3 Problematic Books We Study in English Class
With a primarily white literary canon, it’s important we acknowledge the problematic tendencies of these three well-loved classics; and read them in conjunction with authors of color.
Heart of Darkness
Is It Okay to Judge a Book by Its Cover?
I have a confession to make: I judge books by their covers. I know, I know, it’s a cardinal sin—but I can’t help it. When I see a book with big shiny letters and a chiseled man toting a gun, I think spy novel. When I see two lovers clasping each other over a curly cue font, I think bawdy romance. When I see an artsy photo with minimalist typeface, I think indie novel. Image via amazon A good cover hints at what to expect from a book. It is, effectively, a marketing tool. But it’s also much …
Joseph Conrad’s ‘Heart Of Darkness’ Is Getting The Animated Treatment
“I love the smell of napalm in the morning” Joseph Conrad’s classic novella, Heart of Darkness is getting adapted into an animated feature. The book has previously inspired quotable films such as Apocalypse Now and, dare I say, Tropic Thunder? The narration is experimental-ish. An unnamed narrator tells the story of Charles Marlow who ends up telling another story. #framednarrative. Marlow’s story begins with him explaining to his shipmates how he became captain of the Nellie, a steamboat for an ivory trading company. He tells the story of his journey down the Congo into the heart of Africa as well as his weird obsession with the ivory …