John Steinbeck's Global Dimensions

Though a highly regarded American writer, John Steinbeck's appeal and influence extend far beyond North American borders. In John Steinbeck's Global Dimensions, editors Kyoko Ariki, Luchen Li, and Scott Pugh have assembled some of the best in current critical analysis of the Nobel Prize-winner's work. A compilation of papers by scholars from the U.S., Japan, China, Korea, India, and Slovenia, this work provides a window into the critical reception of Steinbeck's works around the globe. In doing so, this volume incorporates diverse approaches, including cultural studies, film analysis, gender studies, and—most especially—comparative studies of sociopolitical, philosophical, and religious motifs in Steinbeck's fiction. This collection includes four parts, each considering a broad dimension of Steinbeck's work. The cultural and social dimensions of his fiction are considered with essays by prominent scholars on moral philosophy, dysfunctional families, Ayn Rand's possible influence, and other topics. The second section focuses on aesthetic dimensions, including considerations of Steinbeck's theatrical vision and postmodern aspects of his work. The third section considers reader reception issues and—in particular—surveys Islamic, Buddhist, and Indian philosophy echoed in the author's works. The final section of the book is an essay considering the global possibilities for future Steinbeck studies. A convenient casebook of the latest in Steinbeck studies, this volume documents the breadth of current international interest in his fiction, his films, and his philosophy. The included essays are particularly useful for showing critical readings from various cultural standpoints, readings that often stand in sharp, interesting contrast to each other. Overall, this collection of essays gives an unmatched sense of how John Steinbeck's work continues to reach readers and scholars around the world.

Table of Contents:
Part 1 Foreword Part 2 Acknowledgments Part 3 Introduction Part 4 Part I: Cultural and Social Dimensions in Steinbeck's Work Chapter 5 1. John Steinbeck's Philosophy Unsettled: A Mind of the East and the West Chapter 6 2. Steinbeck on the Individual and Community: Implications for Moral Philosophy Chapter 7 3. "Nothing good was ever created by two men": Parallel Passages in Ayn Rand's The Fountainhead and John Steinbeck's East of Eden Chapter 8 4. A Comparative Study of Steinbeck's The Grapes of Wrath and Tatsuzo Ishikawa's Soubou (The People) Chapter 9 5. From "Flight to The Pearl: A Thematic Study Chapter 10 6. Steinbeck's Dysfunctional Families: A Coast-to-Coast Dilemma Part 11 Part II: Steinbeck's Aesthetic Dimensions Chapter 12 7. Detached Participation: Steinbeck's Theatrical Vision Chapter 13 8. John Steinbeck: The Postmodern Mind in the Modern Age Chapter 14 9. Which Way to Road Space? Between the New Deal and the New Frontier Chapter 15 10. Horrifying Conclusions: Making Sense of Endings in Steinbeck's Fiction Part 16 Part III: Steinbeck's Worldwide Readership Chapter 17 11. Steinbeck Studies in China Chapter 18 12. John Steinbeck in Slovene Translation and the Writer's Influence on Slovene Narrative Prose Chapter 19 13. Echoes of Islam in Steinbeck Chapter 20 14. The Retold Truth: Burning Bright in the Light of the Buddha's Teachings Chapter 21 15. From Shimmering Planktons to Spinning Planets: Steinbeck's Expanding Quantum Universe and Brahmandanirmana Chapter 22 16. The Disappearance of the Oriental Philosopher in the Film Adaptation of East of Eden Part 23 Part IV: Future Directions in Steinbeck Studies Chapter 24 17. Crossing the Oceans: The Future of Steinbeck Studies in America, Japan, and Beyond Part 25 Index Part 26 About the Editors and Contributors

About the Author :
Kyoko Ariki is professor of English at Shujitsu University in Okayama, Japan. She is the author of The Main Thematic Current in John Steinbeck's Works: A Positive View of Man's Survival (2002) and co-editor of Re-Reading John Steinbeck (2001). In 2006 she received the Burkhardt Award for the Outstanding Steinbeck Scholar of the Year. Luchen Li is Associate Professor of Humanities and Communication at Kettering University in Flint, Michigan. He is the editor of John Steinbeck: A Documentary Volume (2005) and coauthor of Critical Companion to John Steinbeck: A Literary Reference to His Life and Work (2005). Scott Pugh has taught American literature and cultural studies in Japan for more than twenty years. An Associate Director of the Sixth International Steinbeck Congress in Kyoto, Dr. Pugh serves on the editorial boards of The Steinbeck Review, The Journal of the American Literature Society of Japan, and other publications.