This is Us
If you are writing for an on-going series, then the main characters and setting are already set. What's left that doing research could help with? Story ideas and a deeper understanding of the story.
If the show mainly deals with social issues, then you'll want to 1) think of a fairly original one, and 2) use quality sources for the deeper understanding.
If you aren't already given the issue, or interested in getting a broader view of some possibilities beyond ones you already know, here are a few places to peruse.
- CQ Researcher -- 1923-present This link opens in a new windowThe library is paying for access to this magazine. It offers lengthy articles on current events and issues Americans are grappling with. It's like finding a really well-written, very balanced, Wikipedia entry on a topic. Articles go back to 1923, so it's also an interesting way of seeing how society has changed over time.
- Procon.org
This link opens in a new window
This one is a free website that tries to lay out the different positions objectively. Would be useful if you have characters taking different stances.
There's no shortage of information. The problem is filtering for the quality information worth your time. Ask yourself:
- Who wrote it? Why should I care about their take?
- Evidence used in the analysis? How balanced it is, or do I have to go elsewhere for alternative views?
The Library pays to access information that has gone through some filtering, either newspaper or magazine articles that go through an editorial process before being published, or scholarly sources that have gone through an academic peer-review process. But with google searches, you have to do identification and filtering.
Occasionally you may need to consult scholarly sources, but most of the time you can gain a deep understanding of social issues through magazines, newspapers and online media that aims for quality.
Major Newspapers
We have full text versions (via ProQuest) of the New York Times, Wall Street Journal, Los Angeles Times, and Washington Post. (The New York Times and Washington Post offer discount subscriptions for students, $1/week for online access, not free as I mentioned in class. Washington Post changed their minds on that, apparently.)
Major News/Opinion Magazines
Rather than searching through thousands of magazines, this link limits to some of the ones more likely to have lengthier articles on social issues.
- News & Opinion Magazines (EBSCOhost)Search just Atlantic, Christian Century, Commentary, Commonweal, Dissent, Foreign Affairs, Maclean's, Nation, National Catholic Reporter, National Geographic, National Review, New Republic, New Yorker, Newsweek Global, Progressive, Scientific American, Sports Illustrated, Time, Vanity Fair, and Variety.
Just add your search terms to the boxes at the top.
Handmaid's Tale
When you're adapting from a source, such as The Handmaid's Tale, you'll want to know the work really well, and that includes knowing about the author.
- Gale Literature This link opens in a new windowThis database has biographical information on major authors from a number of standard literary criticism reference works, as well as the standard interpretation of major literary works. There are over 50 entries about Margaret Atwood, and over 40 about Handmaid's Tale.
Look for interviews with Margaret Atwood. You can use ProQuest Central to find ones in magazines, newspapers and maybe a literary journal or two. (Try "margaret atwood" and "interview* with" -- I got 130 results. 20 if I included the term handmaid's) Or Google Videos to find archived videos of her at book readings, press junkets, etc.
Other Dystopian Stories
- Gale Virtual Reference Library Literature CollectionSearch 40+ scholarly encyclopedias on literature. Ignore the UXL ones -- those sets are aimed at middle school students.
Here's an example of an overview of dystopian literature from The New Dictionary of the History of Ideas.
If you want to search through articles, I would suggest also using Gale Literary Sources (see above) for dystopian literature. Since you are keyword searching the entire text, you can be very specific and look for analysis of dystopian and race, for instance. Or whatever plot you were thinking of doing.
Biblical References
[forthcoming...]
Preacher
Since Preacher is an adaption of a comic book, you want to know your source material well. (Wikipedia says 66 issues, 5 specials and 4-issue miniseries! How many of those plots did they get through in Season 1?) Preacher and the comic book creators aren't high-brow enough to be in Gale Literary Sources, so I would stick to looking for interviews of the creators for any insight into their thought process, as well as any other comic series they have done.
Also, look for other comic book series that are similar in tone to Preacher. Try Wikipedia, but also try this print set:
Encyclopedia of Comic Books and Graphic NovelsCall Number: EWU-Cheney Main Level Reference PN6707 .E49 2010Publication Date: 20102 volume set. The most comprehensive reference ever compiled about the rich and enduring genre of comic books and graphic novels, from their emergence in the 1930s to their late-century breakout into the mainstream. * Includes over 330 entries on comic books and their creators * Presents the work of 80 contributors-accomplished academics and librarians who are also fans of comic books and graphic novels * Offers selected bibliographic listings with the entries * Provides a comprehensive index of artists, writers, works, characters, genres, and themes
- Gale Virtual Reference Library Literature CollectionSearch 40+ scholarly encyclopedias on literature for overviews of other themes present in Preacher (westerns, mythology, etc.). Ignore the UXL ones -- those sets are aimed at middle school students.
- Gale Literature This link opens in a new windowTry this database for more detailed articles about the themes you are interested in. You are keyword searching the entire text, so you can be specific (religion and westerns?).