The Past is Never Dead is a trilogy of books by Mark Peterson examining the American political landscape over the past ten years as the country’s experiment with democracy has evolved into a cold civil war. The first book “Political Theatre” documents the lead-up to the 2016 presidential election and traces the rise of Donald Trump as a leader of the new right. The second volume “White Noise” began as a means to understand the divisive mood of the country following the election and captures the white nationalism and autocracy which evolved during Trump’s time in office. Peterson explores the rhetoric of the White House on immigration and Muslim bans, and how this echoes and intersects with nationalism, Western chauvinism, neo-Nazis, and all those calling for an ethnostate in America. Finally, in “The Fourth Wall,” we see the voters leave their chairs in the audience and take to the stage, becoming their own political figures—subjects include “Stop the Steal” protesters and the 6 January 2021 attack on the United States Capitol. The Past is Never Dead tackles America’s schisms head-on, portraying a country on edge. With his trademark flash and high-contrast approach, Peterson’s dramatic images are X-rays of America’s complex political culture: “Democracy is a messy form of government,” he declares, “and I try and capture it in all its chaos.”

Chapter 1 Political Theatre
Text by John Heilemann
112 pages
107 black-and-white photographs

Chapter 2 White Noise
Text by Claudia Rankine
128 pages
67 black-and-white and 29 color photographs

Chapter 3 The Fourth Wall
Text by Claudia Rankine
136 pages
120 black-and-white photographs