COD class uses literature, film to examine attitudes to crime

Examine society's attitudes toward crime, violence and criminality through literature and film during a new 16-week class that begins in January at College of DuPage.

“Crime Literature and Film” will be offered from 1 to 3:30 p.m. on Tuesdays starting

Jan. 17. The 3 credit-hour class will be taught by Michelle Moore, professor of English.

“This class will consider how representations of crime in literature and film provide a lens through which we can view attitudes,” she said.

Texts ranging from Edgar Allan Poe's short fiction to the Coen brothers' films will allow students to ask the following questions: How has the crime story redefined itself over the past two centuries? What makes a criminal a criminal? How are definitions of criminality reflective of Western cultures?

Moore enjoys combining film and literature, whether it's in her composition classes or something more specific, such as “Postmodernism and Vampires in Film and Lit.” She said the subject of crime and violence is a fascinating one that has broad appeal to students.

“Attention will be paid to the ways in which each writer expands or rejects previous modes of thought about crime and criminality,” she said.

For more information about “Crime Literature and Film” (English 2820), call (630) 942-2793 or email moorem@cod.edu. To register for this class, visit myaccess.cod.edu.