Sites of Interest Materials Listing: Fall 2008
 Each year for their capstone seminar a group of junior and senior honors students work with the DBC director to select the coming year's texts and to research various aspects of them. Their research produces original papers, along with annotated bibliographies of print and on-line resources. We in turn make those papers and bibliographies available to current Dean's Book Course instructors and students who are conducting similar research.
Some documents presented by the Dean's Readers are in PDF format. If you don't have Adobe Acrobat Reader, you may download it for free here.
The Author and His Critics
• Contributions from Dean’s Reader:
Candace Letizia, English
Abstract [FULL TEXT]
It is not often that book reviews are acknowledged as being one-sided and influenced by the reputation of both the author and the critic himself. It is, however, necessary to explore the different layers of professional and personal reviews in order to gain a more complete understanding of the book’s criticisms. This research project investigates the differences between such criticisms among professional and personal book reviewers in regard to Jonathan Safran Foer’s novel, Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close. It includes a brief biography of Jonathan Safran Foer as well as a discussion of his reputation within the literary world. It focuses on how his life has impacted his writing. By thoroughly examining his critics, criticisms, and life, we see how Foer emphasizes that the experience of hope and loss are universally had by all. We see how it is not the details but the way in which we attempt to overcome our emotional obstacles that matter.
• Online Resources:
About the Typefaces Not Used in This Edition
This short fiction piece by Jonathan Safran Foer imagines the people and relationships behind types of font, which are themselves either real or imagined.
Amazon.Com
Amazon.com’s reader reviews section for Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close is a large forum in which lengthy comments discuss all aspects of the book in their own words.
Art Capturing Art Capturing Art Capturing ...
This article by Andrew Blum discusses the collaboration between Foer and the artist Hiroshi Sugimoto. Sugimoto took a series of photographs of the sculpture “Joe” and Foer wrote a prose poem that follows a protagonist, also named Joe.
Birnbaum V. Jonathan Safran Foer
In this article, Robert Birnbaum discusses Foer’s biography, Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close, and other literary works.
A Boy’s Epic Quest, Borough by Borough
This article by Michiko Kakutani describes Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close as “simultaneously contrived and improvisatory, schematic and haphazard” due largely to Foer’s style of writing.
Disaster Recovery
This positive review from W.R. Greer focuses primarily on Oskar and on his grandparents’ subplot in order to discuss Foer’s success at bringing together their tales of grief and hope.
Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close; A Book Review
This personal review by Joy Renee of the blog JoyStory focuses on Oskar’s complexities and believability, in addition to how he is similar to other characters from literature.
Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close: A Novel
This review by Priya Jain discusses Foer’s use of September 11th, 2001 as the backdrop of Oskar’s story and also how the mixed media format helped her connect emotionally to the characters.
Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close: Everything is Included
This review by Walter Kirn primarily focuses on Oskar and how his thoughts, behavior, and personality traits make him seem as though he is “trying to corner a market in ironic existentialist greeting cards.” He also discusses Foer’s use of 9/11, and why it doesn’t work.
Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close: Review
This review by Amitava Kumar of the Times of India focuses on how Foer broke many writing, format, and character conventions in Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close.
Extremely Cloying & Incredibly False
This negative review by Harry Siegel attacks both Foer’s writing and character, but discusses other literary authors who have influenced his work.
Extremely Obvious and Incredibly Tempting
This article by Campbell Robertson is less about Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close and more about Foer’s reputation within the literary community and his good decorum.
Famed Author to Teach Fiction
This news article by June Torbati discusses Foer’s invitation- and acceptance- to teach a semester seminar at Yale this year. It briefly discusses Foer’s literary reputation.
Jeffrey Eugenides
This interview by Jonathan Safran Foer is for BOMB magazine, and is with his old professor, friend, and mentor Jeffrey Eugenides. In it, they discuss literature, Eudenide’s latest novel, and personal lives.
A Life in Books
In this Newsweek article, Foer lists his top five books in addition to a book he has yet to read and one he would like to pass down to his children.
Michiko Kakutani: A Critic With a Fixation
This review by Ben Yagoda of Michiko Kakutani discusses the personal biases, writing and reviewing techniques, and reputation of the New York Times book critic who disliked Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close.
Mixed Messages
In this review, John Updike primarily writes about the use of child narrators in books dealing with tragic topics. He also discusses aspects of Foer’s use of mixed media that worked- and didn’t work- for him.
Mr. Author=Mr. Protagonist
This article by Robert Dahlin from Publisher’s Weekly discusses Foer’s use of himself as a main character in Everything is Illuminated, in terms of the immediacy it added to the novel’s plot.
My Life as a Dog
This opinion article by Jonathan Safran Foer discusses New York City’s dog leash laws as a foil for how people treat fellow humans and fellow animals.
Mysterious Key Sends Boy Sifting Through His Life’s Wreckage After 9/11
This negative review by Tom Barbash discusses how he feels Oskar is not a realistic character, how the mixed media is distracting, and how the book is “undone by cleverness.”
