Journalism 397L - ST-Docmntry Trad in Lit & Film

This course offers an in depth exploration of the artistic and journalistic impulse to capture in words and images what the Irish call the 'music of what happens.' Sample pairings include 'Harvest of Shame' shown in conjunction with the John Steinbeck novel, Grapes of Wrath, 'Capturing the Friedmans' with the Susan Orlean essay, Seriously Silly, 'Dead Man Walking' with Norman Mailer's great work of literary nonfiction The Executioner's Song. We will examine the strengths and weaknesses of varying approaches to what amounts to the same material, with a special emphasis on how the author/director honors truth and fact simultaneously.

Open to Journalism majors only. This class will meet in a 25-seat theater at 12:20 on Mondays. Following the film, the class will move to ILC S418, a seminar room for discussion.