#2 WHAT IS REAL? Capitalist Realism, Storytelling, and the Literacy Crisis

This is the second lecture for the 2024 summer session of ENGLISH 3372 for The Ohio State University, taught by PhD Candidate Peyton Del Toro. This lecture breaks down the theoretical reading of the week: Mark Fisher’s book, Capitalist Realism: Is there no alternative? Peyton begins by explaining what capitalism is, and how it is connected to the history of colonization. Fisher articulates the reflexive impotence—the general feeling of powerlessness—that locks us into believing that capitalism is the only viable option for economic and political systems. He mentions the harmful effects capitalist realism has on mental health and community well-being, and Peyton extends that conversation through the lockdown of March 2020 and the rise of TikTok. This lecture lays out an argument that children aren’t necessarily addicted to screens; rather, they are desperate for community and connection. They want to hear stories, and they want someone to listen to theirs. A literacy crisis is affecting our youth at alarming rates—what does that mean for literature? For storytelling?