I'm teaching another Film and Lit in Politics class this spring. It is a 2000 level course. The list:
Size and scope of government
The Lord of Flies, Golding
Immigration
Funny in Farsi, Dumas
Foreign Relations/War
The Quiet American, Greene
In the Time of the Butterflies, Alvarez
Maus, Spiegelman (I am expecting and prepared for some skepticism about a graphic novel.)
Economy
A Modest Proposal, Swift
There Are No Children Here, Kotlowitz
Race/Gender
The Help, Stockett
To Kill a Mockingbird, Lee
The Media
All the President's Men, Woodward and Bernstein (I know some people will watch the movie instead of reading the book, but the movie is good and has Robert Redford.)
What do you think? There's a lot, but A Modest Proposal is short and Maus is quick. I think all of them are fairly easy to read. (They aren't Faulkner!) Since I finally got the books nailed down, I'm getting excited about teaching the class.
Great books!
ReplyDeleteIf the graphic novel thing works out for you, you may want to look into this one for immigration:
http://www.amazon.com/Arrival-Shaun-Tan/dp/0439895294
I heard M.T. Anderson talking about it this summer at a conference and it sounds fascinating. Heather read it (or whatever...it doesn't have any words) and said it was just amazing. It seems like it really captures the immigrant experience in a unique and touching way.
I want to take your class! Does The Help have a movie out yet? If so, I really want to see it 'cause the book was wonderful. Great job on All the President's Men. My favorite "Thriller" of all time!
ReplyDeleteGreat choices!
ReplyDeleteI haven't read all of these either, but the ones I have read are great. I want to take your class too.
ReplyDeleteI'm sure I've said this before, but I want to come take your class! It sounds like one I'd love - and all your choices are excellent.
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