What picture does Steinbeck draw for us in The Grapes of Wrath of the world in terms of God’s place in it, nature, human nature, and the artifices in place before the Great Depression and the artifices that needed to be changed in response to the Great Depression?
Significant to note that during the roaring twenties the free market and business enterprise were deified via the re-emergence of Adam Smith's theories and the rise of social Darwinism. This free-market, laissez-faire ideology was severly problematized by the events of the Depression-era. – Jonathan Judd8 years ago
From constructing his own languages to developing the universum of Middle Earth, J. R. R. Tolkien has left its mark on the literary world, as well as the field of linguistics. It might be interesting to look at how much his work has influenced the fantasy genre. How does Lord of the Rings or The Hobbit compare to newer conceptions like e.g. Game of Thrones? What elements of Tolkien’s work carried on to other fantasy narratives?
Another interesting aspect to this topic could be to compare the mythologies underlying Tolkien's work and other more contemporary mythology-based fantasy fiction novels - particularly those that articulate the hero's journey. – Toula8 years ago
Analyze how children's literature has changed over the years to be more inclusive and to have strong female protagonists. One example of this theme is The Paper Bag Princess by Robert Munch.
This is an interesting topic. I cannot say I am familiar with many strong female protagonists in children's literature other than The Paper Bag Princess. That goes to show there should be more – Riccio9 years ago
You could start with Jo in Little Women and Anne in Anne of Green Gables plus Pippi Longstocking and Ramona and Beezus. – Munjeera9 years ago
It's stupid to have male heroes only since men are stronger than women, as a group, but not the dragons, etc., that are so often slain in children's literature. This father of two female dragon slayers says, "Great topic." – Tigey9 years ago
Look at Hans Christian Andersen's "The Snow Queen"--in that story, the little girl, Gerda, is the one who embarks on the dangerous journey to save the boy, Kay. Also, some of George McDonald's fairytales feature interesting female protagonists, as does Oscar Wilde's "The Canterville Ghost." – Allie Dawson8 years ago
Don't forget Hansel and Gretel, wherein Gretel is the one who ultimately defeats the witch. Feminism is a lot older than we think. Some other great examples of feminism in children's lit:
1. Amazing Grace (can't remember the author right now): Grace, a young black girl, is determined to get the lead in her class' production of Peter Pan, although her classmates say a black girl can't play the role.
2. Homecoming (Cynthia Voigt): Dicey Tillerman, 13, takes over the role of mother and leads her 4 siblings to a new home after their mentally ill mother disappears.
3. The True Confessions of Charlotte Doyle (Avi): Charlotte, a young girl growing up in the 1830s, becomes a crew member on the Seahawk during a voyage from England to America, and helps put down a ruthless captain.
4. Dear America and American Girl books: many of these have strong female protagonists. Focus on Julie, Kit, and Felicity for particular AG examples. – Stephanie M.8 years ago
Also, try Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry. – Munjeera8 years ago
Discuss the history of books, moving from paperback to online. Consider what kind of options these new online books give people, and explore your own preference as to physical paperback books or books online, on your phone, or on an e-reader. Also reflect on how this industry can expand- can/will it? Will we ever see the end of paperback books, or is that, at the end of the day, what we will always return to?
