Dr. Heath Carpenter, assistant professor of English, presented his new book, \u201cThe Philosopher King: T Bone Burnett and the Ethic of a Southern Cultural Renaissance (The University of Georgia Press)\u201d on Sept. 30 at KIBO Midnight Oil. <\/p>\n
In the book, Carpenter investigates a contemporary cultural movement inspired by the artist and producer T Bone Burnett. Carpenter explores how Southerners are seen by outsiders, and how they see themselves. In the process, he analyzes issues of race, social class, gender, religion and politics within the complicated notion of heritage and tradition: where we have been, where we are, and where we’re going.<\/p>\n
\u201cGrowing up in the South, I identify with what Patterson Hood calls \u2018the duality of the Southern thing,\u2019 meaning Southerners live with the tension of being both deeply proud and also ashamed of the south’s past and present,\u201d Carpenter said. \u201cI used the pop culture as a way to investigate contemporary Southern identity from people that I understood \u2014 the type of Southerners who say, \u2018Yeah, I am from the South but I am not that kind of Southerner…\u2019\u201d Carpenter said. \u201cAnd I am trying to negotiate the conversations on what it means to have a Southern identity. That was my ultimate motivation.\u201d<\/p>\n
Throughout the pages, Carpenter covers artists like Lil Wayne, the soundtrack from movies including \u201cO Brother, Where Art Thou?\u201d and \u201cDeliverance,\u201d and contentious political and social conversations surrounding issues like Confederate statues. In the meantime, he shows how aspects of Southern culture like food and journalism can aid in helping the region grapple with difficult issues of the past and present. <\/p>\n
\u201cThis community asks what in Southern culture is worth retaining, what is worth rejecting, and what is worth transforming,\u201d Carpenter said. <\/p>\n
As Carpenter was working on \u201cThe Philosopher King,\u201d he interviewed award-winning artists, journalists and filmmakers who, according to him, were incredibly insightful and gracious. <\/p>\n
Carpenter plans to use some chapters in certain classes and the book as a whole in his Southern literature course.<\/p>\n
According to Carpenter, the biggest obstacle for him was weaving source material, analysis and a cohesive narrative together. <\/p>\n
\u201cHarding administration and the English department were very supportive and allowed me time and space to write.\u201d Carpenter said, \u201cI couldn’t have done this without their backing.\u201d <\/p>\n
Carpenter started conceiving the book his first year of graduate school, and it took him about 3 years to finish the book.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m grateful to be married to a thinker.\u201d Heath\u2019s wife, Hannah Carpenter, said. \u201cHe makes me and our kids to think more about our place in the world. He inspires me, and I think I inspire him, too.\u201d<\/p>\n
Senior Cayde Newton was born to a single teenage mother in urban South Carolina. He said Carpenter was able to articulate the balance of understanding and distance that defined his relationship to his Southern roots. <\/p>\n
\u201cI don\u2019t often have trouble putting down a book, but I literally can\u2019t express the extent to which I loved The Philosopher King and how, as someone born and raised in and around the South, the book is just so important to read,\u201d Newton said. <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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