Richard Linklater's film Boyhood an interesting study in kids growing up

The compelling acting in Richard Linklater's, Boyhood, which follows a family over an arc of 12 years, is what isEllar Coltrane as he ages in Boyhood kept my son and I rivted during the three-hour film. The film is as much about parenting as it is about a boy growing up. All four main actors -- Ethan Hawke, Patricia Arquette, Lorelei Linklater, and Ellar Coltrane -- bring a poignancy and intelligence to their characters. The film follows Patricia Arquette and her two children as she is estranged from her husband (Hawke) although they are both intent on raising the kids. 

The storyline seems to be somewhat autobiographical for Linklater. It ends, coincidentally, just where Dazed and Confused might begin.

The interested buzz on the film is coming from my teenage son, Linklater fans, people aware of indie films, and even family members over 80 who occassionaly see films. What does that say? To me it's that this film is going to be around for awhile, maybe into Oscar season. I would like to see it again before that.

Read the review on RogerEbert.com for a more thorough analysis.

Fall 2012: Adolescent Literature

Welcome back to ISU!  Syllabi for Adolescent Literature, sections 1 and 2, are now availble on my website.  Here's a link.  Looking forward to a great semester learning about great books, films, plays, poems, graphic novels, and multimedia for teens.

ENG 375 Summer School

Next week. my section of ENG 375: Adolescent Literature starts.  If you want to get ahead on the reading, you can review how I've taught this course before.  The summer version will be somewhat different, but this should give you a sense of how you can prepare ahead of time.

First, check out the Course Description for ENG 375 to be taught at ISU Summer 2011 in an intensive four week session from 5/16/11- 6/9/11 during Monday-Thursday 1-3:50 p.m.

Then do the following:

• Check out a syllabus for a previous version of how I've taught this course.  Here's the link to one of my previous  ENG 375 syllabi in .pdf
• Start reading J.D. Salinger's Catcher in the Rye

See you on Monday!



Twilight popularity

The popularity of Twilight continues to be debated.  The multitude of ideas sometimes seems to confuse why it is popular.  Yesterday in the Chicago Tribune Jonathan Zimmerman had an op-ed piece that Twilight's popularity is very much connected to the hook-up style of dating and the minority of men on college campuses.  Zimmerman says that young women on college campuses are giving up control of dating to young men. The thing about Bella is that she wants control of the relationship.  Edward is far more old-fashioned than the kind of men Zimmerman is writing about.

What do you think are the reasons that Twilight is so popular?