Novel Explores Isolation in The Internet Age
Ask students: How does "Twist" take on themes of loneliness and isolation? What imagery and stories does it use?
How lost are we without our devices? Or putting it more simply, as novelist Colum McCann might: just how isolated are we? His new novel "Twist" asks big questions through a story of characters literally at sea. Senior arts correspondent Jeffrey Brown has this profile of the book and its writer for our arts and culture series, CANVAS.
View the transcript of the story.
Discussion Questions
- Who is Colum McCann, and what is his background?
- What story inspired McCann's book?
- Why is "repair" the theme of our times, according to McCann?
- Where is McCann's novel "Twist set?
- How does "Twist" take on themes of loneliness and isolation? What imagery and stories does it use?
Focus Questions
What have you noticed about the ways people socialize differently online and in-person? What do you think are some advantages and disadvantages of online communication?
Media literacy: At the end of this segment, McCann puts forward the idea that sharing stories can help repair a divided world. Do you think storytelling has the power to help people work across differences? Why do you think it has that effect, if so?
Extension Activity
In this segment, Colum McCann describes his interest in writing stories that help repair the damage done by loneliness and isolation. As a class, think of projects you can do that address some of the same themes using the media of your choice — fiction, poetry, essay, music, photography, painting or any other kind of expression are all valid.
For more inspiration, you can check out News Hour's Art in Action series on artistic expression that makes a difference, including the segment below.
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Republished with permission from PBS News Hour Classroom.
PBS News Hour Classroom helps teachers and students identify the who, what, where and why-it-matters of the major national and international news stories. The site combines the best of News Hour's reliable, trustworthy news program with lesson plans developed specifically for... See More
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