I was completely against e-readers until I witnessed how quickly I could have a book in the palm of my hands. No matter the time, within seconds, the book was mine to relish--and that is how I personally became hooked on the e-reader. Do I still buy paperbacks, of course! The Strand Bookstore in NYC is my favorite place (especially the $1 vendors located outside the store!!) and I will never cease visiting this treasure trove of books that are impossible t find at the big name book sellers. Another plus about e-readers is the ability to search a word or phrase. In mere seconds, you can see how many times a word was used throughout the novel, or find the quote your professor was referring to that you forgot to mark off in your paperback. Personally, I find it much easier to read from print books, and I do feel I absorb more information. As a previous graduate student, I would also buy the ebook to look up information in a quick fashion when writing papers. Also, with things such as kindle unlimited for $8.99, a month, an e-reader is the way to go. $9 a month, and you can read 30 books in a month, if you choose?! – danielle5779 years ago
To danielle577, I love your passion! I truly wish I could say I feel the same way, though. I really do. E-books are so easy, and the question of e-reader vs. print has been present in my mind for years now. There's something to the palpability of paper that I can't be without. Maybe mine is the emotional argument, where yours makes the most sense and has the most benefits! And for the record, thanks for your love of the Strand. I'm a fellow New Yorker and the Strand is truly wonderful. It's a shame that type of book culture isn't too common anymore. – elroddavid8 years ago
I feel that the best way to resolve the preference for paper or digital is to combine both into one product. For instance, keep the pages but incorporate the digital technology into the book front and rear cover, which are usually thicker than the pages anyway. This would give readers the best of both worlds, for the time being until another way of delivering content is reinvented. – L:Freire7 years ago
The plot of Carroll's Alice in Wonderland is both confusing and simple: a child, in what is said to be a dream, encounters and creates havoc in an alternate world. However, the meaning of the story has changed drastically over time. While some works (ex. Tim Burton's Through the Looking Glass or The Matrix) use the original story as a metaphor for fighting social and governmental oppression, many others, from the recurrent use of the name Alice for mentally unstable/institutionalized characters (ex. Twilight) to the discussion of drug/alcohol issues (Even in music, ex. Shinedown's Her Name is Alice) see in the tale a darker message. In both cases, these interpretations at first glance seem far removed from the story of a sleeping child. How have the connotations of the story changed over time, and are these changes reflective of the work's audience, the cynicism of the era the audience lives in, both, neither, etc.? Alternatively, since we know that fighting social norms was once considered a sign of insanity, are the various connotations actually conflicting, or are they in any way interconnected? In short, it would be interesting to take a closer look at the various legacies of Alice in Wonderland, dark and positive, and determine which have persisted over time and why. What do they say about the work, and what do they say about us?
I wonder if the book and movie Still Alice would fit here? It's probably a coincidence that the protagonist's name is Alice, but from what I understand, Alzheimer's can make you feel like you're falling down a rabbit hole. Whoever writes the topic might also want to look into Finding Alice, author Melody Carlson. It's a Christian-based novel but not overtly so. The protagonist, raised in a fundamentalist home, develops schizophrenia in college. She uses allusions to Alice in Wonderland, as well as appropriate descriptions, metaphors, and so on while going through the journey of mental illness. – Stephanie M.8 years ago
I actually had "finding Alice" in mind while writing this topic but couldn't remember the title and author, so indeed it would definitely be something to think about. Also, another work that the writer could look into is Resident Evil, though I'm not very familiar with it, since many of the elements (character called Alice, security system called Red Queen) reference the work [Note: This is about the movie, I'm not sure how different it is from the games]. I don't know if this falls into the first category of fighting oppression (I thing the games are about fighting a corporation), the second, or if it opens up new avenues of interpretation/legacies, but it could add to the writer's analysis to look into it. – Rina Arsen8 years ago
The video games "American McGee's Alice" and "Alice: Madness Returns" are excellent samples to study when exploring the mentally unstable Alice route. – KennethC8 years ago
There's also a short TV series called Alice very ''dark'' that maybe can help you or TV series ''Once Upon A Time in Wonderland''. The connotations have change with the contexts and the different theories that come up everyday thanks to the historical criticism. Regarding to fighting social norms as a sign of insanity, I'm not very sure if I have understood your question, but personally believe that either before nor now is interconnected to insanity as social norms are created to destroy our freedom as we can read in Foucault and his bio-politics or Betham's panopticon. Could you reformulate you question? – barbarapetidier8 years ago
@barbarapetidier I would, but I'm not sure which part you are confused about. When I speak of fighting social norms as being a sign of insanity, I'm talking about the 18th, 19th and 20th century (depending on the country we are talking about) when people who defied social norms were often ostracized, arrested or locked up in psychiatric hospitals (take for instance prostitutes, homosexual people, radicals, sexually active women, etc.). Standing outside social boundaries or pushing against them used to be treated as a medical/mental condition. I'm pretty sure Foucault does talk about it, so I think you might understand what I'm referring to? He's the one who points out that even today, social deviance is medicalized. In any case, just let me know how you feel I should change my question and I will – Rina Arsen8 years ago
Most teenagers like books written by certain popular YA authors: Suzanne Collins, Stephanie Meyers, John Green, etc. How do these teenagers transition from reading YA literature to reading books that aren't centered around the lives of teenagers?
