The Dream House of American Culture: Archives of the Self, Visions of the Future

In this essay, I argue that American literature and culture help students draw more expansive geographies of their selves and more articulate narratives of their experiences. Using Carmen Maria Machado’s memoir In the Dream House as an example, I show how students are empowered to make meaningful connections between the personal and the political, and how they are encouraged to reflect on their “home” identities, especially with regard to race, class, sexuality, and gender. This text—graphic, raw, and challenging to read—fosters courageous conversations that illustrate what American studies can offer, namely an archive of struggle, a context of representation, and a space of community for our students.