Cinematic adaptations of novels have dominated the box office and film industry awards for some decades, often provoking fierce debate about their fidelity, or otherwise, to the original; discussions about how the text has been transformed, cut and downright ruined, or, conversely, how the film has 'rescued' the novel, making it seem interesting and worth reading in a new context.
This course examines a series of novels together with their film adaptations, in order to understand the differences between films and novels as modes of storytelling; examine the way the novel and its adaptation participate in debates unique to their own historical contexts; and analyse the anxieties about literary and cultural value exposed by adaptations of novels. We will ask: how do film adaptations generate new meanings from novels today? Should a film seek only to imitate the novel or can it also transform, reconceptualise and critique it? What role do the market and the audience play in generating new meanings from texts? And can the relationship between novel and film adaptation be understood as mutually dependent?
Learning Outcomes
Upon successful completion, students will have the knowledge and skills to:
Upon Successful completion of this course, students will be able to:
- Analyse, discuss and write critically about a range
of novels and the key cultural debates
in which they participate.
- Analyse, discuss and write critically about a range of
film and/or television adaptations of novels and the key cultural debates in
which they participate.
- Recognise, interpret and evaluate the ways in which
literary texts and their visual adaptations both emerge from and contribute to
their literary, historical and cultural contexts.
- Understand influential theories of adaptation and be able to utilise these in analyses of adaptations.
Indicative Assessment
Essay One, 2000 words (35%) [Learning Outcomes 1-4]
Essay Two, 2500 words (55%) [Learning Outcomes 1-4]
Tutorial participation (10%) [Learning Outcomes 1-4]
The ANU uses Turnitin to enhance student citation and referencing techniques, and to assess assignment submissions as a component of the University's approach to managing Academic Integrity. While the use of Turnitin is not mandatory, the ANU highly recommends Turnitin is used by both teaching staff and students. For additional information regarding Turnitin please visit the ANU Online website.
Workload
One lecture (1.5 hours), one tutorial (1 hour), and 7.5 hours of associated reading/study time per week including fortnightly film viewing sessions of up to 2 1/2 hours.
Requisite and Incompatibility
Preliminary Reading
Texts
may include: Jane Austen, Persuasion; Henry James, The Portrait of a Lady; Bram
Stoker, Dracula; Nathaniel Hawthorne, The Scarlett Letter, E.M Forster, A Room
With A View, Ian McEwan's Atonement and a number of film adaptations.
Majors
Minors
Fees
Tuition fees are for the academic year indicated at the top of the page.
If you are a domestic graduate coursework or international student you will be required to pay tuition fees. Tuition fees are indexed annually. Further information for domestic and international students about tuition and other fees can be found at Fees.
- Student Contribution Band:
- 1
- Unit value:
- 6 units
If you are an undergraduate student and have been offered a Commonwealth supported place, your fees are set by the Australian Government for each course. At ANU 1 EFTSL is 48 units (normally 8 x 6-unit courses). You can find your student contribution amount for each course at Fees. Where there is a unit range displayed for this course, not all unit options below may be available.
| Units | EFTSL |
|---|---|
| 6.00 | 0.12500 |
Course fees
- Domestic fee paying students
| Year | Fee |
|---|---|
| 2016 | $2718 |
- International fee paying students
| Year | Fee |
|---|---|
| 2016 | $3876 |
Offerings, Dates and Class Summary Links
ANU utilises MyTimetable to enable students to view the timetable for their enrolled courses, browse, then self-allocate to small teaching activities / tutorials so they can better plan their time. Find out more on the Timetable webpage.