Course Description
The interpretation of films, with emphasis on the relationships between motion pictures and British and American literature.
Athena Title
Film as Literature
Prerequisite
Two 2000-level ENGL courses or (one 2000-level ENGL course and one 3000-level ENGL course) or (one 2000-level ENGL course and one 2000-level CMLT course)
Semester Course Offered
Offered every year.
Grading System
A - F (Traditional)
Course Objectives
Students will be expected to achieve the following: 1) a general understanding of the theoretical issues surrounding the relationship between literature and film; 2) a general knowledge of the history of filmmaking; 3) a vocabulary for discussing films, in particular those based on specific literary sources; 4) an enhanced ability to write fluent analyses of films and their literary sources 5) an appreciation of film as an artistic medium, especially of its qualities as narrative.
Topical Outline
This course is taught by instructors with a wide variety of specialties within the field of British and American literature, thus texts and films to be studied and organizing themes will vary from semester to semester. In general, students can expect that attention will be paid to some or all of the following topics: 1) the political, cultural, and historical contexts of film as an artistic medium; 2) the history of filmmaking; 3) theoretical issues surrounding the relationship between literature and film; 4) the use of film as a means of literary, historical, and cultural interpretation.