Falstaff and Gandalf go to the Movies: Adapting Fantastic Texts to Screen

DRAM31042 Falstaff and Gandalf go to the Movies: Adapting Fantastic Texts to Screen 20 Semester 2 Undergraduate Level 3 David Butler Unit coordinator 1 FHEQ level (Framework for Higher Education Qualifications) ' Last part of a Bachelors ' European Credit Transfer & Accumulation System Rating : 10.0 The fantastic has been described as the dominant mode of fictional expression in the last century but remains one of the most maligned and misunderstood. Why is fantasy so prevalent in our lives and why are we so suspicious of it? Why, as Ursula Le Guin asks, are we afraid of dragons?This course explores how filmmakers have represented the mythic and fantastic. Our emphasis is on adaptation in various genres (legends, fairy tales, gothic horror, science fiction and epic fantasy) and students will be encouraged to adapt their choice of text in their final coursework. As well as addressing the audio-visual possibilities of film in realising the fantastic, we will consider relevant theoretical concepts (particularly orientalism, the carnivalesque, temporality and the work of Tolkien and Ernst Bloch). The course closes by addressing the value and socio-political function of the fantastic in our lives and the dangers and benefits of escapism.    The fantastic has been described as the dominant mode of fictional expression in the last century but remains one of the most maligned and misunderstood. Why is fantasy so prevalent in our lives and why are we so suspicious of it? Why, as Ursula Le Guin asks, are we afraid of dragons?This course explores how filmmakers have represented the mythic and fantastic. Our emphasis is on adaptation in various genres (legends, fairy tales, gothic horror, science fiction and epic fantasy) and students will be encouraged to adapt their choice of text in their final coursework. As well as addressing the audio-visual possibilities of film in realising the fantastic, we will consider relevant theoretical concepts (particularly orientalism, the carnivalesque, temporality and the work of Tolkien and Ernst Bloch). The course closes by addressing the value and socio-political function of the fantastic in our lives and the dangers and benefits of escapism. <ul><li>To explore varying approaches to adapting fantasy-related and mythic texts to screen</li><li>To encourage students to apply an awareness of the necessary aesthetic strategies involved in adaptation to their own practical work</li><li>To develop an appreciation and critical understanding of fantasy as a mode of expression</li><li>To challenge the assumption that fantasy has no social or political relevancy by considering the socio-political application of fantasy</li></ul> <ul><li>Identify and articulate the way in which filmmakers adapt a fantastic play, novel or story to film</li><li>Define the fantastic and discuss how it can be expressed visually and aurally</li><li>Demonstrate familiarity with several of the major fantasy-related genres (particularly Arabian Nights fantasies, Arthurian fantasies, fairy tales and science fiction)</li><li>Demonstrate familiarity with the audio-visual style and thematic interests of key filmmakers (particularly Welles, Kurosawa, Pasolini, Dash and Tarkovsky)</li><li>Show awareness of and be able to account for any social and historical factors that contribute to the adaptation of a particular text</li><li>Translate a critical awareness of the fantastic into individual research for seminars, essays and creative projects</li></ul> <ul><li>Critically analyse and interrogate films and related sources (posters, trailers, reviews and industry documents)</li><li>Contextualise historically films and practitioners, and to draw on contextualisation to develop understanding</li><li>Critically evaluate a series of films, practitioners and genres in relation to key moments of socio-political change in relevant territories </li><li>Synthesise theoretical terms and concepts and apply these to analysis, argument and creative practice</li></ul> <ul><li>Research academic and non-academic materials, and evaluate the effectiveness of these materials as supporting evidence