Tuesday, March 13, 2012

Whitman in Pop Culture


I focused on Whitman in Television. I found it interesting  that two shows from the 90's, Northern Exposure and Dr Quinn, Medicine Woman (I know, painful, I apologize in advance) focused on his Whitman's sexual orientation in a decade where gay rights and issues became more highlighted in the media and pop culture.  

In the third selection from the Twilight Zone the show questions love and being human as a robot is cast in the role of a grandmother. This one is titled, "I Sing the Body Electric" obviously pulled directly from the poem of the same name. The Dr. Quinn episode is titled, "The Body Electric" We see how motifs from Walt's actual life and his work (so closely tied) can be spun in different directions while deriving them from the same poem title. 



In case the link doesn't work:


Northern Exposure http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bX4W9SFmxtM

Dr Quinn, Medicine Woman http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d70X50ttKA0

Twilight Zone http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EaH31jgqRl0

2 comments:

  1. Oh man... Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman? That brings back so many memories of days spent sick at home with nothing else to watch on television. :)

    Cara, do you think I could get your email address? I'm trying to compile a list for our Philip Levine group. My email address is: ichilders@gmail.com.

    Thank you! Hope you're enjoying your Spring Break!

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