Terror Comes to Tiny Town
This negative article by Laura Miller reviews Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close , and states that it is a work that is too obviously precious: from Oskar to the use of Drseden and 9/11 to the mixed media.
The Rescue Artist
This in-depth article by Deborah Solomon is a biography of Foer, and discusses his childhood, important events in his life, and his opinions on writing as both an art and as a process. It gives a glimpse into Foer’s personality and character traits.
Unlocking Jonathan Safran Foer
This interview by Dave Weich discusses Foer’s influences, opinions on how children relate to books, his characters, and the role of the internet in information exchange.
Up Close and Personal: Jonathan Safran Foer Experiences Violence Through a Child’s Eyes
In this interview by from Alden Mudge, Foer discusses various themes of Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close; including death, violence, images, and his use of mixed media.
Press Release Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close by Jonathan Safran Foer
This press release from Houghton Mifflin includes summaries of Everything is Illuminated and Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close, as well as Foer’s biography, awards, tour dates, and an interview.
The Mythology of New York City's Iconic Sites
• Contributions from Dean’s Reader:
Anna Welch, Legal Studies; Plant, Soil, and Insect Sciences
Abstract [FULL TEXT]
New York City is a major financial center, a fashion capitol, a cultural center and an essential transportation hub. It is also so much more than that, as it always has been and always will be a place with which people make the most intimate connections. For those that have lived there their whole lives and weekend visitors alike, New York City is a special place; “I <3 NY” t-shirts have not spread across the globe by chance. The characters of Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close, by Jonathon Safran Foer, have the unique relationships that occur between New York City and its people, residents or visitors. In order to understand these relationships, this research project gives short histories of Central Park, the Empire State Buildings and the World Trade Center site and includes just some of the many ways that these places have impacted people’s lives in a significant way. Also included is a review of literature about how people interact with their surroundings, with an emphasis on cities.
• Print materials available in DuBois Library
[printable list]
Chidester, David and Edward T. Linenthal, eds. American Sacred Space. Indiana University Press, 1995.
(BL581.U6 A48 1995)
Cohen, Paul E. and Augustyn, Robert T., Manhattan in Maps, 1527-1995. New York: Rizzoli, 1997.(Available from Mount Holyoke College though Interlibrary Loan; G1254.N4251 C6 1997 Art)
Cohen and Augustyn have paired full color maps of Manhattan from the past four centuries with interesting and informative text. Each map is explained in its own context, and together, they present a cohesive and multidimensional * of the goals, issues, constant change and beauty that was and is Manhattan.
Gallagher, Winifred. The Power of Place: How Our Surroundings Shape Our Thoughts, Emotions, and Actions. (BF353 .G355 1993)
Gallagher's book is a variety mix of environmental psychology topics, including seasonal affective disorder (SAD), ghost sightings as geophysical disturbances and the connection between addiction and familiar places. All her claims are well supported by scientific literature, and she makes many thought provoking conclusions about the impact place has on our actions, health and sanity.
Germic, Stephen A. American Green: Class, Crisis and the Deployment of Nature in Central Park, Yosemite, and Yellowstone. Lexington Books: New York, 2001.
Gillespie, Angus K. Twin Towers: The Life of New York City's World Trade Center. New York: New American Library, 2002.
(NA6233.N5 W674 2002b)
This book was written to tell both the story of the physical, architectural entities that were the towers and that of the people who designed them, built them, hated them, worked in them and loved them; Gillespie does an excellent job of examining and personalizing all the ways those stories are interwoven, without the influence of the destruction of the towers and so many lives on September, 11, 2001. The most recent edition does include additional chapters on what happened that day and afterwards.
Greenbie, Barrie B. Spaces: Dimensions of the Human Landscape. New Haven, Conn.: Yale University Press, 1981.
In this thoroughly illustrated book, Greenbie outlines his theory of what a city is. Pulling from cultural anthropology, neurology, sociology and other areas, he creates the idea of a city as distemic (territorial and private) and proxemic (cosmopolitan and boundary-crossing) communities and applies his idea to cities and their public spaces around the world.
Kinkead, Eugene. Central Park 1857-1995: The Birth, Decline, and Renewal of a National Treasure. W.W. Norton and Company: New York, 1990.
This brightly written biography of the Park covers all the important aspects of the Park's history, like its origin, later financial crisis and the present issue or crime, and then highlights interesting aspects of it not covered by other authors. There are pages dedicated to the types of animals that are commonly, or in the case of a gray wolf, occasionally spotted in the Park. It also lists all the proposed additions to the Park, including a grand nondenominational cathedral, a street railway and a large ship to sail its waterways.
Lynch, Kevin. The Image of the City. Cambridge, MA: M.I.T. Press, 1974.
This influential book draws conclusions about how people see their own cities from a series of extensive interviews with citizens of Boston, LA and Jersey City. Lynch develops a new criterion, imageabilty, of evaluating how a city's form and composition affect those that live there. His work is now part of modern large-scale design theory.
Rosenzweig, Roy and Blackmar, Elizabeth. The Park and the People: A History of Central Park. Ithaca, N.Y.: Cornell University Press, 1992.
