American Perspective; The Puritan Abroad : Image of Europe

Item Information

Title:
American Perspective; The Puritan Abroad : Image of Europe
Description:
Episode 1: The first literary analysis of the difference between America and Europe appeared in a play written in the last years of the Eighteenth Century by a young Bostonian, Royall Tyler, called "The Contrast." From that day on, says Dr. Wilson, American authors have been preoccupied by Europe and Europeans. He outlines in the course of this program such themes as American innocence versus European corruption - or vice versa; the conflict between American puritanism and European culture; the notion of the new, fresh, strong America; the quiet and the ugly Americans; the de-Americanized Americans. He draws on authors ranging from Mark Twain and Sinclair Lewis to Graham Greene, John Milton, and guidebook-writer Temple Fielding. The result is a lively and unconventional introduction to his subject. (Description adapted from documents in the NET Microfiche) Episode 2: To discuss the American Puritan in Europe Dr. Wilson concentrates on one of Nathaniel Hawthorne's most puzzling books, The Marble Faun. An allegory of three Americans in Rome, the book analyzes such complicated topics as the fall of man, the virtue or virtue, the relationship between sin and moral growth. Dr. Wilson spends the first part of the program in an outline of the action' then he explores the implications of the story itself and its effect on other Americans who read it and then went to Italy themselves. (Description adapted from documents in the NET Microfiche) In nineteen half-hour episodes, Graham C. Wilson presents a lively and at times controversial discussion of some the problems with which American literature has tried to deal. Among these, the two most important are our relations with foreign countries - chiefly European - and our definition of the American hero. If we understand these problems and their presentation in our literature, we will have made great progress in understanding ourselves, Dr. Wilson believes. His informal and witty lectures provide the audience with an unusual introduction to the subject. Graham C. Wilson is a professor of Renaissance literature at the San Jose State College in California. Prior to this series, Dr. Wilson prepared a television series designed to help English teachers present the plays of Shakespeare to their students. (Description adapted from documents in the NET Microfiche)
Production company:
KQED-TV (Television station : San Francisco, Calif.)
Host:
Wilson, Graham C.
Date:
December 11, 1960
Format:
Film/Video
Location:
Library of Congress
Collection (local):
American Archive of Public Broadcasting Collection
Series:
Library of Congress > American Perspective
Subjects:
Education
Literature
Extent:
00:59:29.934
Link to Item:
https://americanarchive.org/catalog/cpb-aacip-512-tt4fn11w0k
Terms of Use:
Rights status not evaluated.
Contact host institution for more information.
Notes:
Episode Number: 1 & 2