Literature and popular culture




The perception of Harvard as a center of either elite achievement, or elitist privilege, has made it a frequent literary and cinematic backdrop. "In the grammar of film, Harvard has come to mean both tradition, and a certain amount of stuffiness," film critic Paul Sherman has said.

Literature

  • The Sound and the Fury (1929) and Absalom! Absalom! (1936) by William Faulkner both depict Harvard student life.non-primary source needed
  • Of Time and the River (1935) by Thomas Wolfe is a fictionalized autobiography that includes his alter ego's time at Harvard.non-primary source needed
  • The Late George Apley (1937) by John P. Marquand parodies Harvard men at the opening of the 20th century;non-primary source needed it won the Pulitzer Prize.
  • The Second Happiest Day (1953) by John P. Marquand Jr. portrays the Harvard of the World War II generation.

Film

Harvard's policy since 1970 has been to permit filming on its property only rarely, so most scenes set at Harvard (especially indoor shots, but excepting aerial footage and shots of public areas such as Harvard Square) are in fact shot elsewhere.

  • Love Story (1970) concerns a romance between a wealthy Harvard hockey player (Ryan O'Neal) and a brilliant Radcliffe student of modest means (Ali MacGraw): it is screened annually for incoming freshmen.
  • The Paper Chase (1973)

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