(Available from Mount Holyoke College though Interlibrary Loan; F128.65 C3 R67 1992)
Intense research about Central Park, its creation, the politics involved throughout its history, its controversy and its importance to New York City is well presented in the book. The focus, in the authors' words, “puts people at the center and relates the park to the city.” Topics covered include the entirety of Frederick Law Olmstead's creation of the Park, the Gates exhibit, and the importance of the Park to the people of Manhattan and the world for the past.
Schnapp, Jeffrey T. and Tiews, Matthew, eds. Crowds. Stanford, California: Stanford University Press, 2006.(Available from Mount Holyoke College though Interlibrary Loan; HM871.C76 2006)
This broadly focused collection addresses such varied topics as large-scale group portraiture, the Western world's prejudiced conception of crowds in Asia, American cinema’s fascination with the Roman crowd, and the development of a scale for determining the effectiveness of political demonstrations.
Watters, Laurie. A Year in Central Park. New York: Rizzoli, 1992.
This book is a collection of Central Park photographs, captioned and organized by season. It lovingly portrays the Park as the green oasis that it is for so many people, as it illustrates just how many different people use the park everyday. There is a short introduction to the history of the Park that includes interesting Park trivia.
• Online Resources:
Cities within the City: B.A. Botkin’s New York
Benjamin A. Botkin was the premier cataloger and champion of New York City's varied folklore for decades. This short article, from Voices: The Journal of New York Folklore, give some biographical information on him and outlines some of his life's work, saying, “[Botkin] considered all aspects of urban and suburban life in his attempt to uncover the personality of New York and to characterize the folklore of what, for him, became the quintessential urban place.”
Living City Archive
The site is a virtual library of information about the life, health, and urban transformation that New York City's citizens experienced from 1869-1930, with some current scholarship presented as well. Access to many scholarly works is available with ease, especially using the sites annotated time line.
Local Culture in the Global City: The Folklife of New York
“What makes New York unique?” is well answered in this 2004 article from Voices: The Journal of New York Folklore. The author is a New Yorker and explains how the city can be a global hub of commerce, fashion and culture at the same time that it is millions of people's hometown.
The New York Folklore Society
The Society's homepage functions as a portal to their articles on a seemingly endless variety of topics relating to the culture and folklore of New York City and New York State. There are readings by folklorists, researchers, ethnomusicologists, residents and folk artists, all originally printed in VOICES: The Journal of New York Folklore.
Official Site of Central Park
This site is provides the history, current goings-on, maps and many photos of Central Park. It is a good first stop for anyone researching the park and its people.
Official Site of the Empire State Building
This site does not provide much history of the building, but it does have a link to the tower cams on top of the building, providing a real-time, birds-eye view of Manhattan and the Boroughs.
'Only in New York': The New York City Personal Experience Narrative
This article from the Journal of Folklore Research explains how people communicate their experiences in and with New York City differently than they would other things in their lives. The author shows this difference with many examples and explains its cultural importance.
Dresden, Hiroshima, and the World Trade Center
• Contribution from Dean’s Reader:
David Botte, Hospitality & Tourism Management
Abstract [FULL TEXT]
September 11th is a day of pain and sadness for many Americans across the country. It was a day in 2001 when American civilians were attacked and victimized by the terrorist group Al-Qaeda. February 14th, 15th, and 16th, however, are days of pain and sadness for many German people just as August 6th and August 9th are days of pain for sadness for many Japanese people. Those are the dates back in 1945 when Americans attacked civilian populations during WWII. In his novel Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close, Jonathan Safran Foer brings to life these historical events through the lives and memories of his characters. Foer reminds his readers that just as Americans have been victims of attack, Americans have also victimized others. This research project explores the moral reasoning behind the strategic attacks on Dresden and the nuclear bombing of Japan during WWII as well as highlighting the parallels and similarities of those attacks with the terrorist attacks on September 11, 2001, as they relate to Foer’s novel.
• Print materials available in DuBois Library [printable list]
Addison, Paul and Jeremy A. Crang, eds. Firestorm: The Bombing of Dresden, 1945. Great Britain: Pimlico, 2006. (MH D 757.9 D7)
This book contains a collection of essays, derived initially from a colloquium hosted by Edinburgh University in May 2003. Co-editor Paul Addison notes that "the debate over Dresden is likely to end in a stalemate" (217). By this he presents both sides of why Dresden was a target of Allied Bombers in WWII.
Friedman, Lauri S ed. What Motivates Suicide Bombers? Detroit: Thomson/Gale, 2005. (HV 6431 W475)
This anthology explores the influence of religion, economics, politics, and technology on people who become willing to give their lives for their beliefs. Today suicide bombers have been both men and women who leave behind spouses and children. They have been wealthy and poor, free and oppressed, religious and non-religious.
