Celebrating Jane Austen's legacy

Pemberly Society forms to study, explore the literary works of Romantic author

By BETH DOUGLASS, News Writer

Published: October 10, 2007

At six o'clock tonight, members of the Pemberley Society of Seattle Pacific (PSSP) will gather in Library Seminar Room B for a special viewing of the Bollywood film "Bride and Prejudice."

Having only received official club status this past Friday, the PSSP has managed to go unnoticed by many SPU students. Club members and officers are hoping that this movie night just might change that.

The club was created to celebrate and explore the work of Jane Austen, one of the early advocates of the novel genre of British Literature. It is named after the estate owned by Austin's famed character Mr. Fitzwilliam Darcy in one of her most popular novels, "Pride and Prejudice."

Sophomore Alex Binz, president and founder of PSSP, said he has high hopes for the organization. He plans to have meetings in the library seminar rooms on a bi-monthly schedule.

"The goal of the club is to read one of Jane Austen book per quarter," Binz said, noting that the busy schedules of PSSP members may not allow for such an objective. "We're also going to try to watch all the movie adaptations of the book, in addition to special events and movie nights."

He noted that the creation of the PSSP is timely, considering that this winter and spring PBS will be airing the complete works of Jane Austen on film.

Austen herself lived in England towards the end of the 18th century. A staple in literature studies, Austen's books have also inspired numerous film adaptations.

"I think the reason people keep coming back today, in Hollywood especially, is that they are stories that are perfect for film," Binz said. "With any Austen novel, you get very much a complete story. It is not at all a truncated romantic comedy."

Freshman Michelle Covington, who serves as PSSP's communications director, had been eager to join the Pemberley Society ever since she found out about the club through a discussion on Facebook.com.

"In high school, you only go so deep with literature," she said. Covington claims she never pictured herself much of an Austen fan until she watched the 2005 film adaptation of "Pride and Prejudice" in theaters.

"I read the entire book in two days after seeing the movie," she said.

Binz marveled at how Austen's books have stood the test of time, and how they continue to be popular today with readers and moviegoers alike.

"What set Austen apart was her willingness to be domestic; her willingness to be, almost, pedestrian," he said. With the other writers of her day, he said, "Everyone else was pursuing wit. To her, it came naturally.""

Binz also said he appreciated Austen's character usage and her wit which "flows out like real life. Her plots are completely ordinary, yet still genius despite it."

Binz's plans for the PSSP this year include a Jane Austen film festival during spring quarter, and a Pemberley Society Ball.

The ball would echo the formal dances seen in most Jane Austen movies, complete with traditional time period costumes. Binz hopes to enlist the help of dance instructors to teach the choreography shown in these movies.

The goal of the Pemberley Society, Binz said, is "probably to have fun, but to surprise by the wit and the type of fun." He hopes that SPU students will be able to "get an appreciation of the ingenuity of the thing."

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