The Smart Set is known as a popular venue for modernist writers and cultural criticism, but upon Mencken and Nathan’s departure it became Hearst’s sensational confessional title. This article examines the confessional form for elements of populist empowerment, and in so doing questions periodical studies’ methodology of selective reading. In addition, this article argues that the Smart Set was always commercial, playing both sides of the cultural divide despite tendencies for modernist canonization on the part of critics. Ultimately, it is up to the literary historian to convey a realistic portrait of a magazine and up to the reader to decide how to interpret its cultural stance.

ABSTRACT The Smart Set is known as a popular venue for modernist writers and cultural criticism, but upon Mencken and Nathan's departure it became Hearst's sensational confessional title. This article examines the confessional form for elements of populist empowerment, and in so doing questions periodical studies' methodology of selective reading. In addition, this article argues that the Smart Set was always commercial, playing both sides of the cultural divide despite tendencies for modernist canonization on the part of critics. Ultimately, it is up to the literary historian to convey a realistic portrait of a magazine and up to the reader to decide how to interpret its cultural stance.

Book Review| July 01 2011 Tabloid, Inc.: Crimes, Newspapers, Narratives Pelizzon, V. Penelope; West, Nancy M.Tabloid, Inc.: Crimes, Newspapers, NarrativesColumbus: Ohio State University Press, 2010. Pp. xiii, 221. $51.95 cloth, $9.95 CD. David M. Earle David M. Earle University of West Florida Search for other works by this author on: This Site Google The Journal of Modern Periodical Studies (2011) 2 (2): 259–265. https://doi.org/10.5325/jmodeperistud.2.2.0259 Cite Icon Cite Share Icon Share Twitter Permissions Search Site Citation David M. Earle; Tabloid, Inc.: Crimes, Newspapers, Narratives. The Journal of Modern Periodical Studies 1 July 2011; 2 (2): 259–265. doi: https://doi.org/10.5325/jmodeperistud.2.2.0259 Download citation file: Zotero Reference Manager EasyBib Bookends Mendeley Papers EndNote RefWorks BibTex toolbar search Search Dropdown Menu toolbar search search input Search input auto suggest filter your search All Scholarly Publishing CollectivePenn State University PressThe Journal of Modern Periodical Studies Search Advanced Search The text of this article is only available as a PDF. Copyright © 2011 by The Pennsylvania State University. All rights reserved.2011The Pennsylvania State University Article PDF first page preview Close Modal You do not currently have access to this content.