The Front Line of Culture

• In Event: 179 - Regular Session. Cultural Studies 2: Aesthetic Choices (and Constraints): From Creation to Mediation

Abstract

The front line of culture is where mid-level professionals engage directly with the public. Neither cultural authority nor popular demand can explain decisions made at this juncture. Research on One Book programs reveals that while those working on the front line of culture share sophisticated literary tastes and recognize contemporary reader preferences, their choices are independent from either. Instead book selections result from institutional needs and from a persistent tropism toward the region. Such front-line decisions perpetuate a culture of place that resists both elite tastes and market forces.

Authors

• Wendy Griswold, Northwestern University

• Hannah Linda Wohl, Northwestern University