Jessica Swoboda and Attention Ecology in "Outline" episode artwork

EPISODE · Apr 2, 2026 · 55 MIN

Jessica Swoboda and Attention Ecology in "Outline"

from Free and Direct

Jessica Swoboda joins the show to talk about her essay, “Rachel Cusk’s Attention Ecology,” adapted from her PhD dissertation and published in Contemporary Literature. We talk about the Outline trilogy and Jessica’s scholarship, and the fascinating work she does into the intersections of narrative theory and interpersonal relationships—the ecologies of attention, and the ways in which they serve as a lens to viewing how a novel might impact, or inform, the world around us.Listen in as Dan and Jessica discuss the novels, PhD life, and drop some very cool book recommendations (Cusk and non-Cusk alike) throughout the show. In the meantime, check out the continuation of our Dalloway centenary series next week and, as always, stay critical!

Episode metadata supplied by the publisher feed · Published Apr 2, 2026

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Jessica Swoboda and Attention Ecology in "Outline"

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