Film and Literature (P01471)

? Credit Points : 20 ? SCQF Level : 11 ? Acronym : LLC-P-P01471

For the lovers of film and the advocates of cinema of 'pure cinema', literature, with its recent avatars, the scenario and screenplay, has long been considered a major obstacle to the development of film as an art in its own rights.

For the detractors of the relatively new, 'popular' medium of the moving image however, cinema is but a 'lesser' art form, and even the best movies will never compare with literary master works.

In this course, we propose to take up more recent approaches to the study of the relationship between the written word and film. Moving away from the traditional, restrictive hierarchies of 'high' and
'low' art, we will look at the wide array of forms, and theoretical enrichment that the interface between the two modes of expression and representation afford.

Adaptations and transpositions, as well as intertextuality and the co-presence of film and literature at the level of content but also of style and techniques will be addressed, taking into account not only the links between the feature film and the novel, but also between audio-visual media, poetry, biographical writing in amongst other forms of expression. We will also consider the economics of adaptation, and its 'by-products', as well as the issues of star-system, co-productions, the 'rediscovery' of classic authors' oeuvre. In the course of the seminar series, we will discuss issues such as the question of 'faithfulness' to a source text; the transposition of thoughts, subjective feelings and inner speech to the screen; the impact of cinema on modern writing.

? Keywords : Film Literature Multidisciplinarity

Entry Requirements

none

Subject Areas

Home subject area

Common Courses (School of Literatures, Languages and Cultures), (School of Literatures, Languages and Cultures, Schedule G)

Delivery Information

? Normal year taken : Postgraduate

? Delivery Period : Semester 2 (Blocks 3-4)

? Contact Teaching Time : 2 hour(s) per week for 10 weeks

All of the following classes

Type	Day	Start	End	Area
Lecture	Wednesday	10:00	12:00	Central

Summary of Intended Learning Outcomes

The students will gain an awareness of the complex interface between writing and audio-visual expression and, more specifically, between film and literature. They will acquire the theoretical and analytical tools needed to conduct creative combined analysis of the work of filmmakers and writers.