Cultural Studies Texts - Jonathan Franzen, Freedom (2010)

Franzen's epic saga of American life follows the trials and tribulations of the Berglund family, exploring the dynamics of nuclear family lifestyle in modern-day America. Dramatic as the novel is, it's more than a Days of Our Lives-esque soap opera, though; it also uses this framework to explore contemporary issues relating to environmentalism, consumer culture, the Iraq war, and life during and after 9/11.

One of the topics that have often been debated within cultural studies is the role and influence of media texts. What is Franzen's take on the media in this novel?

Think about how the theme of freedom is treated throughout the novel: can freedom truly exist and, if so, are there different types of freedom? Likewise, is freedom always a good thing (like, can the term be abused, or can there be too much freedom)?