Gordin, Michael D. Five Days in August: How World War II Became a Nuclear War. New Jersey: Princeton University Press, 2007. (D 767.25 H6 G67)
This book presents the theory that the military did not clearly understand the atomic bomb's potential, that the Allies were almost as stunned by the surrender as the Japanese were by the attack. This interpretation is much different from the norm in which most Americans believe that the Second World War ended because the two atomic bombs dropped on Japan forced it to surrender
Grayling, A.C. Among the Dead Cities: The History and Moral Legacy of the WWII Bombing of Civilians in Germany and Japan. New York: Walker & Co., 2006. (D 790.2.G73)
Written by one of Britain's leading philosophers, this book examines the most morally complex issues of our time: the destruction of Hamburg, Dresden, Tokyo, Hiroshima and Nagasaki. This book investigates the decisions that were made “which transformed civilians into legitimate targets.” Grayling looks at the question of who can be held responsible, and whether that responsibility is guilty.
Juergensmeyer, Mark. Terror in the Mind of God: The Global Rise of Religious Violence. California: University of California Press, 2003.
This book documents the global rise of religious terrorism through scholarly sources, media accounts and personal interviews with convicted terrorists. Juergensmeyer identifies certain "cultures of violence" via case studies along the spectrum of Christianity, Judaism, Islam, Hinduism, Sikhism and Buddhism.
Kort, Michael. The Columbia Guide to Hiroshima and the Bomb. New York: Columbia University Press, 2007. (D 767.25 H6 K68)
This book describes the WWII mindset and the circumstantial thinking that formed the context for the decision to use nuclear weapons on Japan. This book also “surveys the major debates related to that decision, and provides a comprehensive collection of key primary source documents that illuminate the behavior of the United States and Japan during the closing days of World War II.”
Logevall, Fredrik ed. Terrorism and 9/11: A Reader. Boston: Houghton Mifflin Co, 2002. (HV 6431 T4612)
This reader offers a foundation for understanding the events of September 11th and their aftermath. This collection of essays enables people to think critically not only about the harrowing events of the recent past, but also about their historical roots.
Margolis, Joseph. Moral Philosophy after 9/11. Pennsylvania: The Pennsylvania State University Press, 2004. (BJ 352 M365)
This book deals with the opposing philosophies behind the terrorist attack of September 11th: “were the perpetrators of the 9/11 attacks courageous "freedom fighters" or despicable terrorist murderers?” These two arguments “reveal in extreme form the incompatibility between different moral visions that underlie many conflicts in the world today, conflicts that challenge us to consider how moral disputes may be resolved.”
Snider, Hideko T. One Sunny Day: A Child’s Memories of Hiroshima. Chicago: Open Cort, 1996. (D 767.25 H6 S56)
This book deals with the attack of Hiroshima from a civilian’s perspective: “I remember the first time they came in the middle of night. The sounds of hundreds of flying planes in the dark night sky had paralyzed me with fear.”
Welch, Michael. Scapegoat of September 11th: Hate Crimes & State Crimes in the War on Terror. New Jersey: Rutgers University Press, 2006. (HV 6431 P53)
Written by criminologist Michael Welch, this book argues that the war on terror “is a political charade that delivers illusory comfort, stokes fear, and produces scapegoats used as emotional relief. Regrettably, much of the outrage that resulted from September 11th has been targeted at those not involved in the attacks on the Pentagon or the Twin Towers. As this book explains, those people have become the scapegoats of September 11th. Welch takes on the uneasy task of sorting out the various manifestations of displaced aggression, most notably the hate crimes and state crimes that have become embarrassing hallmarks both at home and abroad.”
• Online Resources:
The Bombing of Dresden and Hiroshima
This article focuses on strategic bombing of Dresden and Hiroshima and whether the issue if one should have dropped nuclear weapons on Hiroshima and Nagasaki. The article deals with the moral or ethical issues on weapons of mass destruction.
Allied Bombing of Dresden
This editorial focuses on the moral and military controversies rose against the Allied strategic bombing in Germany during World War II. Role of Arthur Travers `Bomber' Harris in the bombings; what the bombings would have perceived to accomplish; Details on the bombings in Dresden, Germany.
American Attacks
This article challenges the concept of “exceptionalism” in the culture of the United States, specifically with regards to atrocities Americans commit when warring with foreign countries.
Atrocities during World War II
This article focuses on the atrocities committed during World War II that were much worse than the bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. It deals with the Nazi Holocaust and thoughts about the bombing of Dresden as well as the firebombing of Tokyo.
Church Leaders Oppose attack on Iraq
This article reports on the “opposition of church leaders in different countries on the proposed preemptive military strategy of the U.S. administration against Iraq as of September 11, 2002.” It gives “views of presiding Bishop Mark S. Hanson of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America regarding the possible consequences of the war for Iraqi people.”
Globalized Dark Ages
This article “comments on the plans of the United States for military action as a retaliation to the September 11 terrorist attacks and its effects on the affliction of the Muslims and colored people. It also addresses the impact of war on the innocent people as well as the speculation on the reason behind the counterterrorism plans.
Just war or ethical peace?
This article places just war theory, in particular, under extended critical scrutiny, and finds its formalized system of moral rules and concepts–particularly civilian immunity and proportionality–deeply flawed in the light of actual US war-fighting strategies
What We’re Fighting For
Issued by the Institute for American Values, this article analyzes the motivation behind the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks on the U.S. It gives an overview of some “unattractive and harmful U.S. values according to the statement; Description of the moral aspect of war declared by the scholars.”
