American Perspective; The Quiet American and the Ugly American
Description:
The American of this program is the "innocent" American, "without knowledge or experience, let loose in the world with his millions of foreign aid dollars with which he does more harm than good." He is the hero of Graham Greene's The Quiet American, and Burdick and Lederer's The Ugly American. "Innocence," writes Greene "is like a dumb leper who has lost his bell, wandering the world meaning no harm." TO which The Ugly American adds the two other cardinal sins: indifference and inexperience. The implications of all of this are serious, declares Dr. Wilson. If we believe in our way of life and want to protect it, we must grow up out of our dangerous innocence, and do it quickly. (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)