I like the topic.I think maybe you should try connecting the difference between modern books that centre around teenagers and more classics that centre around "coming of age" and teenagers such as in Jane Eye. Also what is considered a grown up book? Maybe clarify this. – birdienumnum178 years ago
Right, as birdienumnum17 said, coming-of-age or bildungsroman books are maybe the best option to connect YA and books not centered around the lives of teenagers. Having in mind that an adult is just a grown up child can be helpful as with that point of view many not YA books are centered in the psychological evolution of the character which in the end is the same topic of teenage centered books. – barbarapetidier8 years ago
Great topic! I would've liked guidance on this as a young adult. – Stephanie M.8 years ago
Honestly, I find the whole idea of 'grown-up' books to be completely ridiculous. There was a whole fuss over it at the recent Edinburgh Book Festival, with one writer telling people to feel ashamed making YA Lit popular, whilst the other writers quickly shut him down. Folks read whatever they want, and enjoy it how they want. Sure, encourage people o be widely read, but don't admonish them if they prefer not to bother with some snootier texts. – TomWadsworth8 years ago
Personally I think the whole genre of YA fiction is somewhat problematic. Just because a book focuses on the lives of teenagers doesn't mean it deals with "young-adult" content, or vice versa. As for how to transition into increasingly complex works, that's going to be different for everybody. For myself, I found certain authors, such as Chuck Palahniuk, offered me an in to more "adult" fiction. – Ben Woollard8 years ago
I think there is a massive assumption behind the words "Most teenagers like...". Many people I know personally never "transitioned" from reading YA exclusively to "adult" books - they read a mixture of both since they were younger teens anyhow. I read "Sense and Sensibility" when I was 13 and when I was 15 I read "The Fault in Our Stars". It wasn't as if you were forbidden to read "adult" books. In reality, there is no straight line you can draw through a person's "evolution of reading". Getting down to nitty-gritty details: what is classified as YA? How do you separate YA from "adult"? Would "The Bell Jar" be YA or "adult"? The protagonist is quite young, and it deals with ideas that teens today might still relate to - mental illness, thoughts of suicide, aging, etc. Still, it's an interesting debate. I would be interested to read what people come up with if they tackle this topic. – ThomasB8 years ago
There are several famous literary orphans, from Jane Eyre to Oliver Twist to Anne Shirley. Traditional orphanages have been replaced by more modern solutions but orphans as main characters are still quite prominent, from Harry Potter to Theo in the Goldfinch to Wade Watts, the protagonist of recent science fiction novel Ready Player One. Explore the use of this trope in modern day settings.
Leighann Morris's article "Why Are So Many Disney Parents Missing or Dead?" will be a really crucial resource for this topic: http://www.hopesandfears.com/hopes/culture/film/216573-disney-single-parents-dead-mothers – Piper CJ9 years ago
This is a recurring theme in many stories. I think Joseph Campbell's The Hero of a Thousand Faces can be a good resource for this paper, even though it is quite an old text.
But I think it's a good idea to analyze how it works nowadays, perhaps it was a different meaning than it did back then. – odettedesiena9 years ago
Love this topic! There are so many literary orphans you could talk about. You might even argue the trope is one of the oldest, since so many fable and folktale characters are orphans. Another angle to explore: have modern orphans become stronger and more self-determined? And, does "orphan" currently mean "no parents," or does it mean, "child without adequate parental figures?" (Example: Katherine Patterson's Gilly Hopkins, whose mother is alive but absent). – Stephanie M.8 years ago
I think this is a really good topic. You can add a psychological twist in how being an orphan, something that is a bit psychologically traumatic, can lead into resilience, strength and heroism. Maybe this is why so many great writers still use orphans as their main characters. – birdienumnum178 years ago
I agree that this trope is a strong characterisation, adding to the psychology of a character. But I wonder if this trope is more affective in the character is a child - rather than when they're an adult, as the term "Orphan" means anyone whose parents are deceased. Most references given tend to be of child orphans, which goes to prove if not support that claim. But then, is a character more powerful is they're only an emotional orphan - where their parents are there, but distant, such as in Coraline? Regardless, this aspect of literature helps bring a third dimension to a character, and is always a good writing tool. – Joshua Haines8 years ago
Am I the only one that prefers a physical book over electronic forms? There is something magical about the smell of a physical book. Seeing yours or other people's notes in the margins. Having a tangible representation of a story? What is everyone's opinion about this?
