FILM AND LITERATURE

RHYAN P. MALANDOG
Instructor
 COURSE ANALYSIS
Course Title: Film and Literature
Course Code: LIT 004
Course Unit: 3 units

COURSE DESCRIPTION:
This course explores the complex interplay between film and literature. Selected novels, short stories and plays are
analyzed in relation to film versions of the same works in order to gain an understanding of the possibilities—and
problems—involved in the transposition to film.

COURSE OBJECTIVES:
This course aims to aid the students to:

• Analyze representative literary and film texts.

• Connect study of literature and film texts to human values in historical and social contexts.
• Identify similarities and differences between film art and various literary genres.
• Demonstrate understanding of the creative and interpretive issues surrounding film adaptations of literary texts.
• Research and analyze primary and secondary sources relating to the study of literature and film

COURSE OUTLINE:
Module 1. Film and Literature: Similarities and Differences
Module 2. Film and Literature: A Boundless Relationship

Module 3. Film Adaptation

Module 4. Literature and Film Adaptation Review:

4.1 Compare and Contrast
4.2 Paradigmatic Approach
4.3 Limits and Problems
4.4 Beyond Fidelity

Module 5. Meaning of Literature in Film Reviews

6.1 Essentialization
6.2 Author vs Auteur
6.3 Novel vs. Film
Module 6. From Book to Script: Writing for Film
6.1 The Three-Act Structure
6.2 Character Arc and Development
6.3 Dialogue and Theme
Module 7: Analysis of Character Translations in Film Adaptations of Popular Literature
Module 8. Literature to Film: Filming the Text
Module 9. Shooting the Film: Alterations Made to the Screenplay
9.1 Abridgement
9.2 Elaboration
9.3 Expansion
9.4 Rephrase
9.5 Relocation
9.6 Reassignment
 9.7 Backtracking
9.8 Deletion
9.9 Invention
9.10 Direct Transferal

Module 10. Socio-Political Commentary of Film and Literature

Module 11. Appreciating Filipino Literature and Its Film Adaptation

SAMPLE RUBRIC

Discussion & Assignment Rubric

Criteria 1.00 – 1.25 1.50 – 1.75 2.25 – 2.50 2.75 – 3.00

Responses are Responses are clear Responses are Some responses are
Responses to the
insightful and and easy to sometimes difficult to poorly written and
Discussion Forum
encouraging. understand. understand. difficult to understand.
Responds, asks
Responds and reacts Does not monitor forum
and reacts to Responds and reacts
Participation to the to two to three and has no
three or more to one classmate in
Discussion Forum classmates in the participation in the
classmates in the the forum
forum scheduled forum
forum
Messages are
Messages are clear Messages are Messages are unclear
concise, original,
Assignments and and demonstrate inconsistent and and difficult to
relevant and well
other activities understanding of topic. sometimes unclear. understand.
supported.

RECOMMENDED STUDY SEQUENCE AND REQUIREMENTS:

Study Learning
Topic Method of Delivery
Period Activities

Online Policies and Procedures Module 1

Text Lectures
Module 1
Week 1 Reference link Recitation
Film and Literature : Similarities and
Online Discussion Venn Diagram Activity
Differences
Comparing and Contrasting Film and
Literature

Module 2 Module 2

Film and Literature: A Boundless Text Lectures Writing Activity

Relationship
Reference link Film Clips Viewing Activity
Five examples of how cinema and literature
create an imaginary world out of words or Online Discussion Adaptation and Storyboarding Activity
actual images:
Week 2
1. The Trouble with Adaptations

1.1 Jules and Jim (1962) by François

Truffaut: a literary style on screen
1.2 The Great Gatsby (2013) by Baz
Luhrmann: when the movie is distant from
the book
 2. The Author on Screen
2.1 Bright Star (2009) by Jane Campion:
John Keats the romantic

3. Poetic Realism: A New Genre

3.1 Port of Shadow (1938) by Marcel Carné

4. A Poetic Life on Screen

4.1 Paterson (2016) by Jim Jarmusch

5. Epilogue

Module 3 Module 3
Text Lectures
Week 3
Film Adaptation: Novel to Film
Reference link T-Chart: Book to Movie Comparisons
Class Discussion
Online Discussion

