20. Philip Roth, The Human Stain (cont.)

The podcast features a lecture on censorship in the United States since 1945, connecting it to Philip Roth's work, particularly "The Human Stain." The lecture begins with a discussion of observations made by students in local bookstores, focusing on what books are available and how they are displayed. It then transitions into a historical overview of legal constraints on literature, including the Comstock laws and the Roth v. United States case, and explores market constraints, such as the consolidation of publishing houses and the influence of chain bookstores. The lecture also touches on the impact of the internet, digitization projects like the Google Book Project, and the challenges of internationalization in literature. Finally, it delves into the reception of literature, the culture wars, and the lecturer's personal reflections on Philip Roth's work and its complexities.