Local-Colorism

ChapterII.LocalColorism*MarkTwainI.LocalColorism(p.130-132)1.LocalColorismisdefinedbyHamlinGarlandinhisCrumblingIdolsashaving“suchqualityoftextureandbackgroundthatitcouldnothavebeenwritteninanyotherplaceorbyanyoneelsethananative.”Garland’s“texture”referstotheelementswhichcharacterizealocalculture,elementssuchasspeech,customs,andmorespeculiartooneparticularplace.Andhis“background”coversphysicalsettingandthosedistinctivequalitiesoflandscapewhichconditionhumanthoughtandbehavior.2.Theultimateaimofthelocalcoloristsistocreatetheillusionofanindigenouslittleworldwithqualitiesthattellitapartfromtheworldoutside.Chapter9LocalColorism*MarkTwain3.LocalColorismorRegionalismasatrendfirstmadeitspresencefeltinthelate1860sandearly1870s.Itdidnotceasetobeadominantfashionuntiltheturnofthe20thcentury.Itformedanimportantpartoftherealisticmovement.4.TheappearanceofBretHarte’s“TheLuckofRoaringCamp”in1868markedasignificantdevelopmentinthebriefhistoryoflocalcolorfiction.5.Localcoloristsconcernedthemselveswithpresentingandinterpretingthelocalcharacteroftheirregions.Theytendedtoidealizeandglorify,buttheyneverforgottokeepaneyeonthetruthfulcoloroflocallife.6.TherepresentativefiguresaresuchasSarahOrneJewett(DeephavenaboutcoastalMaine),KateChopin(BayouFolk,TheAwakeningaboutLousiana),ThomasNelsonPage(abouttheSouth),HarmlinGarland,BretHarte,and,ofcourse,MarkTwain.7.ItgreatlyaffectedthelatergiantsuchasWillaCather,SteinbeckandFaulkner.OtherDefinitionsLocalColorismorRegionalismasatrendfirstmadeitspresencefeltinthelate1860sandearly1870sinAmerica.Itmaybedefinedasthecarefulattentioninspeech,dressorbehaviorpeculiartoageographicallocality.Theultimateaimofthelocalcoloristsistocreatetheillusionofanindigenouslittleworldwithqualitiesthattellitapartfromtheworldoutside.ThesocialandintellectualclimateofthecountryprovidedastimulatingmilieuforthegrowthoflocalcolorfictioninAmerica.Localcoloristsconcernedthemselveswithpresentingandinterpretingthelocalcharacteroftheirregions.Theytendedtoidealizeandglorify,buttheyneverforgottokeepaneyeonthetruthfulcoloroflocallife.Theyformedanimportantpartoftherealisticmovement.Althoughitlostitsmomentumtowardtheendofthe19thcentury,thelocalspiritcontinuedtoinspireandfertilizetheimaginationofauthor.LocalColorismwasaliterarytrendbelongingtoRealism.Itreferstothedetailedrepresentationinprosefictionofthesetting,dialect,customs,dressandwaysofthinkingandfeelingwhicharedistinctiveofaparticularregion.AftertheCivilWaranumberofAmericanwritersexploitedtheliterarypossibilitiesoflocalcolorinvariouspartsofAmerica.ThemostfamousrepresentativeoflocalcolorismshouldbeMarkTwainwhotookhishometownneartheMississippiasthetypicalsettingofnearlyallhisnovels.MajorLocalColoristsGarland,Harte–thewestHarte:TheLuckofRoaringCamp《咆哮营的幸运儿》Garland:Main-travelledRoads《大路条条》Eggleston–IndianaTheHoosierSchoolmaster《山区校长》Mrs.StoweOldTownFolks《老城的人们》Jewett–MaineDeephaven《深深拥有》Chopin–LouisianaBayouFolk《路易斯安娜移民》,ANightinAcadie《爱克迪之夜》,TheAwakening《觉醒》Woolson:CastleNowhere:Lake-CountrySketches《处处城堡：乡村湖景札记Chapter9LocalColorism*MarkTwainII.MarkTwain(1835-1910)PennameofSamuelLanghorneClemens1.LiteraryStatusleadingfigureoflocalcolorism/languagereformerofEnglishnovelNovelist,humorist,lecturer,journalist,literaryandculturalcriticmonumentalfigureinthedevelopmentofwesternnovel2.LifeandCareer:BorninFloridaandbroughtupinthesmalltownofHannibal,Missouri,ontheMississippiRiver(aslavestatethen)borntwoweeksaftertheclosestapproachtoEarthofHalley'sCometin1835.Hewastwelvewhenhisfatherdiedandhehadtoleaveschool.Hewassuccessivelyaprinter’sapprentice,atrampprinter,asilverminer,asteamboatpilotontheMississippi,andafrontierjournalistinNevadaandCalifornia.Withthepublicationofhisfrontiertale,“ThecelebratedJumpingFrogofCalaverasCounty”,Twainbecamenationallyfamous.HisfirstnovelTheGildedAge(withCharlesDudley)wasanartisticfailure,butitgaveitsnametotheAmericaofthepost-bellumperiodfor.Printer’sapprentice--self-taught--Steam-boatpilot–marriedOliviaLanton--Susy,Clara,Jean,histhreedaughters–receivedhonorarydoctoratedegreefromOxfordUniversityin1907--TwainoutlivedJeanandSusy.Olivia'sdeathin1904andJean'sdeathonDecember24,1909deepenedhisgloom–diedin1910,onedayafterHalley’sComet’sclosestapproachtoEarthChapter9LocalColorism*MarkTwainTwainoutlivedJeanandSusy.Olivia'sdeathin1904andJean'sdeathonDecember24,1909deepenedhisgloom.In1909,Twainisquotedassaying:“IcameinwithHalley'sCometin1835.Itiscomingagainnextyear,andIexpecttogooutwithit.ItwillbethegreatestdisappointmentofmylifeifIdon'tgooutwithHalley'sComet.TheAlmightyhassaid,nodoubt:'Nowherearethesetwounaccountablefreaks;theycameintogether,theymustgoouttogether.'”Hispredictionwasaccurate—TwaindiedofaheartattackonApril21,1910inRedding,Connecticut,onedayafterthecomet'sclosestapproachtoEarth.UponTwain'sdeath,PresidentWilliamHowardTaftsaid:“MarkTwaingavepleasure—realintellectualenjoyment—tomillions,andhisworkswillcontinuetogivesuchpleasuretomillionsyettocome...HishumorwasAmerican,buthewasnearlyasmuchappreciatedbyEnglishmenandpeopleofothercountries