Considering Aaron Sorkin: Essays on the Politics, Poetics and Sleight of Hand in the Films and Television Series (Paperback)

~ Thomas Fahy (Editor)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description

Aaron Sorkin is one of the most notable voices in Hollywood, attracting millions of weekly viewers with his television series The West Wing and scoring box office success with films like A Few Good Men and The American President. With a musician's sense of rhythm and writing skills honed in the theater, Sorkin crafts dialogue that brings characters to life. His crisp, tight language is both exciting to listen to and poetic in its beauty and power--but what lies behind the slick, sophisticated exchanges between Sorkin's characters? Does Sorkin's ability to captivate viewers with rapid-fire, humorous dialogue lull them into overlooking an inherent political agenda, a sense of elitism, and gender bias prominent throughout his work? Aaron Sorkin's skill as a writer garners him accolades, even from his critics: complex, nuanced, sometimes subtle but often forceful, Sorkin's work is best understood when viewed from a variety of perspectives.

This collection of essays on the work of Aaron Sorkin affords greater insight into the complexities of his writing, drawing connections between the film and television output of today's most prominent and influential screenwriter. Scholars from various fields--film, literature, art history, political science, and more--examine the thematic content and rhetorical strategy of Sorkin's writing. Eleven essayists explore the subtle, pervasive and often contradictory messages woven throughout Sorkin's work, from politics to portrayals of women, and consider his impact on film, television and culture. An interview with Aaron Sorkin precedes the essays, each of which has notes and a bibliography. An appendix covering film and television credits is included.

About the Author

Thomas Fahy, also the author of several books and editor of Considering David Chase: Essays on The Rockford Files, Northern Exposure and The Sopranos (2007) and Considering Alan Ball: Essays on Sexuality, Death and America in the Television and Film Writings (2006) is an assistant professor of English and director of American Studies at Long Island University.

Product Details

• Paperback: 229 pages
• Publisher: McFarland & Company, Inc., Publishers (January 11, 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0786421207
• ISBN-13: 978-0786421206
• Product Dimensions: 8.8 x 5.9 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 11.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #572,048 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

29 of 30 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A great collection on a great writer!, March 24, 2005

By	Dan (San Francisco, CA) - See all my reviews

This is a really engaging and smart book. I'm a huge fan of The West Wing and Sports Night, and A Few Good Men is one of my favorite films. So I was especially interested in reading a book that discusses all of Sorkin's works -- not just The West Wing but Sports Night and movies like The American President and Malice.

The book begins with a lengthy interview with Sorkin, and it is followed by eleven essays that examine the strengths and even some of the weaknesses in Sorkin's writing. This is a great read for any fan of Sorkin's work, and I highly recommend it.

16 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Want to know what makes Aaron Sorkin's work tick?, July 30, 2005

By	mrshvd3 "mrshvd3" (New Jersey, USA) - See all my reviews

This is a collection of essays by people in various fields, and the chapters cover the spectrum of Aaron Sorkin's work. And there is a dialogue between Fahy and Sorkin at the beginning.

I was most interested in the observations on "WW" and "The American President", those being my favorites. I found quite a few viewpoints that either confirmed what I felt I had already discovered about "WW" and "TAP" (and other Sorkin works), or gave me more to think about that I hadn't already considered.

Sort of like, "Oh, yeah! I noticed that, too!" or "Hmmm...I hadn't thought of that."

It's a good analysis without being heavy-handed, entertaining without being frivolous.

10 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Thumbs Up, September 9, 2005

By	M. F. Maruscak - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

I really enjoyed this book. I liked reading different perspectives on Sorkin's writing. I liked the fact that the essays about Sorkin, who is such a smart, interesting writier, were also smart and interesting. Sorkin's work deserves this.

The book made me think about his writing in new ways.