“What Does Watergate Mean to You?”
Last month, we issued an open call for essays from students and teachers around the world. We invited writers to investigate the question, “What does Watergate mean to you?” Between the lines of our prompt, we encouraged writers to think about the broader context of the 1960s and 1970s—the era which we all share a love for. At the time, artists and writers created works that directly reflected the cultural consciousness. And more importantly, audiences and readers craved that kind of art. When readers opened a newspaper, they didn’t seek to be subdued. Theatergoers didn’t settle into their seats to be distracted.
Jonathan Kirshner, Professor of Political Science at Cornell University, described the era in his novel as “one that came and went, like a window opening and closing.” That window has been closed for some time, but we are familiar with the echoes of a lost sentimentality. The future of truth-seeking journalism is in peril. As is the future of films and novels that seek to make America look inward, not look away.
In asking “What does Watergate mean to you?” we hoped to inspire a young generation of writers to open that window back up and listen carefully. We have combed through submissions on feminism, the First Amendment, blockbusters, and the eerie comfort of parking garages. It has been nothing short of a pleasure and a relief to edit this collection of thought-provoking work, and we are beyond proud to share it with you. ✦