Rediscovering America

Over 130 people gathered at the Smith Memorial Student Union Thursday night to celebrate the publication of PSU Professor David A. Horowitz’s new textbook on American populist cultural studies.

The People’s Voice: A Populist Cultural History of Modern America examines American cultural expression–focusing on literature, music and art–of the experiences of ordinary people from the 19th century to the present.

In the spirit of the new book the event featured readings by presenters from such American writers as Jack Kerouac and Carl Sandburg.

“Friends, this is a love fest,” said Walt Curtis, a poet. “We believe in the ’60s, don’t we?”

Curtis made elaborate hand gestures and periodically played the harmonica during the event.

Photographs of farm workers, Army men and children working in mills were displayed at the event as samples of different music played. A variety of songs was played, from Aaron Copeland to Johnny Cash.

Horowitz said his new book is what he calls a master narrative.

“I do believe there’s a need for synthesis,” Horowitz said. “I think you lose more when you don’t generalize.”

Horowitz said the book is also relevant to “regular readers” who might pick up the book to learn more about cultural expression.

“I basically worked on it during my last sabbatical,” Horowitz said about the book. He worked on his book from 2005 to 2006, usually reading and writing for 10 hours a day.

“Some of my favorite sections are on country music,” Horowitz said. “I think country music is the American form of haiku.” He said that he was drawn to the music of Hank Williams because of the way the American experience was conveyed in simple terms.

Horowitz said the country is in need of a book of creative expression. “The country has been so bitterly divided politically,” he said. Horowitz also said that he tried to make sure the book appealed to both ends of the political spectrum.

The book was read both by progressive and conservative readers when Horowitz first made his proposal.

“I give equal weight to people who convey ordinary life,” Horowitz said.

Janet Kreft, a lawyer and member of the Oregon Cultural Heritage Commission, said that the idea of American history told in a nonpartisan way was important. As a lawyer, Kreft said she is interested in immigration bills. To hear the words of other immigrants hailed as American is a continuation of the American experience, Kreft said.

Horowitz had been working on a family history and memoir in 2004 when he got a letter asking for new manuscripts. The new book, he said, was something that he felt needed to be written.

“I couldn’t resist,” Horowitz said. He said he had always been meaning to do a book on popular history.

The event was presented by the PSU Friends of History and the Oregon Cultural Heritage Commission. Kreft was also present during the event.

Horowitz still has a Bronx accent after 40 years of teaching at PSU.

While teaching in the late ’60s, Horowitz got involved in political activism and wrote a column called “Freeway” in the Vanguard.

Horowitz’s column commented on topics ranging from music to Watergate. Horowitz has previously written several other history books.

“We’ve been hearing about it for a long time,” Kreft said about the book. “I thought the presentation was really great.”