Literature and film as modern mythology

Novels and films record and codify the cultural experiences of their people. This book explores the relationship between contemporary literature and film of the past fifty years and the ancient myths of Judeo-Christian, Greek, Celtic, and Eastern origin. Following a detailed description and explanation of both literary and film devices, stories that inform to a mythic tradition are analyzed to identify what they reveal about modern culture. This work explores such diverse subjects as heroism, coming of age, and morality. This approach to literature and film explores how contemporary fiction and film fulfill a continuum in our never-ending search to understand how life ought to be lived.

Encompassing a broad spectrum of modern film and fiction, a variety of authors and directors are represented. Included are novels from such writers as Stephen King, Alice Walker, Ken Kesey, Jerzy Kosinski, Robert Penn Warren, and Michael Ondaatje. Film directors include Stephen Spielberg, Hal Ashby, Phil Alden Robinson, George Stevens, Robert Rossen, and Milos Forman. As a valuable resource for film and literature classes alike, this work also provides suggestions for student projects.

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Ferrell (Glendale Community College, Arizona) discusses the mythic core of certain novels--and films based on them--produced since the mid-20th century. In an excellent, highly informative introductory chapter, the author defines and discusses myth, illustrating with examples from the ancient narratives, and explains how to read novels and films. After this preparation, Ferrell clarifies the transcendent nature of these mythical works in his discussion of archetypes ("Rita Hayworth and The Shawshank Redemption"), legends (One Flew over the Cuckoos' Nest), cultural identity (Shane), rites of passage (The Color Purple), the search for identity (The English Patient), search for meaning (The Last Picture Show), and morality and magic (All the King's Men, Shoeless Joe/Field of Dreams, The Sun Also Rises, Being There). Ferrell reveals the common needs and desires of humans, but he also helps readers understand the culture at a particular time. Ferrell's book offers good critical insights into the functions of myth and the aesthetics of film and literature and a thoughtful unveiling of myth in film and literature. Excellent bibliography. Should be acquired for all academic collections. N. B. Palmer; Western Maryland College

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Part I The Journey Begins	p. 1
Chapter 1 In the Beginning	p. 3
The Process	p. 19
Chapter 2 Reading the Novel and the Film	p. 31
The Written Narrative: How Literature Communicates	p. 31
How Film Communicates	p. 36
Applying the Archetype to Novels and Film	p. 47
Part II Knights and Heroes	p. 59
Chapter 3 Hope Springs Eternal: "Rita Hayworth and the Shawshank Redemption" by Stephen King	p. 65
Chapter 4 A Search for Laughter: One Flew over the Cuckoo's Nest by Ken Kesey	p. 75
Chapter 5 Romantic Heroes Never Die: Shane by Jack Schaefer	p. 85
Part III Rites of Passage	p. 93
Chapter 6 A Return to Matriarchy: The Color Purple by Alice Walker	p. 97
Chapter 7 Finding Yourself in a Lost World: The English Patient by Michael Ondaatje	p. 107
Chapter 8 The Steep Hills of Thalia, Texas: The Last Picture Show by Larry McMurtry	p. 121
Part IV Morality and Magic	p. 133
Chapter 9 A "Good" Politician Is Hard to Find: All the King's Men by Robert Penn Warren	p. 139
Chapter 10 Heaven Comes to Iowa: Shoeless Joe/Field of Dreams by W. P. Kinsella	p. 155
Chapter 11 Finding Morality in a Bullring: The Sun Also Rises by Ernest Hemingway	p. 167
Chapter 12 Politics and the Public: Being There by Jerzy Kosinski	p. 181
Part V Closure	p. 187
Appendix A Midterm Perspective	p. 193
Appendix B Research Project	p. 197
Appendix C Reading and Film List	p. 199
Works Cited	p. 205
Index	p. 209

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