Dr. Perkins                                                                                                                                                                             M3058; 322-0570

Fall 2004                                                                                                                                                                                 Office Hours: M/W 1-2 and by appt.

                                                                                                                                                                                               

                                                                                   

HONORS LITERATURE AND FILM: SELF AND SOCIETY

 

 

COURSE DESCRIPTION:

            This course will explore the various relationships between film and literature with a thematic emphasis on self and society.  The course will begin with an introduction to narrative structures in literature and film and to links between the written word and the visual image.  We will analyze thematically representative examples of novels, short stories, and films as individually significant texts and, where appropriate, as cinematic adaptations of literary originals.  We will also look at film genres.  Students will complete a research project that incorporates film theory.

 

STUDENT OUTCOMES:

By the end of the course, students should be able to

 

--identify important literary forms;

--identify important cinematic techniques;

--identify the aesthetics of literature and film;

--critically analyze theme in films and literature;

--explain how narrative structures are transferred to visual images;

--identify various literary and cinematic genres and place specific works in their     

   contexts;

--explain how literature and film express social communication;

--apply at least one critical approach to analyzing literature and film.

 

TEXTS:

            Phillips.  Film: An Introduction

            Austin.  Emma

            Shakespeare. Othello

            Conrad.  Heart of Darkness

Handouts

           

FILMS:

            Emma

            Clueless

            Othello

            Apocalypse Now

            Selected short films and excerpts

             

REQUIREMENTS:

            Short responses                                                            20%

Presentation                                                                  20%

            One 8-10 page research project                                   20%

            Midterm                                                                       20%

            Final Exam                                                                   20%

           

RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Please come to class on time.  If you are more than fifteen minutes late on two occasions, it will be counted as one absence.  

            • Only 3 absences are allowed.  If you miss more than this, your grade will be lowered 5 percentage points per absence.  If you miss 6 classes you can expect a failing grade.

            • Work done in class can not be made up if you are absent.

              Late papers will be dropped 5% for each day late.

           

ACADEMIC INTEGRITY:

            Any work that you submit to me must be your own; any words, ideas, or data that you borrow from another and include in your work must be properly documented.  Any student who plagiarizes may fail the course and will be reported to the Vice President of Instruction.

 

SEMESTER SCHEDULE

 

Week of Aug 30           Introduction

 

Week of Sept 6            Chapter 1

                         

Week of Sept 13          Chapter 2

 

Week of Sept 20          Chapter 3

 

Week of Sept 27          Chapters 5 and 6

 

Week of Oct 4             Chapters 7 and 9

 

Week of Oct 11           Text/film handouts/excerpts from Psycho and Shawshank Redemption

 

Week of Oct 18           Midterm

 

Oct 25-Nov 3              The Short Happy Life of Francis Macomber, American Beauty

 

Nov 5-15                     Emma, Clueless

 

Nov 17-24                   Heart of Darkness, Apocalypse Now

 

Nov 29-Dec 8              The Birds

 

Week of Dec 10           Conferences

 

Dec 17                         Final

                                    Research Papers Due