In lieu of an abstract, here is a brief excerpt of the content:

ix Acknowledgments For the completion of this book, as well as for the myriad pleasures experienced along the way, I owe thanks to so many friends, colleagues, and kindred spirits. Though this project is not the direct outgrowth of my dissertation work, its contours were clearly shaped by the skillful help of my committee members at Cornell University. Sunn Shelley Wong offered advice and direction with insight, patience, and thoughfulness . Biodun Jeyifo asked rigorous questions with good humor and a keen sense of curiosity, and set a lovely example for rigorous scholarly exchange. Hortense Spillers offered expertise and enthusiasm at every turn. Mary Pat Brady gave invaluable advice when it was most necessary. For these things, I thank them wholeheartedly. While at Cornell, I also benefitted from the friendship and mentorship of many other colleagues. Benedict Anderson, Eric Cheyfitz, Brett de Bary, Salah Hassan, Biddy Martin, Barry Maxwell, and Natalie Melas provided intellectual stimulation and political camaraderie throughout my time there. Amy Villarejo and Andrea Hammer helped to brighten the long winters with good food and great humor. Most importantly, my time in Ithaca would not have been nearly so grand without the companionship, both intellectual and emotional, of so many: Akin Adesokan; David Agruss; Sze-Wei Ang; Amanda Carreiro; Zahid Chaudhary ; Iftikhar, Elizabeth, and Rehan Dadi; Yvette de Boer; Jennifer Good; Javier Lezaun; Sheetal Majithia; Carol Maxwell Miller; Kristina Paszek; Anastasia Riehl; Saadia Toor; and Chi-ming Yang. I had the good fortune to return to Cornell as a fellow at the Society for the Humanities in 2007–8. Not only was it delightful to be back in Ithaca, but the collaboration of the fellows at the A. D. White House cannot be underestimated. I am so grateful to have had the experience, and I owe special thanks to Brett de Bary for her graceful leadership, and to all of the fellows, particularly Max Cavitch, Tsitsi Jaji, Anne-Marie François, Charlie Kronengold, Chris Nealon, Simone Pinet, Rachel Prentice, Phoebe x Acknowledgments Sengers, and C. J. Wan-ling Wee. Among the more fortuitous blessings of that year was the chance to get to know Denise Riley, for whose friendship and example I am particularly grateful. Lastly, we would never have enjoyed that year so well without the warmth and resourcefulness of Lisa Patti, Mary Ahl, and Amy Staples. Before moving to Ithaca, I was lucky to start my graduate work in Pittsburgh , and while my time there was too short, those years were absolutely delightful in every way. Holly McCullough and Trina Brown, Matt Weiss and Marie Norman, Henry and Karen Thorne, and Danielle and Chuck Staresinic continue to make homecomings to the Golden Triangle among the trips I most enjoy; Hope Celani, Manon desGroseilliers, Shari Barnett , and Ashley Smith each remind me why I’m proud to be part of the Yinzer diaspora. My mentors and colleagues in literary and cultural theory at Carnegie Mellon, particularly Doug Davis, John Eperjesi, Samantha Fenno, Sharon Gamari-Tabrizi, Elizabeth Heffelfinger, Courtney Maloney , Kathleen Newman, David Shumway, Kristina Straub, Angela Todd, and Mimi Van Ausdall, provided inspiration, intellectual motivation, and exceptional camaraderie. Since my arrival in San Diego, I’ve been blessed to have wonderful mentors , colleagues, students, and friends who’ve helped to make California feel like home. Lisa Lowe has extended her kindness as a mentor and friend, and her sense of intellectual curiosity and professional generosity has been an inspiration. Michael Davidson, John D. Blanco, Shelley Streeby, and Nicole Tonkovitch all provided crucial feedback and solidarity along the way. Natalia Molina, Ian Fusselman, and Michael Molina opened their home and hearts to me, for which I continue to be grateful. Hildie Kraus read every page of this manuscript with a librarian’s eye for detail and a friend’s generosity of spirit. Roberto Tejada brought his exceptional intellect and infectious laughter to every encounter. Colleen and Phil Grossfield provided a sense of family in Southern California, and I’m grateful for their friendship. I also thank Rae Armantrout, Sarah Shun-lien Bynum, Sara Cassetti, Jan Estrellado, Camille Forbes, Ken Foster, Cathy Gere, Rosemary George, Larissa Heinrich, Roshanak Kheshti, Lisa Lampert-Weissig, Martha Lampland, Margaret Loose, Luis Martín-Cabrera, Alanna Aiko Moore, Nayan Shah, Kathryn Shevelow, Anna Joy Springer, Don Wayne, and Nina Zhiri, who have each, in different ways, made UCSD and San Diego a productive and pleasant place to live and work. Away from San Diego, but close in spirit and solidarity, a number of friends and...

Share