Public Transportation Safety in New York City
• Contributions from Dean’s Reader:
Kirby Fortin, Hospitality & Tourism Management
Abstract [FULL TEXT]
Since the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, the United States has begun to focus more intently on the security of its transportation systems, and especially on those used by the public on a daily basis. Because of the public and tragic nature of these attacks, research abounds on the safety of the United States public transportation systems, and much focuses on the transit systems of New York City specifically. In his novel, Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close, Jonathan Safran Foer depicts a child’s struggle to cope with his father’s death in the immediate wake of the September 11th terrorist attacks. Oskar’s journey sends him on a cross-borough adventure that leads him to all reaches of New York City. For much of his journey, Oskar is traveling around the city on his own, in direct conflict with the perceived ever-present threats to both children left unsupervised and the transportation modes Oskar employs. This research project explores the safety of the United States public transportation systems, both nationally and specifically in New York City. It includes an examination of past research and studies and an analysis of the current solutions and policies being applied to public transit systems. By thoroughly examining these transportation systems, we may be able to shed some light on the true threats of public transportation.
• Online Resources:
Fail-Safe Methods for Paratransit Safety
The purpose of this study was to illustrate that a systems approach to transit safety can be used to develop a methodology to fail-safe or mistake-proof paratransit operations. Results of numerous applied studies demonstrated that safety problems often stem from an interaction of service errors and system components. Results also revealed that fail-safe methods that target specific user groups are more effective than more general methods.
From Policy and Response to System Design and Operations: Inter-Governmental Transit Security Planning in the U.S.
The events of September 11th, 2001, brought the issue of transportation security and terrorism to the forefront of civil society. Transit security is especially challenging because of the nature of transit systems as open and accessible public places and the need to keep these systems running quickly and efficiently; transit officials cannot employ many of the security strategies used in aviation security. This paper examines the recent developments in transit security planning in the U.S.
How Safe Is The New York City Subway?
This website is dedicated to the New York City subway system. This specific article discusses the safety of the subway system. It covers topics such as accidental deaths and subway assisted suicides, New York City subway worker deaths, crime and terrorism in the subway, assault and murder, the most dangerous stations, and many others.
Intermodal Transportation and Safety Information: Training Against Terrorism
Since 9/11, our world has changed. The threats now facing us are extreme and unpredictable.
The potential for terrorists to use public transit to deliver bombs or turn public transit vehicles into bombs underscores the importance of training—training that can help us prepare to deal with the advent of terrorism on a devastating scale. This paper explains how training in teamwork and decision-making aided the reaction of mass transit agencies during the 9/11 attacks. It also describes the new techniques and technologies that can be used to provide even better training for future attacks.
Maps of New York City
Throughout Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close, Oskar travels all across the five boroughs of New York City. This website provides accurate maps of the five different boroughs of New York City to assist those who are not familiar with the layout of the city.
Mom Lets 9-Year-Old Take Subway Home Alone
Last year, Lenore Skenazy let her 9-year-old son Izzy ride the subway home from the Bloomingdales’ in Midtown Manhattan. A columnist for New York Sun, Skenazy wrote an article about the event and was met immediately met with a wave of criticism from parents wanted to have her jailed for child abuse charges!
New York City Taxicab Fact Book, The
Taxis are a vital part of New York City’s transportation network. Because of their central transportation role, their prominence in Manhattan traffic, information on New York’s cabs attracts a broad audience. The New York City Taxicab Fact Book traces the history of the industry and looks into the taxi industry’s three constituent elements: passengers, drivers and owners.
Prevention of Traffic Injuries to Children
This article highlights a study conducted in Manhattan in New York City involving the incidence of traffic accidents injuries to children in Manhattan. The study evaluates the effectiveness of a comprehensive injury prevention program aimed at the prevention of traffic injuries to school aged children in urban communities and presents data on traffic related injuries involving children before and after the implementation of the safety program.
Protecting Public Surface Transportation
Recent events make it clear that the threat of terrorism is one to be taken seriously. Because of the nature of public-mass transportations, little is done in the way of security. It is nearly impossible to implement airport-like security measures in the open, public venues of mass transits. This article studies the trends in terrorism as well as plans and procedures for securing the safety of those who take advantage of mass transportation.
Terrorism, Transit and Public Safety: Evaluating the Risks
This paper evaluates the overall safety of public transit, taking into account all risks, including recent terrorist attacks. It indicates that transit is an extremely safe mode, with total per-passenger-mile fatality rates approximately one-tenth that of automobile travel. Transit terrorism would cause more total casualties and harm to society if individuals respond to attacks by shifting from public transit to less safe modes, or if decision makers respond by reducing support for public transit.
Why I Let My 9-Year-Old Ride the Subway Alone
This is Lenore Skenazy’s response to the outcry of parents in response to her letting her 9-year-old son Izzy ride the subway home by himself from Midtown Manhattan.
