Between 1938 and 1942 the Federal Writersrsquo; Project set out to create a first-person portrait of America by sending young writersmdash;many of whom later became famousmdash;around the country to interview people from all occupations and backgrounds. This book presents 80 of these diverse life histories; including the stories of a North Carolina patent-medicine pitchman; a retired Oregon prospector; a Bahamian midwife from Florida; a Key West smuggler; recent immigrants to New York; and Chicago jazz musicians. Historian Eric Foner called First-Person America ldquo;the finest example yet of an increasingly important genre of oral history.rdquo;
#228470 in eBooks 2015-09-15 2015-09-15File Name: B017KUOP8K
Review
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful. A great readBy JONG-RAE CHOThis book examines how the plot genotype analysis of fairy tales can be used to analyze screen plays─even those ones that do not follow the plot genotype of fairy tales! Some of its content overlaps with the authorrsquo;s other book The Fairytale and Plot Structure. and I found the two books complement one another well. Some of the lingering questions I had after reading the first book were resolved after reading the second book.The part that instantly caught my eyes is the authorrsquo;s argument that ldquo;if there is a choice. there must be at least two plot genotypes.rdquo; This concise claim seems to explain why Vladimir Propp and Syd Fieldrsquo;s belief in plot uniformity is mistaken.From among the four extended analyses of Hollywood screenplays. what I found most interesting was that unlike our general conviction the movie Pretty Woman does not use the Cinderella plot genotype. but uses instead The Frog Prince plot genotype (and the book conveys this point in a convincing way!).Irsquo;m not an expert in stylistics or screenplay analysis. but the way I understand Hollywood movies changed after reading this book.0 of 0 people found the following review helpful. Five StarsBy CustomerTerence Patrick Murphy has taken the examination of plot genotypes to a whole new level.2 of 2 people found the following review helpful. Murphy has provided a much better organized and more detailed structure for screenwritingBy Keith MillingReview Published on Behalf of: NANNA ZHENGSyd Fieldrsquo;s well-known Three-Act theory or paradigm of the Hollywood screenplay still leftmuch work to do in terms of guidance for writing an attractive film script. With only thebones in place. it is sometimes difficult to recognize true beauty. If we can say that Syd Fieldset up the bone structure. we can say Terence Patrick Murphy has added the flesh to this plotsystem. In this respect. Murphy has provided a much better organized and more detailedstructure for screenwriting.Before. the leading critics suggested that there was little that connected the writing offairytales and the writing of screenplays. But this book demonstrates conclusively that arange of Hollywood films scripts do follow the plot genotypes of well-known fairytales.However. Murphy also corrects some misapprehensions. For example. contrary to thestandard view that Pretty Woman (1990) is derived from Cinderella. Murphy shows that infact the Garry Marshall film draws on the Frog Prince plot genotype instead. The reason whymany critics have failed to recognize this is because the gender roles have been reversed: inPretty Woman. it is Vivian who plays the role of the Frog Princess.This book is strongly recommended to all those who are interested in the art and craft of plotconstruction and the Hollywood screenplay.
