North American Film Adaptations (Level 3)
| Code | School | Level | Credits | Semesters |
| AMCS3068 | American and Canadian Studies | 3 | 20 | Autumn UK |
- Code
- AMCS3068
- School
- American and Canadian Studies
- Level
- 3
- Credits
- 20
- Semesters
- Autumn UK
Summary
This module examines North American short stories and novels and their film adaptations, paying attention to the contexts in which both the literary and the cinematic texts are produced as well as to the analysis of the texts themselves. In particular, the module takes an interest in literary texts whose film adaptations have been produced in different national contexts to the source material.
Target Students
Available for final-year SH and JH American and Canadian Studies students. Also available for Film and Television Studies(in CMVS), Liberal Arts, History and Exchange students hosted by the School of CLAS.
Classes
- One 1-hour lecture per week for 11 weeks
- One 2-hour seminar per week for 11 weeks
Assessment
- 20% Presentation
- 20% Participation
- 60% Coursework: 3000-word essay
Assessed by end of autumn semester
Educational Aims
To introduce students to approaches to film adaptation of literature and to enhancing students’ awareness of more sophisticated approaches to adaptations than ‘fidelity criticism’. The module’s focus on North American literature allows for the examination of border-crossing adaptations when source material is adapted within a different national cinema.Learning Outcomes
The module aims to enhance the students’ analytical skills in both literary and cinematic contexts, and to foster interdisciplinary tools in doing so.
Students will benefit from the geographical focus of the module, which incorporates both American and Canadian literary and cinematic texts, and will develop their understanding of comparative North American cultural studies and transnational cultural production.
The module also aims to develop essay-writing skills and oral presentation of ideas.
Knowledge and understanding:
- The module develops an understanding of different adaptation theory, film form, literary forms, and film production contexts.
Intellectual skills:
- Critical analysis (formal and ideological) of primary texts (literature and film), research, critical engagement with secondary material, and independent thinking and essay topic development.
Professional and transferable skills:
- Research, written expression, and verbal expression.