The Seven Arts Magazine, 1916-1917: a Study of Van Wyck Brook's Essays and Their Relationship to Editorial Policy

Date of Graduation

Summer 1979

Degree

Master of Science in Education in Secondary Education

Department

Reading, Foundations, and Technology

Committee Chair

George Glenson

Abstract

When James Oppenheim and Waldo Frank began The Seven Arts magazine in 1916, they added Van Wyck Brooks to their staff because of his recently-published book, America's Coming-of-Age (1915). Brooks's book expresses ideas held in common with those of other young American writers and artists at that time. Given this premise, one must ask some questions. Is Brooks's philosophy the same philosophy held by the editors of The Seven Arts? Would an analysis of Brooks's essays, both in America's Coming-of-Age and in The Seven Arts, and an analysis of The Seven Arts's editorials show that they all voice a similar message? If so, then perhaps one can conclude that America's Coming-of-Age helped to shape the editorial policy of The Seven Arts. Or perhaps it is only coincidental that Brooks's philosophy is similar to Frank's and Oppenheim's beliefs and the editorial policy to which The Seven Arts adhered. My analysis of Brooks's essays and The Seven Arts's editorials indicates what philosophies these men expressed in writing. A look at the contents of the twelve issues of The Seven Arts shows how that editorial policy was carried out.

Subject Categories

Education

Copyright

© Elizabeth Ann Hicks

Citation-only

Dissertation/Thesis

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