File, Digital Video

4-8-05
Authors Series 05
Edward P. Jones
Masterclass
1 of 1
Master

Digital video transferred from a MiniDV tape containing raw footage of Edward P. Jones' masterclass session held at Marygrove College on April 8, 2005, in conjunction with his appearance in the Contemporary American Authors Lecture series.

The recording begins with Dr. Frank Rashid of Marygrove College's English Department providing introductory remarks to the attending students, and introduces Edward P. Jones.

Jones immediate begins taking questions from the students. In his responses talks about his drive to write, the title of "The Night Rhonda Ferguson Was Killed," his use of the phrase "The Known World" and the develoipment of his novel titled that, the arc of the character Caesar Matthews from "Young Lions" to "Old Boys, Old Girls," the characterization of Alice in "The Known World," how long it takes him to write, imagination, planning his plots, if the parental relationships in his works are autobiographical, the potential for a follow-up to "The Night Rhonda Ferguson Was Killed," his focus when writing "His Mother's House," the character of Elaine Cunningham reappearing in two stories, his disinterest in writing about himself, a nameless character in one of his works, the potential for a film adaption of "The Known World," information about his then unpublished story "In the Blink of God's Eye," using "harsh language" when writing dialogue, advice for aspiring writers, an explanation of "A Dark Night," the focus on Black slave owners in "The Known World," his writing process, how he doesn't have favorite characters, and his original concept for "Lost In the City."

After the question and answer session is over, Jones is presented a gift. Afterward the recording ends.