12:20-1:10P  MWF  BH321

This course will explore American literary culture through the lens of
novels and other types of writing which have sold extraordinary well.
We will also explore how, and to what effect, these narratives have
been transferred into other media such as movies.  By looking at best
selling literary works dating as early as Charlotte Temple (1791) and
moving through Mario Puzo's The Godfather (1969), we will seek
insights into the American cultures which produced and received these
texts by attempting to understand not only why these narratives were
so popular, but also what relationship they have had to American
politics, religion, fine arts, fashion, and societal relations.  The
course will involve considerable reading, four movie screenings, three
papers of various lengths, and frequent pop reading quizzes and
writing assignments.