Course
Prefix
HUM
I.
Prerequisites
None.
Course
Number Course Name
162 Film and Literature
Credit Lecture
3 3
Lab
1
II.
Course (Catalogue) Description
Course examines written works and their cinematic and televisual equivalents to encourage the ability to analyze and evaluate artistic expression and social meaning and to appreciate the dynamics of adaptation from one medium into another.
III.
Learning Objectives
A.
Identify film/televisual form and how it differs from literary forms of expression when considering the process of adaptation.
B.
Define how film narrative resembles the literary tradition but differs in its use of space, time, and character focalization, as well as its semiotic emphasis on mimetic, iconic, symbolic, and indexical imagery.
C.
Recognize key cultural and historical elements germane to literature (theater, verse, the novel, the short story, the essay, and the graphic novel) and cinema and television (narrative film, serial narrative, the documentary, and the avant-garde).
D.
Appraise the value of literature and films as a reflection of intellectual and material culture.
E.
Develop an appreciation of film and literature as specific and distinct, yet interdependent, art forms, as well as how they are manifested in different eras, countries, and traditions.
F.
Apply concepts and classroom experiences to increase enjoyment of literature and film outside of class.
G.
Foster critical thinking and writing skills.
H.
Exhibit values related to teamwork and collaboration, fostered by the pedagogy of shared-inquiry and critical dialogue appropriate to the humanities and philosophy.
IV.
Academic Integrity
Students and employees at Oakton Community College are required to demonstrate academic integrity and follow Oakton’s Code of Academic Conduct. This code prohibits:
 cheating,
 plagiarism (turning in work not written by you, or lacking proper citation),
 falsification and fabrication (lying or distorting the truth),
 helping others to cheat,

 unauthorized changes on official documents,
 pretending to be someone else or having someone else pretend to be you,
 making or accepting bribes, special favors, or threats, and
 any other behavior that violates academic integrity.
There are serious consequences to violations of the academic integrity policy. Oakton’s policies and procedures provide students a fair hearing if a complaint is made against you. If you are found to have violated the policy, the minimum penalty is failure on the assignment. A disciplinary record will be established and kept on file in the office of the Vice President for
Student Affairs for a period of three years.
Details of the Code of Academic Conduct can be found in the Student Handbook.
V.
Outline of Topics
This is a sample outline of topics, which the instructor is free to use or revise. In your outline of topics please specify the dates when you will cover specific topics and other important dates such as exams and paper deadlines. It is up to the instructor to decide when to use an entire text or an excerpt. You should not assign more than four or five whole texts.
Week One: Questions of Adaptation
Introductory Concepts and Terminology
Week Two: Ancient Storytelling/The Epic Poem or Tale (Mythic or Religious)
Week Three: Theater and Film (from Sophocles to Shakespeare and Moliere)
Week Four: Realism, Melodrama, and the 19th Century Novel
Week Five: Romanticism, Surrealism, and the 19th Century Poetic Tradition
Week Six: Hard-Boiled Pulp Fiction and Film Noir
Week Seven: Modernism and the 20th Century Novel
Week Eight: Modernism and 20th Century Theater
Week Nine: The Short Story as Cinematic Inspiration
Week Ten: The Film Essay
Week Eleven: Postmodernism and the 20th/21st Century Novel
Week Twelve: The Comic Book/Graphic Novel Film
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Week Thirteen: International Strategies of Adaptation (Non-Western/European)
Week Fourteen: The Children’s/Young Adult Fiction Novel as Hollywood Blockbuster
Week Fifteen: Rise of Serial Television Cable Series as a Mode of Adaptation
Week Sixteen: Convergence/Participatory Culture and the Active 21st Century Reader
Week Seventeen
FINAL EXAM/FINAL PAPER DUE
VI.
Methods of Instruction
A.
Lectures and discussion
B.
Feature films, television shows, or clips
C.
Small group work
D.
Presentations
VII.
Course Practices Required
Course may be taught as face-to-face, hybrid or online course
Please include information here about all expectations you have for your students regarding behavior, work, etc. The following are sample course practices you may wish to cover.
Please be aware that you must require students in this course to produce at least 15 pages of critical written assignments over the course of the semester, which should account for at least
40% of the final course grade. These may be assigned in a variety of ways including journals, response papers, field trip projects, etc.
The syllabus should include information regarding:
A.
Standards for written work
B.
Quizzes/Exams
C.
Participation
D.
Individual or group presentations
E.
Essays
F.
Final Project
G.
Special policies about make-up exams, late papers, or other matters of concern
VIII.
Instructional Materials
Note: Current textbook information for each course and section is available on Oakton’s
Schedule of Classes.
Below are examples of appropriate texts:
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Timothy Corrigan’s
Film and Literature: An Introduction and Reader (Routledge, 2011) Linda
Hutcheon’s
A Theory of Adaptation [Routledge, 2013],
James Naremore’s Film Adaptation [Rutgers, 2000]).
IX.
Methods of Evaluating Student Progress
(In this section, the instructor will present the percentages or point breakdown for all the elements of the final grade. Please note that at least 40% of the grade must be based on written work rather than objective exams, oral presentations, etc.)
For example:
Term Paper 25 points
Final Exam
Two Written assignments
Two Quizzes
Mid-term Exam
20 points
15 points
10 points
10 points
Attendance and Participation
A class presentation
Term-paper topic
10 points
5 points
5 points
Grading Scale. 90% - 100% = A // 80% - 89% = B // 70% - 79% = C // 60% - 69% = D // below
60 = F
X.
Other Course Information
Important Dates
TBD
Disabilities
If you have a documented learning, psychological, or physical disability you may be entitled to reasonable academic accommodations or services. To request accommodations or services, contact the Access and Disability Resource Center at the Des Plaines or Skokie campus. All students are expected to fulfill essential course requirements. The College will not waive any essential skill or requirement of a course or degree program.
Discrimination
The Oakton Community College Catalog states:
“Oakton Community College does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, creed, religion, national origin, disability, age, sex, sexual orientation, or marital status in admission to and participation in its educational programs, activities and services, or employment practices. The
College does not tolerate sexual harassment or sexual assault by or of its students or employees.”
In keeping with this policy of tolerance and non-discrimination, in this class all of us (myself included) should strive to listen and give careful consideration to all ideas expressed in class,
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especially those that are different from our own, without attacking or demeaning the people who have those views. We should also strive to avoid using insulting terms or telling offensive jokes when talking to or about individuals or groups.
Approval Dates:
(Faculty: Do not include the following information on your individual syllabi created for class distribution.)
Effective beginning term: Spring 2015 Ending term:
Syllabus prepared by: Laurence Knapp Date: July 2014
Revised by: Date:
Reviewed by Chair: Hollace Graff Date: July 2014
Approval by Dean: Linda A. Korbel Date: July 2014
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