Professional Development Review Evaluation (20%) James Cain,

Professional Development

Review Evaluation (20%)

James Cain, Mildred Pierce

On the grounds of literary merit, Mildred Pierce is a 'potboiler.' However, its tale of how a hardscrabble woman made a fortune through a chain of restaurants illustrates the American Dream, in terms of both of its good and bad sides. Pierce is a strong woman, but author Cain cannot allow her to be viewed as a heroine, because of her failure as a mother. Reflecting a common cultural stereotype, women are shown to be unable to be successful both in the business world and as 'real' women.

Walter Mosley, Always Outnumbered, Always Outgunned

Walter Mosley's work is a kind of film noir in prose. It features an African-American detective, Easy Rawlins. This book is important because it looks back at the formative classic era of Hollywood in Los Angeles through the eyes of a contemporary, American author and examines how the conventions and restrictions of that era impacted African-Americans. The effects of the war upon African-Americans have also not been addressed in film and fiction in such detail, except for Rawlins.

Q3. Yxta Maya Murray, Locas

A-. This novel shows another side to the Hollywood Dream. It is about Latino gangs and their impact upon the lives of young people. The dark underside of L.A. life is often forgotten. This book is particularly valuable because it shows L.A. life and poverty from a female perspective.

Q4. Budd Schulberg, What Makes Sammy Run?

A-. This book has crackling prose that suggests a funny Hollywood screwball satire. It is a cynical tale of how lies and deceit can cause someone to rise to the top of Hollywood. It has become a kind of prototype for amoral film narratives like The Sweet Smell of Success. Once again, it shows the dark side of the American Dream.

Q5. Anna Deavere Smith, Twilight: Los Angeles, 1992

A+. Smith is a performance artist who used a multiplicity of character perspectives, all portrayed by Smith, in her dramatization of the Los Angeles riots after the beating of Rodney King and the subsequent acquittal of his attackers. Rather than take sides, Smith shows a racially polarized city by taking on the personas of whites, blacks, and Asians. By showing the wide range of competing points-of-view, she generates compassion in the hearts of her listeners, who likely have very polarized points-of-view.

Q6. Nathanael West, The Day of the Locust

A+. This is a great work of literature. Its spare prose recalls Hemingway's style. And the book's cold, matter-of-fact, ironic style 'shows' but does not 'tell' the author's message: that the idea of success in Hollywood leads to people behaving in callous and immoral ways. West's book reads like a smart film, in terms of its use of dialogue. It shows the ruthlessness of people in pursuit of fame.

Q7. Karen Yamashita, Tropic of Orange