Readers of this space know that every so often books, especially good local books and books on politics of Arkansas and the South, must be lifted up as suggestions to a reading public.
Here at the end of the summer of 2014 comes the much heralded University of Arkansas Press' excellent book: "Photographs of Vernacular Architecture of the Soil and Stories of Changing Times in Arkansas."
The book of both photographs and writing is very well done by Geoff Winningham, a professor at Rice University.
Such a long and complex title has been shortened. The book will simply and elegantly be known as "Of The Soil."
That abbreviated title speaks volumes.
This collection was photographed on a grant in the 1980s from the First Federal Savings and Loan of Arkansas to photographically document examples of southern American vernacular architecture. The book is an interesting and strong collaboration between the U.A. Press and the Fay Jones School of Architecture at the state's flagship campus.
Winningham is no stranger to the Jones School of Architecture or many of its famous designers and architects who have taught legions of students on the Fayetteville campus. The book, filled with 130 triton plates, gives each visage of the rural architecture found all over our state a very stout and resilient statement.
The book is wonderfully designed showcasing not only Winningham's strength as a photographer, writer and designer but also the wonderful architectural insights of countless Arkansas craftsmen of ages ago.
In this book, dog-trot cabins, country stores and wood frame churches leap from the pages enveloping the embodiment of the builders and men and women of the soil in our state.
The second book I recommend for summer reading is, "The Indicted South: Public Criticism, Southern Inferiority, and the Politics of Whiteness," published by the University of North Carolina Press. The author, Angie Maxwell, Ph.D., is the Diane D. Blair assistant professor of Southern Studies at the University of Arkansas.
Maxwell, a former student of the late Dr. Willard B. Gatewood, a former U.A. chancellor, historian and co-founder of the U.A. Press, weaves her mentor's writing style within her book, "The Indicted South." Reading from her book and discussing its contents at a recent political gathering, Maxwell held the crowd mesmerized for over an hour with her political acumen, wit and humor about not only past political situations, but those of the moment in 2014 as well.
In her 248-page book, Maxwell shapes the South and Southern politicians as always changing, adapting and perhaps cloning into other political styles, but never, actually going or fading away.
With nine very succinct chapters, Maxwell captures the South and Southerners in ways that few can accomplish.
In her epilogue Maxwell writes: "... the South is red for the foreseeable future. And new groups, such as the Tea Party protesters, the Birthers who challenge the constitutionality of Barack Obama's presidency, and the anti-environmentalists, among others, are not new, but are old spirits that will not die...."
Maxwell concludes with this broad statement: "...Their existence and longevity sheds essential light on not only the deep and enduring attachments to southern whiteness, but also the divisive religious, political and cultural debates that are the inheritance of all Americans."
Some really great reading and viewing for the end of summer 2014. Check them out at your local independent bookstore or public library.
Good reading.
MAYLON RICE, A FORMER JOURNALIST HAVING WRITTEN BOTH NEWS AND COLUMNS FOR SEVERAL NWA PUBLICATIONS, HAS BEEN WRITING FOR THE ENTERPRISE-LEADER FOR SEVERAL YEARS.
Editorial on 08/27/2014