Bad Impressions:

Voice, Passing, & Identity

(in progress)

This third book project takes spoken word as its object to theorize the simultaneously disruptive and productive potential of literal speech. Addressing contemporary examples of cultural production, including podcasts, Netflix documentaries, films, and social media posts, Bad Impressions will examine the relation that the spoken word has to identity formation, especially regarding race and gender. To that end, I am researching examples of speech and storytelling that use voice to interrupt the progress of narrative itself, while at the same time paradoxically driving it forward. I have published an article, “Passing Both Ways,” on the impressionist and playwright Sarah Jones, which I intend to read alongside a more in-depth look at the work of playwright and performer Anna Deveare Smith in chapter one of my book. I have also begun research for an article, tentatively titled “The Voices of Lenny Bruce,” which I hope will eventually springboard a chapter of Bad Impressions. This article examines Jewish-American comedian Lenny Bruce’s stand-up LP American (1961) to rethink the function of cross-identity impersonation in Bruce’s work. I explore what it might mean to read these impressions as purposefully inaccurate; that is, as deliberately showcasing a spectacular failure of identification. I am targeting Identities for publication. Other chapters will tackle vocal coaching for transgender youth, “gay voice” and sibilance, and TikTok lip syncs; I am actively gathering secondary and primary materials for these chapters.