Book 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 musicians 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 powerbut what lies behind the slick, sophisticated exchanges between Sorkins characters? Does Sorkins 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 Sorkins skill as a writer garners him accolades, even from his critics: complex, nuanced, sometimes subtle but often forceful, Sorkins 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 todays most prominent and influential screenwriter. Scholars from various fieldsfilm, literature, art history, political science, and moreexamine the thematic content and rhetorical strategy of Sorkins writing. Eleven essayists explore the subtle, pervasive and often contradictory messages woven throughout Sorkins 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.