Publications
"Writing is hard work; it's also the best job I've ever had." --Raymond Friest
COMING APRIL 6, 2020
Finding God in the Bathroom: Enter the Throne Room
In the vein
of Everybody
Poops, which remains one of
the bestselling books in children’s literature for its familiarity to people of all backgrounds, Finding God in the Bathroom, dares to explain Christian living principles in a way that blends
grossology and theology. In this text, the old adage, “you are what you eat” takes on a spiritual connotation as fecal matter is equated with sin which can be wiped away by careful use of the Word of
God (toilet paper). The toilet, sink, and shower become tools to understanding faith at a deeper level for the teenager and young adult.
Perhaps your jaw is hitting the floor in disbelief right
now. You probably have never imagined spirituality discussed in this manner. Rest assured, Finding God in the Bathroom is not a disrespectful, sarcastic, or satirical text [though it is quite humorous]. Dr. Brian C.
Johnson has taken great care to respectfully handle the sacred in this avant garde treatment.
AVAILABLE AUGUST 1, 2019
Send Judah First: The Erased Life of an Enslaved Soul
A young girl’s life is shattered when she is stolen from her African village in a midnight raid. Ruthlessly torn from her family to be beaten, chained, degraded, and enslaved in a heartless world she can barely comprehend. The slave ledger at Virginia’s Belle Grove Plantation only reveals that Judah was purchased to be the cook, gave birth to 12 children, and died in April 1836. But, like the other 276 faceless names entered in that ledger, Judah lived.
Brian C. Johnson’s important work of historical fiction goes beyond what is recorded to portray the depth, humanity, and vulnerability of a beautiful soul all but erased by history. For Judah, as Johnson notes, “did the ultimate—she survived. Not as a weakling, but resilient and determined.”
Reel Big Bullies: Teaching to the Problem
Talk with students about bullying in their schools/communities and three
themes are likely to emerge: a) there’s nothing anyone can do about it, b)
bullying is necessary as it builds character, and c) there needs to be more
educational programming in the schools designed to curb bullying behavior.
Contrast those sentiments with the helplessness teachers and administrators
feel. Many will tell you that current state and federal guidelines tie their
hands until after an incident occurs. In other words, a student must get hurt
before the school is able to do anything. Reel Big Bullies is designed for regular
anti-bullying campaigns and will not cost struggling districts thousands of
dollars to implement as it provides teachers with educational resources to
complement regular instruction in classrooms.
Using clips from Hollywood blockbusters like Knocked Up, The Emperor’s
New Groove, The Benchwarmers and others, Reel Big Bullies is designed to
help students, administrators, teachers and counselors create a safer school
environment for all students. It is also intended to help all students
understand the terrible toll bullying can take on its targets, and to encourage
students to stand up for their classmates who are being bullied.
The book’s framework follows the three themes above and discusses the
pertinent legal and policy decisions affecting educational intervention. With
the already busy (overwhelmed) teacher in mind, we describe nearly 200 film
clips teachers can show in class to promote and spark discussions with
students in middle and high schools.
To order from BRILL
Reel Diversity: A Teacher's Sourcebook (revised edition)
"No diversity educator should ever be without Reel Diversity. Reel Diversity provides a practical tool for educators and trainers to engage students and professionals in a dialogue about social justice issues through the use of film. Reel Diversity provides a vherealuable tool for novice and advanced diversity educators to inspire even those most resistant to understand the need for diversity education.”
Tchet Dereic Dorman, President, Pennsylvania Chapter of the National Association for Multicultural Education
To order, please click here
Glee and New Directions for Social Change
In the fall of 2009, the Fox network took a bold step in their primetime television lineup. Borrowing from the success of reality music performance shows like its own American Idol, the network introduced us to the students at McKinley High School, a fictional high school in Lima, OH, and home to the glee club known as the New Directions. The group is made up of freaks and geeks who feel the wrath of being “different.” The cool kids are hell bent on making life difficult for the students in glee club. Yet, because of the determination of Mr. Will Schuester, the club’s advisor, along with a few great songs, Glee has brought a new tone of inclusion to modern television and direct parallels can be seen between the experiences of the show choir members and what is happening in contemporary society. Glee has shown the importance of examining the intersections of pop culture and social issues; this text will encourage thinking on how effective the show has been beyond the screen. Essays provide critical analyses of the show, its characters, and its overall usefulness as a commentary on social issues. The show’s content often deals with subject matter that would lend easily to critique around such social issues as sexuality, bullying, interpersonal communication, conflict resolution, and family relationships. This text invites readers to examine the intersections between media, society, and the individual.
To order from Sense Publishers, CLICK HERE
TO order from Amazon, CLICK HERE
We've Scene It All Before: Using Film Clips in Diversity Awareness Training (2009)
Publisher
Sense Publisher (www.sensepublishers.com)
Genre
Multicultural education; corporate training
Description
A revolutionary tool for corporate and academic trainers, We’ve Scene It All Before, harnesses the power of mainstream Hollywood film to enhance educational sessions about diversity and social justice. This resource manual offers practical guidance on how to effectively use the concept of difference as a starting point towards true inclusion. Seasoned and novice trainers will appreciate the suggested strategies and best practices on facilitating diversity dialogues, which are coupled with a set of twenty-five definitions that introduce and raise awareness of the personal and systemic nature of difference, discrimination, and power. Additionally, the author provides detailed descriptions of scenes from feature films that match those definitions (complete with time stamps from the DVDs for easy use in training programs).
To Order a Copy from AMAZON
To Order a Copy from SENSE PUBLISHERS
Reel Diversity: A Teacher's Sourcebook (2008)
Publisher
Peter Lang Publishing (www.peterlangusa.com)
Genre
Multicultural Education; Media Literacy
Description
Winner of the 2009 National Association of Multicultural Education
Book Award
Reel Diversity: A Teacher's Sourcebook is a resource manual for teachers who want to infuse the concepts of diversity and social justice into their secondary and college courses. Lecturers and workshop presenters will also appreciate this text for its practical uses. It discusses the role of the teacher in minimizing cultural dominance, prejudice, and discrimination in society. The text includes an extensive section on designing a diversity education course, and teachers will benefit from the suggested instructional activities, readings, assignments, and advice on creating a classroom atmosphere for these issues.
More than just another book on film literacy and criticism, this manual stands out from the competition for its practical, user-friendly mini-lessons using film clips from mainstream Hollywood feature films to illustrate the 25 diversity definitions provided in the text, and develops a list of questions following each clip that can be used to encourage cross-cultural dialogue.
To Order a Copy from PETER LANG
To Order a Copy from AMAZON
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