Abstract
Published in April of 1929, Nella Larsen’s novella, Passing, brought to readers’ attention a concept that had long been known but seldom publicly acknowledged by those who’s ability to “fit in” determined the very nature of their lives, or if they would continue to live at all. My primary objective, while primarily focused on Larsen’s novel and its continuing significance, is to frame the history of the concept of “passing,” how it came to be common practice in certain populations, and what this means for our world today. Larsen’s brief novel is as relevant and socially significant today as it was the day it was published, perhaps even more. In the United States, 2024 feels in some ways no different than 1924—people of different races, ethnicities, and sexualities continue to face discrimination and prejudice in alarming ways. My work with this text includes both literary and political frameworks. The methods I use in my research begin with a review of the detrimental effects of the imposition of “passing” on people of color and LGBTQ+, and a critical reappraisal of Larsen’s novella in light of today’s sociopolitical atmosphere. I hope that one conclusive outcome of this work may a deepening of conversations around how such ideas are conceived and circulated to the detriment of society and how to turn our attention to building more inclusive societies around the world.
Presenters
Linda Nicole BlairTeaching Professor, Culture, Arts, and Communication/School of Interdisciplinary Arts and Sciences, University of Washington, Tacoma, Washington, United States
Details
Presentation Type
Paper Presentation in a Themed Session
Theme
2024 Special Focus—Traveling Concepts: The Transfer and Translation of Ideas in the Humanities
KEYWORDS
Passing, Nella Larsen, History, Sociopolitical, Literary, Race, Ethnicity, Gender, Intersectionality
