Book review: Culture shock

There is no arguing that Katrina changed the face of New Orleans. The disaster scattered former residents from here to New Mexico. In many ways, we’re still reeling from the Katrina-forced Diaspora, making matters of home and culture even more important.

It’s this scattering of residents and the need to know “where you stand” that concerns John Lowe and the contributors to his new book, Louisiana Culture from the Colonial Era to Katrina.

The book is a grouping of essays written by various Louisiana authors and scholars who cover a potpourri of cultural topics, among them the origins of Louisiana’s distinct mix of cultures and our often-contentious relationship with race. It’s a vivid, though unrepresentative, cross-section of our state’s quirky history.

In his introduction, Lowe writes, “Americans need to be reminded of how precious our centuries-old New Orleans and Gulf Coast cultures are.” Unfortunately, this may not be the book to do it. Although the book covers a wide range of topics, many of the essays may prove too academic for the casual reader. The language is often the kind you’d find in a textbook, and the subjects chosen can be too esoteric to really grab one’s interest. Deciphering the scholarly references can sometimes be headache-inducing.

There are some true gems to be found among the collection, though. Brenda Marie Osbey is a particular delight. Her contributions—“I Want to Die in New Orleans” and “One More Last Chance”—both discuss the bonhomie with death that is so characteristically New Orleans. These are lighter than the rest of the book’s footnote-heavy fare.

Another excellent essay comes from Marcia Gaudet. Her contribution, “The Kingfish as Trickster Hero,” is a fascinating comparison of Huey Long’s questionable political reputation with his legacy as a folk legend.