New Books in American Studies

The Great Gatsby is an American Dystopia

Listen Later

It’s the UConn Popcast, and on the 100th anniversary of F. Scott Fitzgerald’s classic novel, we explore what The Great Gatsby means in America today.

In this deep-dive we ask:

  • What did Gatsby mean in 1925, and how have those meanings changed in 2025?
  • What mythologies of America does Gatsby circulate, and challenge?
  • How does Gatsby read to a Brit who never read it in high school, and to an American who only encountered it as an adult?
  • Is Nick Carraway right that Gatsby is the only pure soul in the story?
  • Can we rescue utopian imaginings from this dystopic picture of America?
  • Is there a hidden story of race submerged beneath Gatsby’s overt story of class?

    • Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/american-studies

    ...more
    View all episodesView all episodes
    Download on the App Store
    New Books in American StudiesBy New Books Network
    • 4.3
    • 4.3
    • 4.3
    • 4.3
    • 4.3

    4.3

    30 ratings

    More shows like New Books in American Studies

    View all
    The New Yorker Radio Hour by WNYC Studios and The New Yorker

    The New Yorker Radio Hour

    6,755 Listeners

    The Book Review by The New York Times

    The Book Review

    3,879 Listeners

    The LRB Podcast by The London Review of Books

    The LRB Podcast

    293 Listeners

    On the Media by WNYC Studios

    On the Media

    9,181 Listeners

    The Gray Area with Sean Illing by Vox

    The Gray Area with Sean Illing

    10,741 Listeners

    New Books in Critical Theory by Marshall Poe

    New Books in Critical Theory

    147 Listeners

    New Books in Genocide Studies by Marshall Poe

    New Books in Genocide Studies

    32 Listeners

    New Books in Language by Marshall Poe

    New Books in Language

    19 Listeners

    New Books in Performing Arts by Marshall Poe

    New Books in Performing Arts

    5 Listeners

    New Books in Literature by Marshall Poe

    New Books in Literature

    8 Listeners

    New Books in Intellectual History by New Books Network

    New Books in Intellectual History

    61 Listeners

    New Books in Mathematics by Marshall Poe

    New Books in Mathematics

    26 Listeners

    New Books in Archaeology by Marshall Poe

    New Books in Archaeology

    12 Listeners

    New Books in Asian American Studies by Marshall Poe

    New Books in Asian American Studies

    25 Listeners

    Jacobin Radio by Jacobin

    Jacobin Radio

    1,449 Listeners

    New Books in Central Asian Studies by Marshall Poe

    New Books in Central Asian Studies

    17 Listeners

    Science Friday by Science Friday and WNYC Studios

    Science Friday

    6,341 Listeners

    The Dig by Daniel Denvir

    The Dig

    1,571 Listeners

    Rev Left Radio by Revolutionary Left Radio

    Rev Left Radio

    3,304 Listeners

    Acid Horizon by Acid Horizon

    Acid Horizon

    199 Listeners

    The Ezra Klein Show by New York Times Opinion

    The Ezra Klein Show

    16,083 Listeners

    Ordinary Unhappiness by Patrick & Abby

    Ordinary Unhappiness

    225 Listeners

    Past Present Future by David Runciman

    Past Present Future

    321 Listeners

    The Chris Hedges Report by Chris Hedges

    The Chris Hedges Report

    335 Listeners