Joan Didion's Slouching Towards Bethlehem Resonates with 2020s Politics
A new essay in the Hedgehog Review argues that Joan Didion's 1968 collection 'Slouching Towards Bethlehem' is particularly relevant today. The essay highlights how the late Sixties—marked by unpopular foreign involvements, identity-based unrest, and a divisive national government—parallel current events. Didion's sampling of places and events from that era offers instructive parallels for contemporary readers. The piece examines the use and abuse of Didion's legacy, cautioning against oversimplifying her work.
Key facts
- Essay published in Hedgehog Review
- Focuses on Joan Didion's 'Slouching Towards Bethlehem' (1968)
- Draws parallels between late Sixties and present day
- Notes unpopular foreign involvements, identity-based unrest, divisive government
- Argues the collection is instructive for current times
- Critiques misuse of Didion's work
- Title of essay: 'The Use and Abuse of Joan Didion'
- Essay appears in Hedgehog Review's web features
Entities
Artists
- Joan Didion
Institutions
- Hedgehog Review