Why are so many films and television programmes adapted from other sources? Why do such adaptations frequently evoke powerful responses from viewers and critics? What role does screenwriting play in the adaptation process? You will consider these questions as you explore the popularity of adaptations within popular culture. The module will provide the close study of screen adaptations taken from a variety of media which may include theatre, classic novels, short stories and comics. In doing so, you will engage with key topics from adaptation studies, considering the connections and differences between distinct media, focusing on key features such as the manipulation of time and space, characterisation, point of view, style, voice, interpretation and /or evaluation. You will be encouraged to consider adaptation within an industrial context and the creative and practical implications of adapting works for the screen. Within the remit of the course, there will be opportunities for you to develop your own creative interests within adaptation studies in conjunction with a deeper understanding of the key theoretical concepts underpinning the discipline.
Lecture & Screening: 24 hours
Seminar: 16 hours
Essay.
Assessment Details: Essay (1,500 words). Worth 40%.
Project.
Assessment Details: Screenwriting - Screenplay (8 pages) and reflective essay (1,000 words) worth 60%.
Reassessment Method:
Like-for-like
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On successfully completing the module, students will be able to:
1) Appraise different forms of screen-based media adaptations through critical analysis of the debates around industrial, aesthetic, social and cultural trends, and the ability to coherently articulate their understanding of the relationships between these developments.
2) Examine the different modes of analysis made possible by key methods of enquiry and be able to demonstrate their relevance to the study of adaptation in film and television.
3) Critically discuss adaptation through a sustained engagement with key theoretical concepts.
4) Examine the interplay between aesthetic choices and technological innovation deployed in adaptation through their research into relevant scholarly literature and the consideration of the practical implications in adapting texts for the screen.
5) Critically evaluate adaptation as an industry and reflect upon the significance of this context upon the artistic choices made during the process of adaptation.
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