The Known World by Edward P. Jones - Literacy, Narrative, and Slavery - Lecture 2

Explore a 47-minute lecture from Yale University's "The American Novel Since 1945" course, focusing on Edward P. Jones's "The Known World." Delve into Jones's complex relationship with literacy, examining how he uses narrative to unify fragmented elements while acknowledging the vulnerability of text. Investigate the author's unique literary self-awareness, influenced by the moral complexities of slavery and freedom. Analyze the lecture's key themes, including the challenges of writing, the fragility of textual freedom, the complicity in creation, the durability of plastic arts, and Jones's narrative techniques for weaving unity into modern storytelling. Gain insights into Jones's innovative approach to composition and his exploration of literacy's power and limitations in the context of slavery.