Michèle Lamont: Faculty Lunch Talk

Faculty Lunch Talk with Michèle Lamont

Seeing Others: The Making of a Book

Abstract:
Growing inequality and the decline  of the American dream are marked by a mental health crisis across all social classes. Drawing on interviews with 80  college students and 185 change agents producing new narratives in various fields of activity (entertainment, comedy, advocacy, art, impact investing, journalism, etc.), I consider alternatives to neoliberal scripts of self. These narratives emphasize dignity, inclusion, and authenticity, and they are potentially within reach for all. These change agents aim to extend recognition to the largest numbers, even in a context of political backlash. They are in sync with philanthropic organizations, social movements and technologies that feed “recognition chains” and scale up alternative narratives. Coupled with interventions from citizens, these transformations have the potential to broaden cultural citizenship, not only in the United States but also globally.