Literature in Response to the September Criticism
The September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks left an indelible mark on American society, prompting a profound response from the literary and artistic communities. Writers, poets, and journalists sought to process the tragedy through a diverse array of written works, reflecting on the horror and heroism witnessed on that day. As highlighted in Fiction in a World that Exists after Terror, literature served as a means to comprehend and articulate the emotional and cultural aftermath of the attacks.
Notable contributions include Noam Chomsky's 9-11, which offers critical perspectives on U.S. foreign policy, as discussed in Review of 9-11 and Chomsky on 9-11. This work, while controversial, provided "useful correctives" about political history. Journalistic efforts also rose to prominence, with the media's role in narrating the events being valorized in pieces such as Rising to the Occasion and Meeting the Challenge.
Apart from factual recounts, creative expressions like poetry and theater provided solace and reflection, emphasizing the need for artistic witness in times of crisis, as noted by We Need Artists to Soldier On. Furthermore, individual stories of heroism were immortalized in works like Jere Longman's Among the Heroes, which are lauded for their inspirational portrayal of courage, as reviewed by The White-Collar Warrior.
Overall, literature post-September 11 has not only served to document and analyze the attacks but has also emerged as a vital tool for healing and understanding the complexities of human resilience and tragedy.
Contents
- Representative Works
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Criticism: Major Works On September 11, 2001
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Review of 9-11
(summary)
In the following review, Edwards presents an overview of Noam Chomsky's central arguments in 9-11.
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Chomsky on 9-11
(summary)
In the following review, Lockard discusses Noam Chomsky's 9-11, noting that the work serves more as a means for Chomsky to expostulate his long-standing political theories regarding U.S. foreign policy rather than a tribute to the tragedy of September 11, 2001.
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Surprise Best-seller Blames U.S.
(summary)
In the following essay, Massing describes the various popular responses to Noam Chomsky's book 9-11 and the political background behind the work.
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Review of 9-11
(summary)
In the following review, Hook stresses that, despite his extreme stance on U.S. foreign policy, Noam Chomsky's arguments in 9-11 provide some useful correctives about recent political history.
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Manufacturing Dissent: Noam Chomsky Calls the U.S. a Terrorist State
(summary)
In the following review, Welch discusses two works stemming from the September 11 terrorist attacks—September 11 and the U.S. War: Beyond the Curtain of Smoke and Noam Chomsky's 9-11.
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The White-Collar Warrior: A Book about Flight 93 Introduces a New Kind of Hero for the Civilians' War
(summary)
In the following review, Poniewozik presents a brief overview of Jere Longman's Among the Heroes, noting that the work serves as an inspiration for its readers.
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Notes on the Darkest Day
(summary)
In the following review, Kirn assesses various literary works about or inspired by the September 11 terrorist attacks.
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The Fourth Target
(summary)
In the following review, Lord examines Jere Longman's Among the Heroes, praising the book's focus on individual people and their stories.
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Charting Culture of Manhattan Firehouse Tested by September 11
(summary)
In the following review, Lynch lauds David Halberstam's Firehouse as a remarkable work that outlines the importance of close-knit relationships in the workplace.
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His Last Battlefield
(summary)
In the following review, Rabinowitz examines Heart of a Soldier, James B. Stewart's biography of Rick Rescorla, the chief of security at Morgan Stanley in New York City, who was responsible for securing the evacuation of 2,700 of his co-workers while losing his own life in the effort.
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Eyes Wide Shut: Missed Signals of September 11
(summary)
In the following review, Sina asserts that Breakdown is one of the most “insightful and penetrating” books about the intelligence failures that are believed to have led to up to the attacks on September 11.
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A Proud Day
(summary)
In the following review, Baldwin notes that James B. Stewart's biography Heart of a Soldier serves to highlight the many acts of heroism and personal sacrifice that marked the backdrop of violence unleashed by the attacks on September 11.
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Review of 9-11
(summary)
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Criticism: Critical, Artistic, And Journalistic Responses
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Rising to the Occasion
(summary)
In the following essay, Rieder reviews the American news coverage of the September 11 attacks, noting that the day brought the importance of journalism into focus in a time of tragedy.
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Meeting the Challenge
(summary)
In the following essay, Fisher praises the American news media coverage of the September 11 attacks, calling the coverage efforts valiant and impressive.
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Fiction in a World that Exists after Terror
(summary)
In the following essay, Chabries discusses the significance of writers and fiction in the aftermath of the September 11 terrorist attacks.
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We Need Artists to Soldier On
(summary)
In the following essay, Milroy stresses the significant role that artists play in bearing witness to such events as the September 11 attacks.
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The Sense of an Ending
(summary)
In the following essay, Cowley evaluates the impact of the September 11 attacks in the creation of recent works of literature and fiction.
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Literature Can Look Terror in the Eye and Measure its Human Consequences
(summary)
In the following essay, Scanlan remarks on the convergence of literature and reality in numerous works of terrorist fiction, noting that such novels not only offer solace in times of grief, but also serve as a mirror that reflects modern society.
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Comment: Our Country and Our Culture
(summary)
In the following essay, Lind explores the role of poetry, particularly American patriotic poetry, in the wake of the September 11 attacks.
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9-11: Criticism and Crisis
(summary)
In the following essay, Mitchell expounds on the role of criticism and review in the context of the terrorist attacks on September 11, 2001.
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Healing with Creative Works: Artists Try to ‘Make Sense’ of What They Have Witnessed
(summary)
In the following essay, Shaw-Eagle combines several brief personal vignettes by contemporary artists that reflect the impact of the September 11 attacks on their lives and works.
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Theaters Begin to Respond to September 11: Drama, Comedy, and Even a Musical Grace the Boards
(summary)
In the following essay, Horowitz presents an overview of the theatrical responses to the events of September 11, 2001.
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Rising to the Occasion
(summary)
- Further Reading