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A review by garberdog
Depression: A Public Feeling by Ann Cvetkovich
4.0
I am deeply conflicted about this book. On the one hand, Cvetkovich's analysis is insightful, fulfilling, and came to me at precisely the right time in my life. On the other hand, at several points throughout the text Cvetkovich minimizes the very real world-historical force of white supremacy. Even when she directly discusses racism as a form of everyday trauma, she equates white/settle guilt with the lived and historical experiences of racism. She also basically dismisses the idea of cultural appropriation because, if I read her correctly, some white folks feel better after doing yoga and meditating. While this may be true, it disregards the impact this has on subordinated communities having their cultural traditions commodified and appropriated by white elites.
That said, Cvetkovich use of a queer, feminist archive and location depression as a queer academic were both very personally relevant, and made reading this book for the most part quite rewarding. I had to play Peter Elbow's "Believing Game" at times to get through her white ignorance (as a white person I recognize I am also subject to this critique, but that doesn't justify Cvetkovich on this). However, formulating a concept of "political depression" to be lived with via "the utopia of everyday habit" gave me new hope that, even if depression is to be a regular feature of my life, that doesn't mean I have nothing to live for. There are paths through it.
In sum, Cvetkovich's book will likely speak to white, middle class, queer, feminist aspiring academics (like me), with other folks feeling skeptical at best. Take it for what it's worth, and let it help you through the despair.
That said, Cvetkovich use of a queer, feminist archive and location depression as a queer academic were both very personally relevant, and made reading this book for the most part quite rewarding. I had to play Peter Elbow's "Believing Game" at times to get through her white ignorance (as a white person I recognize I am also subject to this critique, but that doesn't justify Cvetkovich on this). However, formulating a concept of "political depression" to be lived with via "the utopia of everyday habit" gave me new hope that, even if depression is to be a regular feature of my life, that doesn't mean I have nothing to live for. There are paths through it.
In sum, Cvetkovich's book will likely speak to white, middle class, queer, feminist aspiring academics (like me), with other folks feeling skeptical at best. Take it for what it's worth, and let it help you through the despair.