You could consider this topic from the point of illuminated texts such as the ones found in Ireland (Book of Kells)... Or even first edition printed copies of books. As someone who likes to collect physical books, I think there is a lot you could write about here. – Lauren Mead8 years ago
I would find studies or articles detailing if electronic books are starting to outpace physical books to see if the digital age is starting to see the end of the physical book medium. – BMartin438 years ago
The materiality of a book is not only of value for the individual reader, but also research Topic in many insitutions. It might be interesting to look at the changing materiality of a text and how it is presented. – L.J.8 years ago
I finally broke down and got a Kindle for Christmas. I love it, but agree physical books are irreplaceable. There's something beautifully comforting about holding and reading a physical book. – Stephanie M.8 years ago
Yes, its as if I remember it more with a physical copy. – melanie6148 years ago
I agree with others that there is something tangible about holding a physical book in your hands. Maybe it's because you're more active: you have to turn the pages, feel the paper. Books have a smell that bring to mind a lifetime of perusing bookstores and libraries. I own a Kindle and I like it- I've ready many books on it. But it'll never fill me with the nostalgia (maybe that's what this is really about!) and satisfaction of a physical book. – Jesse Munoz8 years ago
I do like a physical book, but with my OCD it's hard for me to enjoy having a physical copy because I am so concerned with making sure it does not get dirty or any of the pages get bent. While I prefer reading a physical book, it's easier for me to manage an ebook. – ac7r8 years ago
Maybe you can see books as a fetish object. Personally, I have an eBook I bought when I moved to the U.S. as I didn't want to buy physical ones to them sell them when moving back (I would feel like betraying them and knowledge), so having hundreds of them on a small and light device I thought it would help me. Bad news, guys: I already have tons of physical books and I have started to create my strategy to take them back home with me (without costing me hundreds of dollars). I found myself using digital books for academic purposes and when traveling (going along with a physical one or ones... sorry, I can't handle it!!) and physical books when I read them for entertainment as I like my reading experience to be total: smell them, touch them... feel them in general.I like to see my reading progress and to see how much is left to read (and crying out loud desperately). So I would see digital books and physical books as a comparison between food and ''nouvelle cuisine'' (books + food = best. date. EVER, hahaha) – barbarapetidier8 years ago
I find it interesting that keeping physical books seems to hold more appeal now than keeping CDs or even DVDs. I can't see the use in buying a physical CD, but if I love a book, I definitely try to buy a copy. I wonder if there is still some new technological advancement in ebooks that will make the shift away from physical books more complete. – bookishwhimsy8 years ago
It seems that for people who only need the content, an ebook would suffice for providing a convenient way of gathering the necessary information. The rest of us really care about the material or the imprint of the cover; the page layout in terms of paper, margins, spacing and grouping of images among other elements of printing. Being able to insert a photo of a friend or relative into the pages, or write notes on a separate sheet and tuck it next to a chapter, removing a section with excellent dialogue or fine artwork to take with you or to pin on a bulletin board at work is definitely a trait that make paper books practical. Making paper books is a entirely creative process on all levels requiring many hands; whereas, ebooks are products designed by highly trained minds. For those that don't agree, museums will always have a place for the relics that paper books might become and the future will undoubtedly uncover more methods for delivery of content, in their own ingenious ways even if for the mere novelty of doing so. It may reach the point where people will succumb to public pressure to use the technology and not be seen as living behind the times. – L:Freire7 years ago
