University of Chicago Press On the Art of Being Canadian (McLean Family Canadian Studies Series)

Product Description When Vincent Massey wrote On Being Canadian in 1948, he acknowledged the importance of the arts to education and citizenship. He did not consider what the arts can tell us about being Canadian. In On the Art of Being Canadian, Sherrill Grace traces how painters, writers, and filmmakers have shaped Canadian identity in three fields of representation that are staples of Canadian culture – the North, iconic national figures, and war. By telling stories in their chosen media and genres about life here or about events and figures from the past, she shows that artists help us to understand the Canadian landscape and to create a shared history. Review On the Art of Being Canadian is a stimulating and often challenging work of great intellectual depth, which is a great pleasure to read. -- Martin Loschnigg ― Anglistik: International Journal of English Studies, Vol. 22.1 This is an important work for all academic libraries. Highly recommended. -- L.J. Sherlock, Victoria Library ― Choice, Vol 47, No 9 From the Inside Flap In On the Art of Being Canadian, Sherrill Grace traces how painters, writers, and filmmakers have shaped Canadian identity in three fields of representation that are staples in Canadian culture - the North, iconic national figures, and war. By telling stories in their chosen medium and genre about life here or about events and figures from the past, she shows that artists help us to understand the Canadian landscape and to create a shared history. From the Back Cover In On the Art of Being Canadian, Sherrill Grace traces how painters, writers, and filmmakers have shaped Canadian identity in three fields of representation that are staples in Canadian culture - the North, iconic national figures, and war. By telling stories in their chosen medium and genre about life here or about events and figures from the past, she shows that artists help us to understand the Canadian landscape and to create a shared history. About the Author Sherrill Grace is a professor of English at the University of British Columbia. She was named an Officer of the Order of Canada and was awarded the Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal in 2013.