Abstract
The 2024 New Directions in the Humanities theme brings to mind the novel entitled Passing by Nella Larsen. Published in April 1929, Passing brings much-needed attention to a well-known concept, seldom publicly acknowledged by those whose ability to fit in determines the very nature of their existence. The transfer of this concept through time and its translation across international boundaries has been both baffling and dangerous. My primary objective, while mostly 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 among certain groups, and what this means for diverse populations around the world. Larsen’s brief novel is as relevant and socially significant now 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 analysis of Larsen’s text will include both literary and sociopolitical commentaries and frameworks. My research methods will encompass both 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 the global sociopolitical atmosphere. One conclusive outcome of this work may be a deepening of conversations around how prejudicial ideas are conceived and circulated to the detriment of global societies, and the important actions we can take to build more inclusive communities.
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: Publishing Systems and the Transfer and Translation of Ideas
KEYWORDS
Passing, Nella Larsen, History, Sociopolitical, Literary, Race, Ethnicity, Gender, Intersectionality
