Coming of Age in America: Representing Adolescence in Fiction and Film
Module code: AM3038
Module co-ordinator: Dr Sarah Graham
The 'coming of age' narrative is one of the most popular forms of literary and non-literary text in post-war America. Representations of the pleasures and troubles of growing up can be found across a range of fiction, nonfiction and film. In this module, you will compare various representations of adolescence and explore the issues they raise about sexuality, gender, family, religion, rebellion and trauma.
You will need to read the set texts before each seminar in order to be prepared to contribute to the discussion. Screenings will be arranged for the films.
Topics covered
- The Member of the Wedding by Carson McCullers(novel, 1946)
- The Catcher in the Rye by JD Sallinger (novel, 1951)
- Rebel Without a Cause directed by Nicholas Ray (film, 1955)
- Brown Girl, Brownstones by Paula Marshall (novel, 1959)
- The Graduate directed by Mike Nichols (film, 1967)
- The Last Picture Show directed by Peter Bogdanovich (film, 1971)
- Cat's Eye by Margaret Atwood (novel, 1988)
- The Virgin Suicides by Jeffrey Eugenides (novel, 1993)
- Ghost World by Daniel Clowes (graphic novel, 1997)
- Juno directed by Jason Reitman (film, 2007)
- The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian by Sherman Alexie (novel, 2007)
- Will Grayson, Will Grayson by John Green and David Levithan (novel, 2010)
Learning
- 10 two-hour seminars
- 8 one-hour workshops
Assessment
- Passage/scene analysis, 1,500 words (30%)
- Essay, 3,500 words (70%)