Lauren Berlant
The author and theorist of the work, Lauren Berlant is currently a professor at the University of Chicago who specializes in affect, emotions, and belonging.
John Ashbery
Berlant applies her notion of cruel optimism to read an untitled poem by John Ashbery.
Geoff Ryman
She also uses cruel optimism to explore Ryman's novel Was.
Charles Johnson
Further, she considers how cruel optimism functions within Johnson's "Exchange Value."
