The Promise of Karaoke - Ploughshares

Karaoke asks how close you can get to something you love without making it yours, promises that there is space for both you and the original singer. Does it have to be you who sings that song? Does it have to be you who teaches others to love what you love?

Karaoke offers Dorothy the promise of community, the promise of being in the presence of something she loves, and the tenure track offers her the same thing: a promise that can never be fulfilled. Karaoke asks us whether you can appreciate something without trying to make it your own, whether it’s sustainable to watch other people do something you ... See more