Cruel Optimism Characters

Cruel Optimism Character List

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Lauren Berlant

The author and theorist of the work, Lauren Berlant is currently a professor at the University of Chicago who specializes in affect, emotions, and belonging.

John Ashbery

Berlant applies her notion of cruel optimism to read an untitled poem by John Ashbery.

Geoff Ryman

She also uses cruel optimism to explore Ryman's novel Was.

Charles Johnson

Further, she considers how cruel optimism functions within Johnson's "Exchange Value."

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