for individual essays, seminar presentations and creative projects</li><li>Plan, undertake and evaluate independent critical and creative work</li><li>Use relevant software to collect, compile and present audio-visual material for presentations</li><li>Communicate research material both verbally, audio-visually and in writing</li><li>Enhance relevant practical skills depending on the nature of the creative project undertaken (e.g. directing, digital editing, screenwriting, art design, sound design etc)</li></ul> <ul><li>Demonstrate an advanced ability to self-manage learning – to ask questions independently, identify relevant research material, take initiative, make decisions, and develop independent and sustained responses to complex problems, working successfully to a deadline</li><li>Demonstrate an advanced ability to develop sustained arguments and present these effectively in written, oral and audio-visual form</li></ul> Advanced ability to exercise initiative and personal responsibility Group/team working Working productively as part of a group and independently in learning environments that present complex and unpredictable challenges Project management Ability to manage, complete and evaluate a project effectively Problem solving Advanced critical thinking, problem-solving and planning skills Advanced critical thinking, problem-solving and planning skills - Advanced ability to exercise initiative and personal responsibility - Working productively as part of a group and independently in learning environments that present complex and unpredictable challenges - Ability to effectively adapt self-presentation to different audiences/contexts, especially when communicating complex topics - Ability to manage, complete and evaluate a project effectively Other Ability to effectively adapt self-presentation to different audiences/contexts, especially when communicating complex topics 0 Other 100% <figure class="table"><table class="MsoTableGrid" style="border-collapse:collapse;"><tbody><tr><td style="border:1px solid black;padding:0cm 7px;vertical-align:top;width:200px;">Assessment Task</td><td style="border-bottom:1px solid black;border-left-style:none;border-right:1px solid black;border-top:1px solid black;padding:0cm 7px;vertical-align:top;width:200px;">Formative or Summative</td><td style="border-bottom:1px solid black;border-left-style:none;border-right:1px solid black;border-top:1px solid black;padding:0cm 7px;vertical-align:top;width:200px;">Weighting</td></tr><tr><td style="border-bottom:1px solid black;border-left:1px solid black;border-right:1px solid black;border-top-style:none;padding:0cm 7px;vertical-align:top;width:200px;">Seminar Presentation</td><td style="border-bottom:1px solid black;border-left-style:none;border-right:1px solid black;border-top-style:none;padding:0cm 7px;vertical-align:top;width:200px;">Formative</td><td style="border-bottom:1px solid black;border-left-style:none;border-right:1px solid black;border-top-style:none;padding:0cm 7px;vertical-align:top;width:200px;">0%</td></tr><tr><td style="border-bottom:1px solid black;border-left:1px solid black;border-right:1px solid black;border-top-style:none;padding:0cm 7px;vertical-align:top;width:200px;">Sequence Analysis</td><td style="border-bottom:1px solid black;border-left-style:none;border-right:1px solid black;border-top-style:none;padding:0cm 7px;vertical-align:top;width:200px;">Summative</td><td style="border-bottom:1px solid black;border-left-style:none;border-right:1px solid black;border-top-style:none;padding:0cm 7px;vertical-align:top;width:200px;">40%</td></tr><tr><td style="border-bottom:1px solid black;border-left:1px solid black;border-right:1px solid black;border-top-style:none;padding:0cm 7px;vertical-align:top;width:200px;">Final Essay or Practical Project (short film, screenplay, storyboard, sound design etc. with short written report on the rationale for the project).