Hi all, this diary is an introduction to me, my daily American Studies blog, and my plans for a weekly diary here that will highlight some of the things I'm thinking and writing about over there--and also and most importantly create a space where you and we can talk more about anything and everything connected to them. Thanks!
Hi everybody, my name is Ben Railton and I’m a professor of American literature and Studies at Fitchburg State University in Massachusetts (and also a grad school colleague of Chris Bowers back in his PhD candidate in English life, but that’s another story!). I’ve been a daily visitor to this site for at least the last 6 years, and have never felt any need to do anything other than read and learn, not least—well, mostly—because I have far less knowledge or expertise about contemporary politics than most everybody else in this community. That hasn’t changed, and I look forward to continuing to come and learn here in those ways.
On the other hand, I think I do have a lot of knowledge and expertise in my fields and disciplines (although I continue to learn about them every day as well, especially from my students), and have come over the last couple of months to the realization that one of the most important components of my profession is (or at least should be) adding our voices and perspectives to national conversations and narratives, and in so doing hearing back from others and carrying the conversations forward. To that end, I’ve started a blog, americanstudier.blogspot.com, where I’ll be highlighting and writing a bit about (and providing a couple of links for further study into) one interesting American thing per day, and most definitely hope that anybody interested will head over there sometimes and add your voices into the mix in any and all ways.
But I also thought that my perspective there might be of value to the community here, and so decided to create a username and start cross-posting some of the daily posts as a weekly diary (probably on Monday mornings, the start of my week of work with these issues and questions) as well. I’ll actually begin by posting, tomorrow, my favorite of the first couple weeks’ worth of entries, and then next Monday will continue by highlighting one entry from the past week’s worth. And just as I said about that blog, my goal in doing so here is not only to share some of the things I know and think and care about, but also and even more importantly to hear back from this very informed and engaged and passionate community of voices and perspectives. I look forward to talking more with all of you!