Coping Mechanisms in Children Post Bereavement
• Contributions from Dean’s Reader:
Jessica Guidoboni, Marketing
Abstract [FULL TEXT]
The tragic events of September 11, 2001, had an impact on every American citizen in one way or another. In the past six and a half years, countless news broadcasts, articles, books, documentaries, and other films have been made to tell varying accounts and theories of the aftermath of that day. In his novel Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close, Jonathan Safran Foer recounts the effects of 9/11 from the voice of a nine-year-old boy, Oskar Schell, who lost his father in the World Trade Center that day. Throughout his story, readers learn the impact that losing a parent has on a child, specifically in terms of 9/11. This research project seeks to discover how children cope with bereavement. It includes children’s understanding across ages, differences among adult and child grieving, behavioral and emotional responses and ways in which parents and schools can be of assistance. By studying the coping mechanisms in children post bereavement, we will educate ourselves on how to better understand their suffering and how we can guide them through such a difficult time.
• Print materials available in DuBois Library
[printable list]
Bowlby, John. Attachment and Loss: Volume III Loss: Sadness and Depression. Basic Books, Inc: New York, 1980.
(BF 575.G7 B68)
This is an in-depth, informative, well written book by famous psychologist John Bowlby. It includes topics such as grief in infancy and early childhood, mourning during childhood, detachment, psychopathology and much more.
Corr, Charles A. and Wass, Hannelore. Helping Children Cope with Death: Guidelines and Resources. Hemisphere Publishing Corporation: New York, 1984. (BF 723D3H44 1984)
This book offers information on how children understand death, differences across ages and explains that there is no magical formula to solve or heal the coping process.
Diamond, Jonathan. Fatherless Sons: Healing the Legacy of Loss. John Wiley & Sons Inc: Hoboken, NJ, 2006. (BF 575G7 D52 2006)
A book written about the experiences of men who had lost their fathers during childhood. The writer carries the reader through his own personal experience as well of those experiences of several other men. It details how they dealt with it, how they are now raising children of their own, etc.
• Online Resources:
Children Who Lost a Parent as a Result of the Terrorist Attacks of September 11 2001: Registry Construction and Population Description
A PDF file outlining the victims of 9/11 according to the children that they bereaved. Includes maps of geographical spread in NYC and New Jersey territories. In it they “identified 1,363 victims who were parents of minor children, and 2,752 bereaved children below age 18. In addition to reporting important identifying data on these children, this study also demonstrates the feasibility and the potential usefulness of such a registry to support post-disaster service provision and advocacy efforts. The construction of registries of severely affected people post-disaster should become government policy to obviate the need to use ad hoc methods to construct lists of high-risk individuals.”
Death and Loss-Parenting Tips for dealing with Grief
This website explains ways for parents to deal with explaining death and loss to their children. It contains an explanation of ‘do’s and don’ts’ when explaining death to a child and offers tips about whether or not a child should attend a funeral.
From 9/11 to Katrina: Helping Students Grieve
This article from the Education Digest by Susan Black outlines the importance of teachers in the healing and grieving process of bereaved children. She describes a series of steps to take in the process, as well as a breakdown of understanding across ages.
Helping Your Child Deal with Death
An article on KidsHealth - the most visited website for children’s health. Includes how to explain death, mourning and loss to children in their own terms. A section on reaching out for more help recommends speaking with a doctor, school guidance counselor, or mental health organization.
Helping Your Child Cope with Loss, Death and Grief: Tips for Teachers and Parents
An extensive article provided by the National Association of School Psychologists that explains thoroughly psychological explanations of how children behave/express grief, tips for teachers and parents, and 9/11 specific examples. Also offers resource guide for grieving caregivers and children.
Learning to Live through Loss: Helping Children Understand Death
A very informative website provided by the National Network for Child Care (NNCC) which outlines how children understand the concept of death across various life stages or ages. Also includes common signs of mourning in children, tips for parents, helping a child attend a funeral service, and books for young children.
Mental Health America: Helping Children Cope with Loss Resulting from War or Terrorism
A guide for adults to help them understand children’s coping mechanisms after the death of a loved one. Explains how to help children understand and cope with death. Even though the title states that it includes information relating to deaths from war or terrorism, there isn’t much in the article about this.
The Use of Laughter and Humor as Coping Mechanisms in Individuals during Bereavement
• Contributions from Dean’s Readers:
Erica Widegren, Communication Disorders
Abstract [FULL TEXT]
In Jonathan Safran Foer’s, Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close, we are guided along the personal and emotional journey of nine year old Oskar Schell as he shares with us his unique experiences with bereavement. Oskar is grieving the loss of his beloved father following the horrific events of September 11, 2001. This poignant story speaks to an audience on a deeper level and uncovers many of the psychological aspects of bereavement. One particularly important component was the healing power of humor and its use as a coping mechanism in the difficult stages of loss and the grieving process. Humor is an essential element of human nature and is an inseparable part of life and social interaction. Maintaining a healthy sense of humor can have both psychological and physiological benefits. After reviewing numerous resources on the topic one can see that humor is both a constructive and therapeutic way of dealing with loss.