Text Lectures
Module 4.1 Module 4.1
Reference link
Literature and Film Adaptation Review: T-Chart: Book to Movie Comparisons
Week 4
Online Discussion Class Discussion/Recitation
4.1 Compare and Contrast

Barthes (1977) three levels of narratives:

4.1.1 Narration (top level)

 4.1.2 Action (middle level)
4.1.3 Functions (bottom level)

Module 4.2
Module 4.2
Text Lectures Learning Activity: Readings
Literature and Film Adaptation Review:
Week 5 4.2 Paradigmatic Approach Reference link
Methods if Dramatization
Online Discussion
4.2.1 Transposition
4.2.2 Commentary
4.2.3 Analogy

Module 4.3 Text Lectures Module 4.3

Week 6 Literature and Film Adaptation Review: Reference link Classics to Screen Written Activity

4.3 Limits and Problems Online Discussion

Module 4.4
Text Lectures Module 4.4
Week 7 Literature and Film Adaptation Review:
Reference link Written Activity on Fidelity
4.4 Fidelity
Online Discussion

Week 8
Midterm Week
 Module 5
Module 5
Meaning of Literature in Film Reviews
Text Lectures
Week 9 6.1 Essentialization
Reference link
6.2 Author vs Auteur
6.3 Novel vs. Film Online Discussion

Module 6.1
Text Lectures Module 6
From Book to Screen: Writing for Film
Week 10
Reference link Learning Activity: The Three Act
6.1.1 Screen Writing Principles
Structure
6.1.2 Difference of film writing and literary
Online Discussion
writing
6.1.3 The Three-Act Structure
 Module 7.2
Module 6.2
Text Lectures
From Book to Screen: Writing for Film Learning Activity: Character Sketch
Reference link Analysis
6.2.1 Character Arc
- Change/Transformation Arc Online Discussion
Week 10 - Growth Arc
- Fall Arc
- Flat Arc

6.2.2 Character Sketch

- Physical
- Psychological
- Sociological

Text Lectures
Module 6.3
Module 6.3
From Book to Screen: Writing for Film Reference link
Learning Activity: Dialogue and Scene
6.3.1 Dialogue
Online Discussion
Week 11 - Dramatization
- Abridgement
- Elaboration
- Reassignment
- Rephrase
- Transference
- Invention
 Module 7 Text Lectures Module 7

Analysis of Character Translations in Reference link Reading Activity

Film Adaptations of Popular Literature
Week 12 Online Discussion
7.1 Introduction
7.2 Case Study I: Character Changes in
Moby Dick (1956)
7.3 Case Study II: Characters and Visual
Style in Sin City (2005)
7.4 Case Study III: Blanche’s Rise in A
Streetcar Named Desire (1951)

Module 8
Text Lectures Module 8
Week 13
Filming the Text
Reference link Learning Activity: Viewing and Note-
8.1 Producing
taking
8.2 Directing
Online Discussion
8.3 Acting

Text Lectures Module 9

Module 9
Reference link Reflection Paper
Shooting the Film: Alterations Made to
Week 14
the Screenplay Online Discussion

9.1 Abridgement
9.2 Elaboration
9.3 Expansion
9.4 Rephrase
9.5 Relocation
 9.6 Reassignment
9.7 Backtracking
9.8 Deletion
9.9 Invention
9.10 Direct Transferal

Module 10 Text Lectures Module 10

Socio-Political Commentary of Film and
Reference link Learning Activity: Give one political
Week 15 Literature message or situation presented by the
Online Discussion author. Explain why.

Evaluating the political message of a book Suzanne Collins –

Suzanne Collins – Mocking Jay (2010) Mocking Jay (2010)
pdf

Text Lectures
Module 11
Week 16 Module
Reference link Learning Activity: Reflection Paper
Appreciating Filipino Literature and Its
Online Discussion
Film Adaptation

Week 17
FINAL EXAMINATION

Prepared by:

MR. RHYAN P. MALANDOG

Instructor