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JOHN CABOT UNIVERSITY

COURSE CODE: "DMA/CW 349"
COURSE NAME: "Adapting Literature to the Screen"
SEMESTER & YEAR: Spring 2020
SYLLABUS

INSTRUCTOR: Maurizio Marmorstein
EMAIL: [email protected]
 HOURS: TTH 10:00-11:15 AM
TOTAL NO. OF CONTACT HOURS: 45
CREDITS: 3
PREREQUISITES: EN 110
OFFICE HOURS: by appointment
COURSE DESCRIPTION:
This course will examine how film is linked to other forms of storytelling such as the novel, short story, and theater. Students will learn to identify, and effectively express, the visual components of literature as well as the literary components of film through an analysis of plot, character, dialogue, setting, theme, and symbolism. Issues related to style, adaptation, translation, and interpretation will also be discussed. There will be opportunities through written and oral responses to develop the visual literacy required to "read" films, develop a vocabulary for analyzing literature and film, and ultimately come to a practical understanding of how to transfer literature into screenplay format through the production of a short screenplay.
SUMMARY OF COURSE CONTENT:

Required Texts include:          Plays: The Importance of Being Ernest, Romeo and Juliet & West Side Story. Short stories: Brokeback Mountain, Fairy Tale: Beauty and the Beast, Fiction: The Godfather.  Double Indemnity.

 

Screenplays of all the above can be found online, or will be provided as needed.

·      Lectures will explore methods of transference from the word to the picture

·      Readings of source materials will be the subject of discussions and act as a blueprint of sorts for the screenplay.           

·      Viewing of films and clips will be used to illustrate visual writing.

·      Writing outlines and screenplays

·      Oral presentations.

·      Discussions

This course will be writing intensive. Lectures will accompany discussions of weekly readings, plays, novels, or screenplays. Some film clips will complement our readings.
LEARNING OUTCOMES:

Upon completion of the course a student will be able to:        

1. identify the structure of the narrative structure of the source material (play, short story, novel) in order to adapt it or transfer it into a visual narrative suitable for film.

2. distinguish the differences between literary conventions/techniques and cinematic ones.

3. effectively use a specialized vocabulary for employing “reading strategies” specific to film.

4. put theories of adaptation into practice by writing a screenplay adapted from another narrative form (an 8-to-12 page screenplay adapted from a short story or fairy tale).
TEXTBOOK:
Book TitleAuthorPublisherISBN numberLibrary Call NumberCommentsFormatLocal BookstoreOnline Purchase
Double IndemnityJames CainVintage• ISBN-13: 978-0679723226      
The GodfatherMario PuzoSignetISBN-13: 978-0451167712      
Brokeback MountainAnnie ProuixDeckle EdgeISBN-13: 978-0743271325      
The Importance of Being EarnestOscar WildePaperbackISBN-13: 978-1580495806      
Romeo and Juliet/ West Side StoryWilliam Shakespear/ Arthur Laurents Bantam Doubleday 0-440-97483-6     
REQUIRED RESERVED READING:
NONE

RECOMMENDED RESERVED READING:
NONE
GRADING POLICY
-ASSESSMENT METHODS:
AssignmentGuidelinesWeight
   
ParticipationStudents are expected to arrive in class fully prepared to discuss the works assigned. There are Six main works that we will be covering. Demonstrating preparation during discussions on all six will merit an A grade, five a B, 4 a C, 3 a D, and less an F. (LO 1,2,3,4) 10%
Quizzes• There will 6 very short quizzes covering all readings and lectures (LO 1,2,4,). NO MAKE-UPS (best 5 out of six will count) • A ten-minute Oral Presentation at the Midterm period on a short adaptation (group project) (LO 1,2,3) 10%
Midterm• A ten-minute Oral Presentation at the Midterm period on a short adaptation (group project) (LO 1,2,3) 20%
Short Written Assignments• There will be four (4) graded assignments. (LO 1,2,3,4) Late assignments will not be accepted and will constitute a “0”. 20%
Final Project• Students will read a short story, or novella, and adapt it into a eight (8) to twelve (12) page short narrative screenplay. (LO 1,2,3,4) 20%
Final Exam• Final Exam is comprehensive covering the basic elements of plot, characterization, theme, dialogue, etc of all readings and viewings. 20%

