Master of Arts

thesisThe literature of politics is multifaceted, filled with various genres that range from poetry to pamphlets, novels to newscasts. When we think of our current political sphere, there is an abundance of text and images to choose from. As the twenty-first century quickly advanced to include new methods of disseminating literature, voices from all walks of life can be heard on major digital platforms. However, a century ago, these virtual megaphones were nonexistent, and if you wanted a voice, you had to make it from scratch. Looking closely, it seems as though political movements gained speed through the work of small underground presses, which published manifestos and ideas in limited runs. The literature traveled not just by word-of-mouth, but by hand. The sensory qualities revealed in these publications, like touch and smell, were likely read and experienced with the same concentration as the language itself. The unique "materiality" of the book is a pattern I have observed in researching two groups of writers from distinct cultures and political eras. Beginning with the Russian Futurists of the early twentieth century and leading to a group of unknown writers held in conscientious objectors' camps in the U.S. during World War II, I will draw parallels on the processes and pressures of running an underground press, emphasizing how the material and artistic qualities of these texts, their method of production, and the ways in which they have been disseminated can also be read and analyzed in conjunction with the content inside