Constructing Disability after the Great War: A Book Talk with Dr. Evan Sullivan
Evan P. Sullivan's forthcoming book Constructing Disability after the Great War is an exploration of how Americans -- both civilians and veterans -- worked to determine the meanings of identity for blind veterans of World War I. Sighted Americans' wartime rehabilitation culture centered blind soldiers and veterans in a mix of inspirational stories. Veterans worked to become productive members of society even as ableism confined their unique life experiences to a collection of cultural tropes that suggested they were either downcast wrecks of their former selves or were morally superior and relatively flawless as they overcame their disabilities and triumphantly journeyed toward successful citizenship. This talk draws on research from his book to highlight the experiences of a select group of blind veterans and what those veterans can tell us about the broader culture of American rehabilitation after World War I.
Light refreshments will be served.
This event was made possible by the University Libraries' M.E. Grenander Department of Special Collections & Archives, UAlbany Department of History, and The New York State Writers Institute.
- Date:
- Thursday, October 17, 2024
- Time:
- 4:00pm - 5:45pm
- Time Zone:
- Eastern Time - US & Canada (change)
- Location:
- SL 330 (Standish Room) [Bookable via UAEMS]
- Campus:
- The Uptown Campus
- Audience:
- Open Public / Open to all
- Categories:
- Lectures, Readings, and Talks
About the book: "As Americans--both civilians and veterans--worked to determine the meanings of identity for blind veterans of World War I, they bound cultural constructs of blindness to all the emotions and contingencies of mobilizing and fighting the war, and healing from its traumas. Sighted Americans’ wartime rehabilitation culture centered blind soldiers and veterans in a mix of inspirational stories. Veterans worked to become productive members of society even as ableism confined their unique life experiences to a collection of cultural tropes that suggested they were either downcast wrecks of their former selves or were morally superior and relatively flawless as they overcame their disabilities and triumphantly journeyed toward successful citizenship. Sullivan investigates the rich lives of blind soldiers and veterans and their families to reveal how they confronted barriers, gained an education, earned a living, and managed their self-image while continually exposed to the public’s scrutiny of their success and failures." -Provided by Publisher
About the Author: Dr. Evan P. Sullivan is an assistant professor of history at SUNY Adirondack.
