H. P. Lovecraft's "The Call of Cthulhu"

A Race and American Culture Discussion

Howard Phillips (H.P.) Lovecraft was one of the most influential fantasy writers of all time, a pioneer in subgenres like "weird fiction" and "cosmic horror." He was also a notoriously xenophobic white man from Providence, Rhode Island, who associated dark, evil, and mysterious forces in the universe with people who came from foreign places and looked different than him. For our meeting, we'll read Lovecraft's most famous story, "The Call of Cthulhu," in which our narrator slowly uncovers a mystery that has been unfolding across decades. A series of ancient clues all point towards an ancient force emerging from the depths of the ocean. In our discussion, we will think about why Lovecraft's fear of diversity shaped his famous fiction, discuss his unique style of writing, and see why Black writers like N. K. Jemisin and Victor LaValle have been inspired to rewrite Lovecraft's stories and confront his legacy of racism. 

To access the story, click here or visit any branch for a physical copy. The story is also available on The Project Gutenberg.

This program is the 23rd in our ongoing "Race and American Culture" series and is for adults only.

About Dr. Ian Afflerbach

Dr. Ian Afflerbach is an Associate Professor of American Literature at the University of North Georgia, where he teaches courses in African-American literature, modern American fiction, and the history of ideas. He holds a Ph.D. from the University of California, Davis, and has lived in Montreal, Vermont, North Carolina, and Germany. His first book, Making Liberalism New, was published in 2021, and he's currently working on a second, Sellouts! The Story of an American Insult, which examines the history of "selling out" in American culture.

Event image credit: Georgi Marchev from Georgi Marchev and Canva AI via Canva.com

Headshot and UNG logo provided by University of North Georgia

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