</td><td style="border-bottom:1px solid black;border-left-style:none;border-right:1px solid black;border-top-style:none;padding:0cm 7px;vertical-align:top;width:200px;">Summative</td><td style="border-bottom:1px solid black;border-left-style:none;border-right:1px solid black;border-top-style:none;padding:0cm 7px;vertical-align:top;width:200px;">60%</td></tr><tr><td style="border-bottom:1px solid black;border-left:1px solid black;border-right:1px solid black;border-top-style:none;padding:0cm 7px;vertical-align:top;width:200px;">Consultation on Essay and Practical Project</td><td style="border-bottom:1px solid black;border-left-style:none;border-right:1px solid black;border-top-style:none;padding:0cm 7px;vertical-align:top;width:200px;">Formative</td><td style="border-bottom:1px solid black;border-left-style:none;border-right:1px solid black;border-top-style:none;padding:0cm 7px;vertical-align:top;width:200px;">0%</td></tr></tbody></table></figure>   <figure class="table"><table class="MsoTableGrid" style="border-collapse:collapse;"><tbody><tr><td style="border:1px solid black;padding:0cm 7px;vertical-align:top;width:301px;">Feedback Method</td><td style="border-bottom:1px solid black;border-left-style:none;border-right:1px solid black;border-top:1px solid black;padding:0cm 7px;vertical-align:top;width:301px;">Formative or Summative</td></tr><tr><td style="border-bottom:1px solid black;border-left:1px solid black;border-right:1px solid black;border-top-style:none;padding:0cm 7px;vertical-align:top;width:301px;">Seminar Presentation – oral</td><td style="border-bottom:1px solid black;border-left-style:none;border-right:1px solid black;border-top-style:none;padding:0cm 7px;vertical-align:top;width:301px;">Formative</td></tr><tr><td style="border-bottom:1px solid black;border-left:1px solid black;border-right:1px solid black;border-top-style:none;padding:0cm 7px;vertical-align:top;width:301px;">Essay – written</td><td style="border-bottom:1px solid black;border-left-style:none;border-right:1px solid black;border-top-style:none;padding:0cm 7px;vertical-align:top;width:301px;">Summative</td></tr><tr><td style="border-bottom:1px solid black;border-left:1px solid black;border-right:1px solid black;border-top-style:none;padding:0cm 7px;vertical-align:top;width:301px;">Final Essay or Practical Project – written</td><td style="border-bottom:1px solid black;border-left-style:none;border-right:1px solid black;border-top-style:none;padding:0cm 7px;vertical-align:top;width:301px;">Summative</td></tr><tr><td style="border-bottom:1px solid black;border-left:1px solid black;border-right:1px solid black;border-top-style:none;padding:0cm 7px;vertical-align:top;width:301px;">Consultation – oral</td><td style="border-bottom:1px solid black;border-left-style:none;border-right:1px solid black;border-top-style:none;padding:0cm 7px;vertical-align:top;width:301px;">Formative</td></tr></tbody></table></figure>   Pre-requisite units:     Any L1 Film study course unit AND any L2 core Theatre or Film course unit: Theatres of Modernity OR Screen, Culture and Society BA(Hons) Drama BA (Hons) Drama Third Year Optional BA Hons Drama & Screen Stds BA Hons Drama & Screen Stds Third Year Optional BA(Hons) Music & Drama BA(Hons) Music & Drama Third Year Optional BA Hons Drama and English Lit BA Hons Drama and English Lit Third Year Optional N <ul><li>Attebery, Brian. 1992. Strategies of Fantasy. Bloomington and Indianapolis: Indiana University Press.</li><li>Butler, David. 2009. Fantasy Cinema: Impossible Worlds on Screen. London: Wallflower.</li><li>Furby, Jacqueline and Hines, Claire. 2012. Fantasy. Abingdon and New York: Routledge.</li><li>Le Guin, Ursula K. 2024 The Language of the Night: Essays on Writing, Science Fiction and Fantasy.  New York: Scriber.</li><li>Lim, Bliss Cua. 2009. Translating Time: Cinema, the Fantastic, and Temporal Critique. Durham: Duke University Press.</li><li>Sangster, Matthew. 2023. An Introduction to Fantasy, Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.</li><li>Thomas, Ebony Elizabeth. 2019. The Dark Fantastic: Race and the Imagination from Harry Potter to The Hunger Games. New York: New York University Press.</li><li>Todorov, Tzvetan. 1975. The Fantastic: A Structural Approach to a Literary Genre. Ithaca, New York: Cornell University Press.</li><li>Walters, James. 2011. Fantasy Film: A Critical Introduction. Oxford and New York: Berg.</li></ul> Lectures 33 Supervised time in studio/wksp 33 0 134