Wednesday, September 21, 2011

Freedom interpreted

Center offers literature class around Jonathan Franzen’s novel

---

By JENNIFER LIEBRUM
Express Staff Writer

Ryan Waterfield is on the board of the Sun Valley Center for the Arts and editor of Sun Valley Property News. Courtesy photo.

Literates across the globe are dissecting Jonathan Franzen's latest novel, "Freedom," calling it a masterpiece of American fiction.

"Once again Franzen has fashioned a capacious but intricately ordered narrative that in its majestic sweep seems to gather up every fresh datum of our shared millennial life," stated New York Times writer Sam Tanenhaus in the Sunday Book Review.

Such a heady slice of literature surely will find its way into university curriculum merely because its topic, that of the juxtaposition of freedom to power, is the stuff that makes scholars lather.

As this community has come to expect from the Sun Valley Center for the Arts, a class has been crafted to keep challenging Wood River Valley residents to defy a diet of recreation only and to incite a healthy helping of the intellectual.

"The Novel: A Discussion of Jonathan Franzen's 'Freedom' with Ryan Waterfield," will be presented as a one-night class, Monday, Sept. 26, in advance of Franzen's speaking engagement in Ketchum in October. This is the first endeavor of its kind hosted by The Center.

Participants are asked to read the book before the class and to complete a homework assignment, which is to fill a journal with quotes, song lyrics, newspaper articles, visual images and anything else that captures the many meanings of freedom.

Franzen's novel explores the idea of freedom as power in its most common and relatable situation, the dynamic of family and the microcosm it is for the world.

"This is basically a college literature class focused on one book and condensed into one evening," said Britt Udesen, The Center's director of education and humanities. "It's not a lecture; it's designed to incorporate participation. Think of this as the best book club meeting ever, where everyone's super-prepared and an expert guides the discussion."

Waterfield is a former Community School English teacher who serves on The Center's board and most recently took the helm as editor of Sun Valley Property News.

"Freedom is a moving target when you try to define it," she said. "In choosing to title his most recent novel with the weight of such a word, Franzen sets his sights quite high and the expectations of the readers follow."

To register and for full details on how to prepare for the class and to keep a reader's journal, visit www.sunvalleycenter.org.

Unlike during a college lecture, wine will be served.

Jennifer Liebrum: jliebrum@mtexpress.com

viagra italia
viagra brasil
viagra deutschland