MFC6162 - Film and Television Adaptation

Objectives:

On successful completion of the module, students will be able to:
demonstrate systematic understanding of the history of cross-media storytelling, encompassing film and television adaptation, remaking and transmedia narrative;
demonstrate systematic understanding of theoretical accounts of cross-media storytelling through adaptation and extension;
deploy and evaluate relevant concepts in the analysis of specific media texts (and their intertexts or paratexts).

Content:

The module examines the history and theory of various kinds of cross-media storytelling, beginning with adaptation in cinema and television. It addresses issues and concepts such as: fidelity, updating and recontextualisation, cycles, transmedia storytelling, and remakes and reboots. It explores adapting Austen and Dickens; Shakespeare on screen; Hollywood and British costume drama; comic book movies and graphic novels; as well as fantasy franchises.
The module will develop students' research skills, and the subject for the second assessed essay will be determined on the basis of individual negotiation with the module coordinator.

Learning and Teaching Information:

Lectures are used to introduce and illustrate the relevant theoretical and historical contexts for a range of adaptations and other forms of cross-media storytelling (transmedia narratives, remakes, reboots).

Seminars and workshops enable students to practice analysis of selected adaptations, applying their understanding of salient contexts, as well as discussing their research and required reading.

The year-long delivery enables them to develop their understanding of theoretical and historical contexts for a wide range of adaptations (etc.), practice their analysis of these, and progressively understand, evaluate and synthesise a range of theoretical frameworks and historical and institutional contexts applied to their own negotiated choice of adaptation. Within semester 2 they apply and further develop this, supported by workshops to support their research and lectures/seminars focused on more detailed case studies of adaptation.

Lectures
Contact Hours: 14
Intended Group Size: 30

Seminars
Contact Hours: 16
Intended Group Size: 2 x 15

Guided Independent Study
Hours: 170

Further details relating to assessment
Students must complete and submit both forms of assessment to be eligible to pass the module

Students permitted to take a half-module for the award of 10 credits will be assessed on the basis of the form of work relevant to the semester of study.

Students undertaking this in semester 2 will require additional support (tutorials linked to the required reading from semester 1 and their choice of adaptation for the essay).

Assessment:

001 Essay 1; 2,000 words; end of semester 1 50%
002 Essay 2; 2,000 words; end of semester 2 50%
200 Essay 1; 2,000 words; end of semester 1 100%

Fact File

Module Coordinator - Jason Scott
Level - 6
Credit Value - 20
Pre-Requisites - NONE
Semester(s) Offered - 6YL6S1

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