Abstract
This paper explores the evolution and resonance of American prose as an art form in the first 25 years of the 21st century, examining how it has responded to and shaped the national consciousness. From the aftermath of 9/11 and the Great Recession to the rise of digital culture, racial reckoning, and climate anxiety, contemporary American prose has offered a lens through which the complexities of identity, justice, belonging, and resilience are vividly articulated. Through close readings of representative works—fiction and nonfiction—by authors such as Jesmyn Ward, George Saunders, Joan Didion, Ta-Nehisi Coates, and Ocean Vuong, this study identifies stylistic innovations, narrative structures, and thematic concerns that mark a distinct literary era. The paper situates these voices within broader cultural shifts, including the democratization of storytelling via social media, the resurgence of memoir, and the hybridization of genre. Ultimately, this examination argues that 21st-century American prose is not only a mirror of its time but also an agent of cultural reckoning and aesthetic experimentation. By tracing the intersections of literature, politics, and technology, the paper reaffirms prose’s enduring role as a critical and expressive force in American life.
Presenters
Nashid MadyunExecutive Director, Humanities Philanthropy, Florida Humanities Council Inc., Florida, United States
Details
Presentation Type
Paper Presentation in a Themed Session
Theme
The Arts in Social, Political, and Community Life
KEYWORDS
Prose, Literature, Aesthetics, Cultural, Identity
