the average reader (65). It has been years since I have read Common Sense, but I am now encouraged to read it once again. And, I am going to locate (if possible) and read "Farmer's Letters" in order to have a better understanding of John Dickinson's writing. I haven't hear of him/his work before, so I am now specifically focused on comparing the two texts, since Brown clearly juxtaposed them in the same paragraph.
3) Along with Dickinson, I highlighted a variety of individuals that I found interesting in Brown's chapter and that I want to research:
- Elijah Lovejoy
- Mercy Otis Warren
- Lemuel Haynes
- William Manning
- Mr. and Mrs. Calvin Fletcher
All in all, I enjoyed the reading for today. It certainly left me wanting to know more/research more/understand more. I suppose that is a sign of a productive chapter!
Hi Callie, thanks for the good post. I thought Brown mentioning the trans-Appalachian regions was interesting, though he is a CT dweller. I think his brief chapter does highlight the importance of print culture during the Revolutionary period, and how the Revolution transformed print culture. It's hard for us to imagine the impact of Paine's -Common Sense.- Or the profoundly radical opportunities that pst-Rev print culture offered writers from all areas and classes. Not everyone, surely. But a heck of a lot more compared to what existed before the Rev. dw
ReplyDelete