-ASSESSMENT CRITERIA:
AWork of this quality directly addresses the question or problem raised and provides a coherent argument displaying an extensive knowledge of relevant information or content. This type of work demonstrates the ability to critically evaluate concepts and theory and has an element of novelty and originality. There is clear evidence of a significant amount of reading beyond that required for the course.
BThis is highly competent level of performance and directly addresses the question or problem raised.There is a demonstration of some ability to critically evaluatetheory and concepts and relate them to practice. Discussions reflect the student’s own arguments and are not simply a repetition of standard lecture andreference material. The work does not suffer from any major errors or omissions and provides evidence of reading beyond the required assignments.
CThis is an acceptable level of performance and provides answers that are clear but limited, reflecting the information offered in the lectures and reference readings.
DThis level of performances demonstrates that the student lacks a coherent grasp of the material.Important information is omitted and irrelevant points included.In effect, the student has barely done enough to persuade the instructor that s/he should not fail.
FThis work fails to show any knowledge or understanding of the issues raised in the question. Most of the material in the answer is irrelevant.
-ATTENDANCE REQUIREMENTS:
ATTENDANCE REQUIREMENTS AND EXAMINATION POLICY
You cannot make-up a major exam (midterm or final) without the permission of the Dean’s Office. The Dean’s Office will grant such permission only when the absence was caused by a serious impediment, such as a documented illness, hospitalization or death in the immediate family (in which you must attend the funeral) or other situations of similar gravity. Absences due to other meaningful conflicts, such as job interviews, family celebrations, travel difficulties, student misunderstandings or personal convenience, will not be excused. Students who will be absent from a major exam must notify the Dean’s Office prior to that exam. Absences from class due to the observance of a religious holiday will normally be excused. Individual students who will have to miss class to observe a religious holiday should notify the instructor by the end of the Add/Drop period to make prior arrangements for making up any work that will be missed. The final exam period runs until ____________
ACADEMIC HONESTY
As stated in the university catalog, any student who commits an act of academic dishonesty will receive a failing grade on the work in which the dishonesty occurred. In addition, acts of academic dishonesty, irrespective of the weight of the assignment, may result in the student receiving a failing grade in the course. Instances of academic dishonesty will be reported to the Dean of Academic Affairs. A student who is reported twice for academic dishonesty is subject to summary dismissal from the University. In such a case, the Academic Council will then make a recommendation to the President, who will make the final decision.
STUDENTS WITH LEARNING OR OTHER DISABILITIES
John Cabot University does not discriminate on the basis of disability or handicap. Students with approved accommodations must inform their professors at the beginning of the term. Please see the website for the complete policy.
SCHEDULE

class schedule

             

Week 1       lesson        1)Introduction: What is adaptation. Discussion on the transition from narrative to screenplay to screen.

 

                                         2)Visual literacy, what is it? Short passages from novels and plays with film clips. Formatting. Functions, Catalyzers, and Indices.

                               Weekend Reading: The Importance of Being Ernest

 

Week 2                         3)The Importance of Being Ernest, the play: a study of character

 

4) Quiz 1 on reading and screenplay Formatting  

 The Importance of Being Ernest: how dialogue advances plot.

Assignment (1):  2 page scene (faithful adaptation) The Importance of Being Ernest 

 

Week 3                         5)The Importance of Being Ernest, screenplay: writing visually.

                                                Hand in Assignment 1.

 

                                    6)Major Plot Points of The Importance of Being Ernest: 

             (Choose groups for oral presentation)

                                                Weekend Reading:  Romeo and Juliet 

 

Week 4                         7)Quiz 2 on Romeo and Juliet

                          Romeo and Juliet, Shakespeare, the play:  a study in plot.

 

                        8)Romeo and Juliet: creating scene outline and 3 act structure

                                                Choose a topic for midterm oral.

Assignment (2): Write a Scene outline of Romeo & Juliet Identify functions, catalyzers, and indices of major Plot Points

                                        

Week 5                         9)  Romeo and Juliet,  Screenplay: analysing various adaptations    (Zeffarelli, Baz Luhrman)

                                                Hand in Topic for Midterm Oral

                                                Hand in Assignment 2

                                                10)West Side Story: classic vs modern. Adaptation as spin-off. 

                                                Weekend Reading: Brokeback Mountain 

 

Week 6                         11)Quiz 3 on Brokeback Mountain

Brokeback Mountain, the short story: finding the narrative “through line”:  what to cut, what to leave in the movie, and how to expand.

 

12)Brokeback Mountain: words to image. Subplots, themes, character…

            Assignment (3): adapt 2 page Scene from Brokeback Mountain

 

Week 7                         13)Brokeback Mountain, the Screenplay: Examine differences between short short and the script: plot line, character, pacing/rhythm, etc. 

                                                Hand in Assignment 3

 

                                      14) View clips of Brokeback Mountain:examine how the screenplay was transferred to the screen 

 

Week 8                       15)   ORAL PRESENTATIONS

 

                                     16)  ORAL PRESENTATIONS

                                                Weekend Reading: Beauty and the Beast

                                                 

Week 9                         17)  Quiz 4 on Beauty and the Beast

 Beauty and the Beast, the fairy tale:  a look at symbolism.

 

                       18)View clips of Beauty and the Beastby Jean Coucteau: finding and creating subtext in the script. 

                                 (Choose a Fairy Tale to adapt for Final Project)

           Assignment (4):Write DRAFT outline of a Beauty & Beast

 

Week 10                       19)  Beauty and the Beast by Walt Disney: modern fairy tales.

                                              Hand in Assignment 4: B&B DRAFT outline

 

20) View Beauty and the Beast: Walt Disney version

                                  Weekend Reading:  Double Indemnity  

                                                            

Week 11                       21)Quiz 5 on Double Indemnity

                        Double Indemnity:the novel, creating a new world

 

                        22) exploring mood, style, atmosphere, attitude

                                  Weekend Reading:  The Godfather (Book 1, 2, 3)

                                    

Week 12                       23)The Godfather, the novel: creating great characters

 

24) Discuss Function, catalyzers and indices of the novel

          Weekend Reading:  The Godfather (finish book)   

 

Week 13                       25)Quiz 6 on The Godfather

                                      The Godfather, novel: Finding the story, creating its structure, Plot lines. 

 

                                      26)The Godfather, the Screenplay: View part 1 of film. Analyze how the script was transferred to the screen

                                                 

Week 14                       27)  The Godfather: view rest of film.   Discussion

 

                                      28)  The Godfather: Discussion and wrap up.

          

Final                    Final Exam (comprehensive)  &   Final Project due