• Print materials available in DuBois Library [printable list]
Adams, Patch, M.D., and Maureen Mylander. Gesundheit!. Rochester, VT: Healing Arts Press, 1993.
(SC Neilson Library R727 .A32 1998)
This is the story of Patch Adam’s lifetime quest to transform the healthcare system. Throughout his story we can see that Adams does whatever is necessary to help heal.
Freud, Sigmund. Jokes and their Relation to the Unconscious. Ed. James Strachey. London: Routledge & Kegan Paul LTd, 1960. (UM Du Bois Library PN6149.P5 F7 1960a)
Freud gathers a broad collection of jokes, in order to determine how many different types of joke there are, their characteristics, and what exactly it is that makes them pleasurable. Freud saw jokes as deeper messages delivered to us from our unconscious.
Keller, Dan. Humor as Therapy. Ed. J. H. Armstrong. Wauwatosa, WI: Med-Psych Publications, 1984.
(UM Du Bois Library RC489.H85 K45 1984)
Dr. Daniel Keller describes the role of humor as it contributes to the healing of his patients. He presents techniques that have helped bring out many of his patients’ troubles and helped to improve their lives and overall well-being.
Kuhlman, Thomas L., Ph.D. Humor and Psychotherapy. Homewood, IL: Dow Jones-Irwin, 1984.
( UM Du Bois Library RC489.H85 K84 1984)
Lefcourt, Herbert M. Humor- the Psychology of Living Buoyantly. New York, NY: Plenum Publishers, 2001.
(UM Du Bois Library BF575.L3 L425 2001)
Lefcourt combines empirical research and anecdotal elements to explain the use of humor as a coping process, for the moderation of stressful experiences, and health. He explains how humor can help create feelings of community, control, and closeness.
Lefcourt, Herbert M., and Rod A. Martin. Humor and Life Stress-Antidote to Adversity. New York, NY: Springer-Verlag, 1986.
(UM Du Bois Library BF575.L3 L43 1986)
This book is a collection of studies by a group of psychologists concerted with humor within such disciplines as psychology, sociology, medicine and nursing. Inspired by a growth of research of humor in these fields they were led to research individuals’ abilities to use humor effectively in their daily encounters.
Martin, Rod A. The Psychology of Humor: An Integrative Approach. Burlington, MA: Elsevier Academic Press, 2007. (MH Main Library BF575 .L3 M27 2007)
This book reviews the literature through many findings in the disciplines of psychology and related fields. To start, the book defines humor and discusses several theories of humor, and analyzes these research findings. The many topics include the cognitive processes, social functions, and the assocation of humor with mental and physical health.
McGhee, Paul E., and Jeffrey H. Goldstein, eds. Handbook of Humor Research. Vol. 2. New York, NY: Springer-Verlag, 1983.
(UM Du Bois Library BF575.L3 H36 1983)
In this handbook, humor and laughter are explored as behaviors that are correlated with and have effects upon several aspects of the social and psychological life.
Mufson, Laura, Ph.D., et al. Interpersonal Psychotherapy for Depressed Adolescents. 1st ed. New York, NY: The Guilford Press, 1993.
(UM Du Bois Library RJ506.D4 I58 1993)
Provides an overview of the nature and current treatment practices for adolescent depression. It also presents the theoretical formulation and practical application of interpersonal psychotherapy for depressed adolescents.
Reynolds, William M., and Hugh F. Johnston, eds. Handbook of Depression in Children and Adolescents. New York, NY: Plenum Press, 1994.
(UM Du Bois Library RJ506.D4 H36 1994)
This handbook provides several examples of current studies that pertain to depression in child and adolescent psychology. A wide variety of perspectives of the nature, evaluation, and treatment of depression by numerous leading psychologists are present in this handbook.
Schulterbrandt, Joy G., M.S., and Allen Raskin Ph.D., eds. Depression in Childhood: Diagnosis, Treatment, and Conceptual Models. 1st ed. New York, NY: Raven Press, 1977.
(UM Du Bois Library RJ506.D4 C66 1975)
This book is a collection of papers by individual psychologists addressing the issues of depression in children.
Strean, Herbert, ed. The use of Humor in Psychotherapy. Northvale, NJ: Jason Aronson Inc., 1994.
(UM Du Bois Library RC489.H85 U84 1994)
This book is a collection of papers by Strean, who is a teacher and practitioner of psychoanalysis. It is an anthology of simple yet profound clinical insights pertaining to humor in individual and group therapy.
• Online Resources:
Association for Applied and Therapeutic Humor
This website was designed by a community of professionals who strive to incorporate humor into their daily lives. This website offers a wide variety of publications and articles dealing with the many aspects of humor and its use in therapy.
Humor in Therapy: The Case for Training Therapists in Its Uses and Risks
Within this journal article, psychologist Louis R. Franzini, starts by defining therapeutic humor and goes on to discuss its use as a psychotherapeutic resource. The author examines several studies and publications by various psychologists and their individual takes on humor in therapy.
