AboutGarrett Z Expertise As an instructor of literature and the humanities, my experience is as broad as the experience I have gained in the classroom. As a published author and journalist, I have first hand industry experience. Between the two, I have the experience, knowledge, and research experience that could certainly answer any questions that may be asked of me.
Experience Quite specifically, as an instructor I am an extremely well qualified candidate as an initial resource as well as a person who knows specifically where to gather the correct information at any given time. As a published journalist and novelist, my experience broadens into the fundimental understanding of the craft and its application and business. I was also previously an AllExperts expert several years ago, and was well received by all who I helped.
Organizations Sigma Tau Delta, the International English Honor Society.
Publications All of the following are published or broadcast in Massachusetts unless otherwise noted. The Boston Globe, The Fitchburg Sentinel and Enterprise, The Worcester Telegram and Gazette, The Miller Hall Folio, WGBH PBS Channel 2 Boston, WBUR 91.3 FM NPR Boston, The Wentworth Transcript (A&E Editor), and WXPL 91.3 FM.
Education/Credentials A.S. Wentworth Institute Of Technology
B.S. Fitchburg State College
M.A. Fitchburg State College, Thesis "The Modern Twain Epoch"
I have recently read Capote, One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest and Love
Medicine. Are you familiar with any of those books? I need to write an essay
about either MORALITY OF INSTITUTIONS (church, state, government, etc) or
FAMILY AND DYSFUNCTION. For the former, I think using prison (Capote)
and the insane asylum (cuckoo's nest) but I am not sure what institution to
use for Love Medicine. For the ladder, it seems that there is some familial
issues with each book.
What is your input? Which topic do think might be supported more easily and
can you give me some examples, please? Mostly some input on Love
Medicine would be greatly appreciated. Thank you!
Answer Hello Jenn
Love medicine is about families that are forced to have institutional lives on an Indian Reservation in North Dakota over a period of generations. I think that the major thing that you have to think about in approaching that book is that the families, their traditions, values, and folklores, and everything about their identity has changed drastically by the end of the novel to reflect a new sort of assimilated existence in western euro-centric sort of manner. Where home and family is an important theme in the book, by the end of it, home is nowhere to be found, which is ironic considering the reservation was meant to be a homestead for the families. So, in a sense, that book sort of matches both of your essay topics - both family life and institutional life.
I think that you could easily attack both of the topics quite easily, even in one paper - or at least use the idea of the institution as a means to strip identity from those it is meant to protect. I would use that one mostly because I think it is a rather simple concept. In Cuckoo, it is McMurphy who is institutionalized through his own choice to escape the alternative of the oppressive prison system, but ultimately he is institutionalized more than he would have been otherwise. In Love Medicine, the families are institutionalized in the reservations, and June is set up to hold together the entirety of the resulting narrative from her death.
I hope this steers you in the right direction without giving you too much that you can't make your own deductions. If you would like any further help, let me know.
