Pym, by Mat Johnson

September 23rd, 2011

by Meredith Nudo

Mat Johnson deserves far more recognition than he's currently getting. I've read both Pym and Incognegro, and he possesses one of America's sharpest eyes for contemporary race-based social commentary. Thoroughly provocative, sometimes nauseatingly visceral stuff, but absolutely necessary when understanding the origins and examples of systemic and institutional racism – not to mention what needs doing if we ever hope to fully dismantle the last remaining vestiges of inequality. So this distinguished University of Houston professor warrants a place on high school and college syllabi across the country.

He contributes a whole lot more to the world than Ayn "ACTING HORRIBLE TO OTHER PEOPLE IS TOTES OK, U GAIZ!!!" Rand, that's for I'll-get-fired-if-I-used-expletives-but-one-would-be-appropriate-here-so-use-your-imagination sure.

The complex, frequently acidic satire Pym begins with "the only black male professor on campus" (7) losing his tenure because he staunchly objects to solely teaching African-American literature and serving on the diversity committee. Protagonist Chris Jaynes finds comfort – if not outright obsession – in analyzing Edgar Allen Poe's The Narrative of Arthur Gordon Pym of Nantucket, which distressingly depicts an island of black-skinned peoples, Tsalal, as "horrors from the pit of the antebellum subconscious" (29). Frustrated by the unnamed university's inability to embrace his academic expertise beyond the African-American canon, he absorbs himself in "analyz[ing] at a microscopic level" (8) the "odd and illogical sickness" (8) so ingrained in contemporary society, most hardly ever even notice it.

And, to Jaynes, the only way to accomplish this intensive goal of unraveling "the twisted mythic underpinnings of modern racial thought" (8) involves searching for Poe's island; an escape from the overbearing whiteness enveloping even more liberal institutions. He launches an ambitious Antarctic expedition in Sir Arthur Gordon Pym's footsteps, accompanied by an all-black crew. What follows is a sometimes hilarious, sometimes rage-inducing and frequently wrenching dissection of contemporary American race relations and identity formations. Even after spiraling into the realm of fantasy – and, honestly, I'm reluctant to expound, as I think the transition more effective as a complete surprise – Pym always maintains at least one solid foot in our reality.

Johnson's prose eloquently pops and infuses the entire work with a wry, boiling urgency. Considering some of the supporting cast, most especially former love interest Angela Latham (unfortunately, one of the only prominent female characters), receive very little characterization, this quality certainly keeps Pym gripping enough. But what I found most fascinating was his adroit welding of literary criticism and fiction. This sort of cross-genre experimentation effectively digs up the roots of past racial discrimination and dehumanization, then compares them to more recent examples…not to mention the subjugation occurring once the crew finally hits Antarctica. It's an impressively creative, intelligent touch challenging his audience to read other content closely and pick apart any sociological messages. And the ironic knife twist, when Janyes realizes himself "no less morally responsible than those that sat by while European traders sold infected blankets to Indians" (286), provides one of the contemporary American literary canon's most bitter, provocative and – in its own almost sickeningly voyeuristic way – engaging moments.

No worries, though. I haven't really spoiled anything by saying this.

Last week, the author won the Dos Passos Prize for Literature, so he's certainly receiving proper due from the industry. I just hope this success eventually translates to more mainstream attention. What he has to say about both academia and society as a whole might very well inspire young and old minds alike to think more critically about race in America. And, most importantly, grasp how discriminatory, even segregationist currents flow past so often, few pause to contemplate their existence and damages.

Bibliographic Information

Johnson, Mat. Pym. New York: Spiegel & Grau, 2011.

If you have any suggestions for future book reviews, feel free to contact me at mnudo (at) oedb (dot) org! I'm emphasizing reads about college and college life, so try to stick with those particular themes. Thanks!

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