Jokes and Their Relation to the Unconscious: Humor as a Fundamental Emotional Experience
This paper discusses the use of humor and jokes in psychoanalysis from both theoretical and clinical perspectives.
Laughter Heals Foundation
"Laughter Heals Foundation is a nonprofit organization whose goal is to promote healing through laughter. Laughter Heals supports improvements in the world of health care by heightening the awareness of the power of laughter." This website contains a collection of articles as well as personal testimonies dealing with laughter therapy.
The Laughter Remedy
This website, designed by psychologist, Dr. Paul McGhee was created in order to provide information to individuals, support groups, and healthcare organizations about how humor contributes to health and stress reduction.
Laughter Therapy: The Lighter Side of Loss
Allen Klein, the author of this article, calls himself a “Jollytologist”. He travels around the country and gives speeches and seminars on humor. In this article he explains his personal connection to humor as a therapeutic device as well as its importance to several others to make difficult situations more bearable.
A Study of Laughter and Dissociation: Distinct Correlates of Laughter and Smiling During Bereavement.
This article begins by giving a bit of background as to why people laugh during bereavement. These psychologists believe that laughter is a central element in social life and decided to create a study in order to document the different kinds and functions of laughter.
Therapeutic Uses of Humor
Within this article, Dr. Robin A. Haig examines the many psychological aspects of humor. The article begins with an explanation of early research conducted by Freud, who saw humor as a spontaneous activity. It goes on to explore further research as well as offer clinical examples for the possible constructive and destructive aspects of using humor in psychotherapy.
Humor as a Means of Coping with National Tragedy
• Contribution from Dean’s Reader:
Madeline Tarabelli, Psychology
Abstract [FULL TEXT]
Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close, by Jonathan Safran Foer, is a novel focusing on the life of a young boy who, after losing his father in the attacks on the World Trade Center on September, 11, 2001, embarks on a journey of remembrance and hope. While providing the reader with a touching story of recovery, the book also reminds us that humor can be incorporated into the healing process. Humor is an important life skill, as shown through psychological research and therapeutic practices. Maintaining a sense of humor and a positive outlook can create resilience and optimism, both important factors when dealing with tragedy. We are also reminded of the importance of humor in American culture. Evident in our media coverage of political, historical, and emotional events, humor is both something that helps us and defines us as Americans.
• Online Resources:
4 Iconoclastic Views of 9/11 and its Aftermath: Humor Helped Us Heal
From the San Francisco Chronicle, September 8, 2002, columnist David Kurtzman discusses America’s return to humor, as shown through late night talk show hosts, and satirical news sources such as The Onion and The Daily Show.
Association for Applied and Therapeutic Humor
This association is based on the idea that humor is essential to positive thinking and can be very therapeutic. The site states that “humor and laughter are used to enhance work performance, support learning, improve health and as a coping tool”. There are also many links to articles based on the benefits of humor, and AATH publications.
Daily Show: September 20, 2001
The first episode of The Daily Show following September 11, 2001. Jon Stewart gives a moving introduction and touches upon the resilience of America, and the importance of not letting tragedy stop the country from enjoying laughter and comedy.
Elementary school children's responses 3 months after the September 11 terrorist attacks: A study in Washington, DC.
This is a study of children in Washington, DC, three months after September 11th, questioning how they were coping. The data was derived from students filling out questionnaires and parents providing evaluations.
Humor and 9/11- A Possibility?
This website appears to be a report done by students, rather than a scholarly article, but there is still valuable information, particularly some of the statistics found on joke trends before and after 9/11. The report also gives a list of credible references.
Saturday Night Live: September 29, 2001
This website gives the transcript for the first Saturday Night Live following September 11, 2001. The opening monologue was done by New York Mayor Rudolph Giuliani, along with members of the New York Police and Fire Departments. The transcript depicts America’s attempt at a return to normalcy.
September 11 Remembered: How Humor Helped America Heal
David Kurtzman revisits his 2002 column, and discusses how humor continued to help the country heal. He also provides links to examples of political cartoons, as well as many instances of humor surrounding Osama bin Laden and the Department of Homeland Security.
Terror and Gallows Humor: After September 11?
This article, by Wendy Doniger, a University of Chicago Professor, reflects on the appropriateness of humor following September 11th. The issue of gallows humor is discussed, in terms of September 11th, as well as the Holocaust, depicting similarities between the tragedies.
Toward Optimal Health: The Experts Discuss Therapeutic Humor.
This study looks at the use and benefits of therapeutic humor on physical and psychological well-being. Is humor a basic human need?
Use of Humor as a Coping Mechanism, Psychological Adjustment, and Social Interaction
From Humor: International Journal of Humor Research, this article hypothesizes that the use of humor can lead to a better life overall. The article also goes on to say that humor is a powerful coping mechanism and means of adjustment.
What are positive emotions in a crisis? A prospective study of resilience and emotions following the terrorist attacks on the United States on September 11th, 2001.
This article discusses how maintaining positive emotions can create resilient people. Those who are usually positive have less of a difficult time dealing with tragedy and are less likely to become depressed. Study focused on college students before and after September 11th.
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