Kinnaird College for Women
MAI English Literature
ELIT
:Text, Image, Screen
Semester II, Spring 2013
Course hours: 36 hours
Course Convenor: Mrs Sadaf Haider Khan
Classes: Tuesday, 9-10 am and 12-1pm
Thursday: 9-10am.
Course Credits: 3
Contact Email: sayyedah.khan@gmail.com
Aims
The aim of this course is to introduce students to the semiotic, structuralist and post-structuralist
approaches to the study of genre in both literary and film texts. From deconstructing the
representations of the Other in Bram Stoker’s novel, Dracula, to analyzing its screen
adaptations, Nosferatu (1922) and Dracula (1984), the purpose is to equip students with the
critical viewing and writing skills needed to meaningfully and incisively comment on the
relationship between the interdisciplinary discourses of literature, linguistics and film studies.
Course Objectives.
At the end of the course students will be able to:






Analyze, evaluate and critique the written and screen texts of the course, using the
frameworks of semiotic, structuralist and poststructuralist discourses.
Explain how viewpoint is constructed and shaped in literary texts and their screen
adaptations.
Compare and contrast the ways in which the medium of representation influences the
ways in which a story is told, retold, represented and viewed
Use the discourses of psychoanalysis and feminism to deconstruct the representations
of cultural values, such as, gender, class and morality, in literary and film texts.
Map the developments and changes that screen adaptations of literary texts have made
to the structural frameworks of the gothic genre, studied in the unit.
Comment incisively on such things as power, gender, subjectivity, and so on,
maintaining a certain degree of critical detachment in their critical essay writing.
Texts
1. Bram Stoker (1897) Dracula
2. Nosferatu (1922) dir. Fredrich Wilhelm Murnau
3. Dracula (1992) dir. Francis Ford Coppola
Interactive Wiki
http://textimagescreen.wikispaces.com
A wiki has been designed for the MA I students to easily access course related
materials, such as multi-media resources, links to TV programs, films, powerpoints,
interactive worksheets and quizzes; links to journal articles, related reading materials,
and discussions.
 Students must access wiki resources and instruction prior to the scheduled
classes.
 All necessary readings and tasks must be downloaded, printed and completed
before the next session.
 Only students can join wiki to participate in discussions.
Assessment
10%
Participation in weekly seminar discussions
20%
Group Presentations – Students’ collaborative and creative response to ONE of the
literary approaches in relation to ONE text.
The Group presentations could include:

A print, visual or multimedia text e.g. a website, prezi, digital narrative,
animation, powerpoint, blog, graphic poems, short film, short play,
performance, adaptation of a section of the primary/adapted text, a magazine
etc. Students must meaningfully employ their understanding of 2 of the three
aspects given below in their creative text:
1. their chosen medium of representation
2. the conventions of the genre




3. the literary approach they are using
Students can select oppositional readings of the text, structural readings,
deconstructions etc. Meaningful critical discourse must be gathered on the
focus area and text and presented as a creative media text.
Each group must consist of 3-4 students. For larger projects please consult
teacher.
All ideas must be discussed with the teacher in advance.
Perceptive, critical understanding of the focus area and its creative renditions
will be generously rewarded.
The Presentations must include:


A justification of 500 words on the purpose and objectives of the presentation. To
be submitted before the presentation.
A critical reflection of 500 words by each member of the group outlining the
critical and collaborative insight and value gained during the creative process;
from the final presentation and from specific feedback from teacher or audience.
To be submitted at 9 am, ONE week after the presentation.
25%
Mid-term examination. (2 hours ) – In class test.
10%
Quizzes/ short tests.
35%
Major Essay – 2000-2500 word research essay. (Topic not covered in the presentation)
Essay writing will involve:





