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FIL-20011 - Module Specification
School of Humanities
Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences

For academic year: 2023/24 Last Updated: 13 February 2024

FIL-20011 - Adaptation
Coordinator: Luke Davies
Lecture Time: See Timetable...
Level: Level 5
Credits: 15
Study Hours: 150
School Office: 01782 733147

Programme/Approved Electives for 2023/24

None

Available as a Free Standing Elective

No

Co-requisites

None

Prerequisites

None

Barred Combinations

None

Description for 2023/24

Whether it is television shows and films based on comics, videogames, or novels, or imaginative 'reboots' of earlier media texts, adaptation has played, and continues to play, a significant part in the screen media landscape. This module looks to explore some of the key tendencies and trends in adaptation, introducing and exploring the key theories and creative principles behind adaptation texts. Students on the module will analyse in detail the processes and rationales involved in producing adaptations across different contexts, and will have the opportunity to develop and produce their own creative ideas for a piece of contemporary screen adaptation.

Aims
To develop an understanding and evaluation of adaptations and related theories.
To provide an introduction to literary, film, television and comic narratives and their critical vocabulary.
To trace the process of adaptation across media
To analyse intertextual connections and key differences between various adaptations of the same text.
To situate adaptations within both historical and contemporary industrial contexts, and identify key trends in the production of adaptations

Talis Aspire Reading List
Any reading lists will be provided by the start of the course.
http://lists.lib.keele.ac.uk/modules/fil-20011/lists

Intended Learning Outcomes

identify the key features of literary, film, and television and comic language and narration and critically evaluate these in written work;: 1,2
demonstrate an understanding of the relationships and differences between different media forms: 1,2
produce original and creative content ideas, that show an understanding of adaptation trends and awareness of adaptation as a process: 2
demonstrate an understanding of relevant critical theories relevant to adaptation studies.: 1,2
discuss adaptations in the contexts of industrial trends both historically and from a contemporary perspective: 1,2

Study hours

Active Learning 25 hours:
12 x 1-hour lectures (12 hours)
12 x 1-hour seminars (12 hours)
Individual supervision (1 hour)
Independent Study 125 hours:
Film and television viewing (20 hours)
Reading and other class preparation (25 hours)
First assessment preparation (40 hours)
Second assessment preparation (40 hours)

School Rules

None

Description of Module Assessment

1: Reflective Analysis weighted 50%
1,250-word comparative analysis
Students will produce a 1,250 word comparative analysis of TWO film/television texts studied on the module, though not two texts derived from the same source material. Students will select one from a given set of questions as the basis for their analysis. The analyses should demonstrate a critical and theoretical understanding of the processes and creative decisions involved in producing the adaptations discussed, and should incorporate visual evidence (in the form of screen images) to support their arguments wherever possible.

2: Project weighted 50%
1250-word adaptation 'pitch'
Students will devise a 'pitch' for a piece of original adaptation content, devised either for film or television. The adaptation can derive from any prior piece of media content (literary text, comic, videogame, or earlier film/television series). The 'pitch' must show an awareness both of adaptation theory as practised, explaining and justifying its choice of text creative decisions. The pitch will also demonstrate an awareness of both historical and emerging trends in adaptation as an industry form, situating its own ideas alongside previous and contemporary adaptation texts.

Please note that for the 2022/23 Academic Year programmes may be adapted to operate in accordance with a flexible, digital approach. This means that there may be some changes made to how modules are delivered and assessed. The latest information will be provided to you by your School in module handbooks. We endeavour to give you as much notice as possible of any changes and details about the circumstance in which changes are made to programmes can be found in the Student Agreement, available at: https://www.keele.ac.uk/student-terms-and-conditions/

Last Updated: 13 February 2024