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14 • THURSDAY, APRIL 7, 2016
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Brace yourself: A Game of Thrones course is coming ZEHRA CAMILLER GAZETTE STAFF @GAZETTECULTURE Winter is coming, Mustangs, and no — we are not talking about the season. During the upcoming 2016-17 academic year, Western students will have the pleasure of being taught by John Leonard, the recipient of the 2013 James Holly Handford Award, in a class based around the popular literary and television series, Game of Thrones. The course, titled “Winter is coming; Game of Thrones,” will be
a general 2000 level course offered by the English department. This means there are no prerequisites and students do not have to be in an English module in order to enrol in the course. Leonard’s primary areas of interest are in teaching and researching John Milton’s poetry, making him, as English undergraduate chair Richard Moll explains, “the Miltonest in the world right now.” Moll says Leonard created the course because Milton is a tough sell for a lot of people and Game of
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Thrones plays into similar themes. This means people who don’t have a lot of background on Milton can take the course and enjoy it. Moll, whose field is medieval studies, believes the fascination with Game of Thrones has emerged from an increasing intrigue with the middle ages. “[Although] Game of Thrones evokes a historical moment, it is set outside one,” Moll explains. “Some people think of Game of Thrones as a kind of American version of Tolkien.” In fact, Moll compares Game of Thrones to Harry Potter, explaining that for the kids who grew up with Harry Potter, Game of Thrones provided a natural transition into a more mature version of a similar style of book. Unlike the Harry Potter course offered here at Western, the Game
of Thrones course will, at least tentatively, go over the first three novels and then touch on the general series as a whole. The television series will be discussed for its impact, but the focus will be on the literary version of the series. Jamie Quinn, a second-year medical sciences and French studies student, says she would be very interested in a Game of Thrones course, but worries about the size of the books. “If it’s anything like the Harry Potter course where you have to read a book per week, it would be impossible to balance a full course load and take this course,” she says. Quinn believes this course is a great idea for an elective because reading for pleasure during the school year is extremely difficult. She is also not the only one who believes that a Game of Thrones
course is a positive addition to the courses Western offers. Jamie Morritt, a first-year political science student, is interested in the course because of the elaborate narrative. “Personally, I am attracted to the series because of the complexity of the storyline, which translates well to the show,” Morritt says. “The prose itself is not superb by any means but George R. R. Martin is able to draw in the reader through his plots and intrigue that leave you guessing while also satisfying the need for closure all at once.” Morritt believes that although this course may not be necessary, it certainly has merit to being taught. “Game of Thrones tackles several important themes such as the validity of war, gender inequality and many other topics important to our lives today,” he says. n
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Other Pop Culture Based English Courses English 2092F/G:
The Many Faces of Harry Potter PUT YOUR SUDOKU SAVVY TO THE TEST! To solve a sudoku, the numbers 1 through 9 must fill each row, column and box. Each number can appear only once in each row, column and box. You can figure out the order in which the numbers will appear by using the numeric clues already provided in the boxes.
For solution, turn to page 3
This course will examine the Harry Potter series in relation to the multiple genres that it draws on, including the gothic novel, detective fiction, fantasy, adventure, and even the dystopian novel.
UPCOMING EVENTS COME ON OUT to the First Annual De-Stresstival! April 7 in Mustang Lounge. A great opportunity to destress right before exams with music, food, and much more to come! Follow us on Twitter @DeStresstival and our Facebook event page De-Stresstival 2016 for more information and ticket sale locations! LONDON POLICE SERVICES Auction - Over 250 Bicycles and approx 250 items from the London Police Services. Monday April 11 at 5:00pm. www.mckenzieauction.com. McKenzie’s Associated Auctioneers. 1881 Scanlan St. London (519) 453-7182 GET ACTIVE! LONDON Sport and Activity Expo, Sat. April 30th at the BMO Centre, 295 Rectory St. Free to the public. Watch demonstrations and participate in sports and activities. 100+ prizes to be won from local vendors. www.BMOCentreLondon.com
English 3667F:
From Victory Culture to the Walking Dead Postwar American Science Fiction: A mind-blowing exploration of science fiction's diverse and deviant, dead and undead, aliens and zombies, and cyborgs and cyber-punks.
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English 3900F: Girls on Fire
Constructions of Girlhood in Young Adult Dystopian Fiction: When the world falls to pieces, it takes a heroine to save the day. Find out why.
JENNIFER FELDMAN GAZETTE