This post-modern autobiographical novel mainly focuses on mental health, addressing suicide and psychological treatments. Esther Greenwood is a young woman in the 1950s aiming for an academic career. When she is almost raped during an internship far away from home, she becomes mentally unstable. Her mental health declines further as she loses her perspective of […]
This animated comedy-adventure film navigates stereotypes, friendships and crime. Judy Hopps’ dream is to become the first bunny police officer in the metropolis Zootopia. Her job isn’t quite what she hoped for, but soon enough she’s wrapped up in her first case. While trying to solve a mysterious disappearance, she encounters scam-artist Nick who’s living […]
This spoken word poem by Darryll Suliaman Amoako aka ‘Suli Breaks’ deconstructs idealised notions of the ‘American Dream’ and addresses those people striving for success or the ‘pursuit of happiness’ at any cost. Reflecting upon the danger of spending to much time on unsatisfactory jobs and losing oneself the ‘rat race’ from ‘rags to riches’, […]
Richard Williams aka ‘Prince Ea’ reflects in his critical spoken-word-poem on the importance of education, the limitations and inequalities of the current school system in the US and the blindness of educational authorities and politicians. The voice, taking the role of a lawyer, who sues the school system, accuses that nothing had changed for the […]
This semi-autobiographical novel recounts a fascinating adventure about criminality, individual freedom and the willingness to help. Partly inspired by real-life events of its author Gregory Roberts the text offers an insight in a world of poverty, social stratification, crime and drug abuse. Jailed for multiple accounts of robbery, the narrator escapes from his Australian prison […]
This teen drama movie explores the conflict between obedience and freedom at school: Welton Academy is an all-male, elite school in the USA. With conservative strictness, students are taught the classical contents of education. That is until a new English teacher John Keaton sets foot in Welton. His methods are far from ‘classical’, his honesty […]
A humourous coming-of-age graphic novel about love, friendship, teenage troubles (alcohol, sexuality, violence…) and intercultural contact. Junior is a 14-year old Native-American teenager who grows up in the Spokane Indian Reservation in the State of Washington. Being bullied because of his special needs, he decides to visit an all-white public high school off the reservation, […]
A dystopian novel about global warming, environmental pollution, love and the loss of biodiversity. In the year 2025, 75-year-old Tyrone works as a caretaker at the estate of a wealthy rockstar in California which functions as the habitat for animals that are the last of their kind. Climate change has caused mass extinctions and rice […]
A coming-of-age novel about patriarchy, racism, social injustices and rape. Esperanza is a teenage girl living with her family in Chicago. In short episodes she tells the reader about her life, growing up on Mango Street in a poor Mexican-American community. Esperanza grows up, makes friends, falls in love and endures sexual assault. Through all […]
A drama movie about family, love and staying true to oneself: Ben and his wife Leslie decided to raise their six children far away from the quite possibly corrupting influences of modern day society, so they moved to the Washington wilderness and built their own camp. There they spend their days training their bodies and […]
Coach Ken Carter returns to his former high school as basketball coach in this biographical drama movie about loyalty, unity and achievement. His methods seem drastic: Each player has to sign a contract, promising high educational achievment so that they are allowed to train and play. So when his players fail to deliver in school, […]
In this semi-autobiographic film about life, loss and dedication, Hunter ‘Patch’ Adams is the odd one when he eventually picks up studying medicine. His joy for life seems boundless and his methods strange but slowly he manages to win over not only his co-students but also his teachers with his dedication to healing through laughter. […]
This satirical young-adult-novel problematises reality TV, sexism, stereotypes and body image. When the plane of 50 Miss Teen Dream contestants crashes on a desert island, it is time for them to re-evaluate their priorities. In isolation, they start to realise the crash may not have been an accident and odd incidents just keep piling up. […]
A young adult novel about the difficult topic of school shootings, their victims and longlasting consequences. Valerie’s boyfriend Nick opens fire in their school’s cafeteria. A list the two composed, their so-called hate list, served to choose his targets. Although Valerie is wounded in her attempt to stop Nick, her guilt will follow her for […]
A movie drama about health, sports and honesty. Dr. Omalu came to the USA from Nigeria in order to work as a forensic pathologist. When several former NFL-players commit suicide, Dr. Omalu suspects that repeated concussions suffered during football games are to blame. As was to be expected, the NFL will do everything in its […]
Based on the musical of the same name, this tragicomedy movie on education, history, gender and hidden sexuality follows a group of British boys during their last year in school: Against all odds, they all have the potential to receive a place at a prestigious college, so their headmaster provides them with a very special […]
Throughout this sociocritical movie drama, Ricky, his wife and his children are struggeling with the financial crisis of 2008: With the promise of a safe income, Ricky is lured into buying a van. His plan is to deliver mail as a contractor. Soon, both his boss and this exploitative system is revealed for what they […]