))
How Mark Twain’s Stories Shape American Character And Civic Imagination
Manage episode 519031827 series 3635189
We explore how Mark Twain’s writing, not his public persona, teaches a demanding civic balance: democratic equality joined to a living culture of excellence. Through Huck Finn and Connecticut Yankee, we trace how humor, empathy, and imagination form judgment without sliding into cynicism.
• distinguishing Twain the persona from the unified teaching in the work
• equality, liberty and the cultivation of greatness in tension
• Connecticut Yankee as a parable of science, soul and trade-offs
• Huck and Jim’s shared fate and moral growth
• literature as civic education and imagination-building
• satire that critiques pretension while honoring the noble
• teaching Twain in class through short forms and humor
• America 250 as a moment to reread Twain
• patriotism as rededication, not reflex; moderation over hubris
• warnings against technocratic certainty and the loss of the human
Listeners, I will be putting a ton of links into the show notes to make sure that everything that we've talked about is available, as well as Dr. Dobski's books.
The Arizona Constitution Project
Check Out Our Free Lessons on Arizona History and Government!
Follow us on:
Twitter
Linked In
Instagram
Facebook
YouTube
Website
Interested in a Master's Degree? Check out the School of Civic and Economic Leadership's Master's in Classical Liberal Education and Leadership
Chapters
1. How Mark Twain’s Stories Shape American Character And Civic Imagination (00:00:00)
2. Framing Twain And The Big Question (00:01:42)
3. Twain The Man Versus The Work (00:03:09)
4. Equality Meets Aristocratic Culture (00:06:08)
5. Connecticut Yankee’s Two Souls (00:09:10)
6. Beyond Huck And Tom: Twain’s Range (00:15:03)
7. Literature’s Power To Teach Politics (00:18:08)
8. Models Of Excellence And Caution (00:23:51)
9. Imagination As Civic Education (00:27:55)
10. Teaching Twain’s Humor Without Cynicism (00:30:57)
11. Huck And Jim’s Shared Fate (00:36:55)
12. America 250 And Rereading Twain (00:43:44)
13. Patriotism And Moderation Today (00:47:56)
14. Closing Reflections And Resources (00:54:48)
57 episodes
Share
