Literary Adaptations: From Page to Screen

What is the course about?

This online film studies course explores the processes, nuances, and results of cinematic adaptations of literary texts from across film history. Beginning with the silent era and turn of the century adaptations and ending in the 21st century with some recent boundary pushing examples, this course aims to expand learners’ understanding of how filmmakers can adapt their chosen source texts, addressing the challenges and expectations of this often-controversial area of cinema.

By looking at primary case study films each week, alongside accompanying texts that follow a similar thematic focus, we will examine the following topics: silent film adaptations, Hollywood adaptations, British period adaptations, director-focused adaptation, contemporary adaptations, and postmodern adaptation. Each week will build on the last, giving learners a layered and detailed understanding of the myriad ways in which a work of literature can be interpreted and re-interpreted.

What will we cover?

The first three weeks of the course will have a primarily historical outlook, examining some of the most influential literary adaptations, how they came to be, and how they set the standard for a majority of film adaptations going forward. Examining texts like The Phantom of the Opera (Rupert Julian 1925), The Wizard of Oz (Victor Fleming 1939), and A Room with a View (James Ivory 1985), we will consider why these films are widely considered to be ‘successful’ attempts to bring their stories to the screen, and how the techniques used carry forward into adaptations created today.

The second half of the course will begin to question some of what we have examined in the first, specifically what constitutes an ‘adaptation’ and some more experimental approaches to translating a story from page to screen. By exploring how films like William Shakespeare’s Romeo + Juliet (Baz Luhrmann 1996), The Invisible Man (Leigh Whannel 2020), and Adaptation (Spike Jonze 2002) reinterpret their source material in novel ways, we can compare how they ‘break the rules’ established by more conventional filmic versions of literature, and further develop our understanding of what an adaptation can be.

What will I achieve?
By the end of this course you should be able to...

• Refer to significant texts in the history of film adaptation
• Understand the processes and challenges faced by filmmakers in the adaptational process
• Analyse the differences between books and films in depth.

What level is the course and do I need any particular skills?

This course is appropriate for any learner with an interest in the transformation of literature to film. Prior study of either film or literature could be beneficial but is not required.

How will I be taught, and will there be any work outside the class?

Each week will consist of a two-hour session – the first half will be a lecture-style session covering the information for that week with some room for questions and comments, while the second (following a 5-minute break) will be a structured discussion encouraging learners to share their thoughts in-depth. There will be short, selected readings to complete on some weeks prior to the session (these being non-academic and in accessible language), while other resources including clips and academic articles will be included in the lecture and discussion.

Are there any other costs? Is there anything I need to bring?

Everything required for the course will be provided within the lectures and in materials shared before the session – while watching the films and reading their source texts will likely give you a greater opportunity to contribute to discussions beyond clips and extracts shown in class, this is not mandatory to engage with and enjoy the course.

When I've finished, what course can I do next?

Please look for other Film Studies courses under History, Culture, Writing/Film Studies at www.citylit.ac.uk.