Library Research Guides: American Literature: Streaming Videos

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American Writers on Writing

Updike, Roth, Barth, Irving: their names reverberate in the halls of modern American literature. In this NewsHour program, these four literary icons—along with the highly regarded writers Frank McCourt and Susan Sontag—offer insights into their books and the heady, and sometimes frustrating, process of writing them.

Streaming Videos

Streaming videos are viewable online. Search for more using the Films on Demand Database or AVON: Academic Video Online.

American Passages: A Literary Survey Series
This 16-part series offers a comprehensive review of American literary movements and authors within the context of history and culture. It takes an expanded view of American literary movements, bringing in a diversity of voices and tracing the continuity among them. The programs are coordinated with the Norton Anthology of American Literature.
American Road
“Afoot and light-hearted, I take to the open road…” Using Walt Whitman’s poetry as a touchstone, this fascinating documentary examines the mystique of the road in American literature, art, and music.
Early American Literature
After the American Revolution the United States was a nation in search of its own culture and identity. Washington Irving, author of "The Legend of Sleepy Hollow," began a tradition of uniquely American literature and celebrated the Hudson River.

AVON Streaming Video Channels & Collections

BBC Literary Adaptations in Video
This collection of 166 titles comprises a treasure trove of BBC productions of famous literary works, many that were buried in the BBC archive for the past few decades. From Dickens to Shakespeare, from Chekhov to Arthur Miller, from Jane Austen to Mary Shelley, a great breadth of works is included.
English Composition I: The Writer's Circle
A collection of over 100 English composition videos, focusing on the writing process.
English Composition II: The Writer's Odyssey
A collection of over 100 English composition video, focusing on gathering and documenting research, building a thesis, and forming an argument.
Famous Authors
A collections of videos exploring the lives and writings of famous authors such as Dickens, Poe, Hemingway, Woolf, Shakespeare, etc.
How to be a Writer
Writer interviews and discussions including how to publish and how to craft a story.
Literature & Language
Over 200 videos related to all aspects of literature and language.
Writers on Writing
Interviews with writers and discussions of the writing process.

Films on Demand Streaming Video Collections

American Literature
Subtopics include: 19th Century; 20th-21st Century; Early America to 1800; Survey: American Literature
British & Irish Literature
Subtopics include: 16th-17th Century British & Irish Lit.;18th Century British & Irish Lit.; 19th Century British & Irish Lit.; 20th-21st Century British & Irish Lit.; Early through Middle Ages ; Shakespeare ; Survey: British & Irish Literature
Drama and the Theater
Subtopics include: 16th-17th Century Drama; 18th-19th Century Drama; 20th-21st Century Drama; Classical & Medieval Drama; Critical Perspectives in Theater; Playwriting and Plays; Production and Design; Shakespearean Drama; Survey: Drama and the Theater
Elements of Language
Subtopics include: English Language Learning; Grammar, Usage & Mechanics; History of English; Linguistics; Survey: Elements of Language; Writing and Composition
English Collection
Over 2000 videos related to English language and literature.
Introduction To Literature
Subtopics include: Critical Perspectives; Survey: Literature
Speech & Communication
Subtopics include: Business Communication; Interpersonal Communication; Mass Communication & Journalism; Public Speaking; Survey: Speech & Communication
World Literature
Subtopics include: 16th-17th Century World Lit.; 18th Century World Lit.; 19th Century World Lit.; 20th-21st Century World Lit.; Classical & Medieval Literature; Survey: World Literature