Choosing from ONE of the literary approaches explored in the course, such as:
1. Structuralism & Semiotics - signs, structures and genre of the gothic text or
film
2. Post-structuralist discourse and the construction of subjectivities – the Gothic
Other in text or film;
3. Psychoanalysis, gender and the discourse of power in the gothic text / gothic
film / postmodernist / postcolonial film
Students must use this literary approach to engage in the critical literary
analysis of TWO of the THREE texts studied in the course. Students are
expected to meaningfully compare and contrast the two texts, using the chosen
literary approach.
Students will be expected to draw on critical literary readings relevant to their
literary approach, the genre, their texts and the medium of representation they
have chosen to discuss.
Essay writing workshop will be given in advance of the final exam.
Essay topics will be provided. Due date: TBA.
Weekly Plan
Week 1 (Thursday, 24thJan) Introduction: What is Representation?
 ‘Representation’ and Text, Image and Screen. ( PowerPoints available on wiki)
Week 2 (Tuesday 29th- Thursday 31stJan) Textual Representations – Decoding text, image
and screen.
 Ray Bradbury, All in a Summer Day - short story (1954) (Available on wiki)
 Resources on Visual Literacy –The language of visual signs (Available on wiki)
 All in a Summer Day (1982) - TV movie (Available)
Week 3 (Tuesday 5th - Thursday, 7thFeb) Structuralism & Semiotics- signs, structures and
genre



General overview of the structuralist framework - the conventions and structures of the
gothic genre.
Contextual background: Bram Stoker’s Dracula (1897)
How to critically read Dracula using the structuralist and semiotic approach
Week 4 (Tuesday 5th – Thursday, 7thFeb) Post-structuralist discourse and the
construction of subjectivities – the Gothic Other



Reading Dracula as ‘Other’.
The construction of subjectivity in the gothic genre
Presentations
Week 5 (Tuesday 12th – Thursday 14thFeb) Psychoanalysis, gender and the discourse of
power in the Gothic text



Reading Dracula as a discourse of power
The representation of gender and power in psychoanalytic discourse - Sigmund Freud
and Jacques Lacan.
Presentations
Week 6 (Tuesday 19th- Thursday 21stFeb) Structuralism & Semiotics - signs, structures and
genre



Viewing Nosferatu (1922) dir. Fredrich Wilhelm Murnau Dracula
Signs and Structures of the gothic film
Presentations
Week 7 (Tuesday 26th – Thursday 28thFeb) Post-structuralist discourse and the
construction of subjectivities – the Gothic Other



Nosferatu - Reading Dracula as The Other on Screen – post structuralist discourse.
The construction of subjectivities in the gothic film
Presentations
Week 8 (Tuesday 5th – Thursday 7thMarch) Psychoanalysis, gender and the discourse of
power –




Psychoanalytic readings of gender representations in the gothic film
Feminist readings of Nosferatu (1922) dir. Fredrich Wilhelm Murnau
Representations of power in the gothic film
Presentations
Week 9 (Tuesday 12th – Thursday 14thMarch) Structuralism - signs, structures and genre
in the Postmodernist film



Dracula (1992) dir. Francis Ford Coppola
Postmodernist readings – the construction of subjectivities.
Presentations
Week 10 (Tuesday 19th –Thursday 21st March) Post-colonial / postmodern discourse and
the construction of subjectivities – the Gothic Other



Postmodernist readings of Dracula as the Gothic Other
Post-colonial readings of Dracula as the Gothic Other
Presentations
Week 11 (Tuesday 26th –Thursday 28th March) Psychoanalysis, gender and the discourse of
power in the postmodernist gothic film



Psychoanalytic readings of gender representation in the postmodern gothic film
Representations of power in the postmodern gothic film.
Presentations
Week 12 (Tuesday 2nd –Thursday 4th April) Essay Writing Workshops & Exam
Recommended Reading:
1. Eagleton, T. Literary theory: An introduction, Delhi: Wiley India Pvt. Limited,
2008.
2. Nelmes, J. ed. Introduction to Film Studies 4th Ed., London and New York:
Routledge, 2007
3. Rayner, P., Wall, P. & S Kruger, eds. ‘Reading the media’ in AS Media Studies: The
Essential
Introduction 2nd ed. London and New York: Routledge, 2004. (Pgs 27-106).
List of weekly critical readings, journal articles will be uploaded on the wiki in advance of
the scheduled sessions.