HL8027 Visions of the Modern: An Interdisciplinary Approach
NOTE: This is a preliminary course outline. Content may be subject to changes.
This course will introduce the texts and contexts of literary and film art through a focus on the
intersections between text and film with emphasis on modern remakes of older literary and
film texts. Students will study how themes and genres are represented and re-presented in
contemporary texts. Why is the remaking of classics or older texts prevalent? How are texts
transformed to accommodate the changing concerns of the now, which changes at every
moment? Are there perennial themes that persist in the changing face of the present? This
course will include fiction, films, graphic novels, music and cartoons.
Core Texts:
FICTION
James Thurber, “The Secret Life of Walter Mitty” (1939) [Edventure handout]
GRAPHIC NOVELS
Art Spiegelman, The Complete Maus (Penguin, 2010)
FILMS
The Others. Dir. Alejandro Amenábar. Dimension Films, 2001.
Signs. Dir. M. Night Shyamalan. (Buena Vista Pictures, 2002)
Inglorious Basterds. Dir. Quentin Tarantino. Universal Pictures, 2009.
Django Unchained. Dir. Quentin Tarantino. Columbia Pictures, 2012.
The Great Gatsby. Dir. Baz Luhrmann. Warner Bros. Pictures, 2013.
MUSIC
Lorde, Pure Heroine (Universal, 2013)
Lady Gaga, Fame (Streamline, 2008) [Selection tracks]
Lady Gaga, The Fame Monster (Streamline, 2009) [Selected tracks]
Lady Gaga, Artpop (Streamline, 2013) [Selected Tracks]
Kanye West, The College Dropout (Roc-A-Fella Records, 2004) [Selected tracks]
Kanye West, My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy (Roc-A-Fella Records, 2010) [Selected
tracks]
CARTOONS
Family Guy (Fuzzy Door Productions) [Selected Episodes]
South Park (Braniff Productions & Parker-Stone Studios) [Selected Episodes]
The Simpsons (Gracie Films) [Selected Episodes]
(Films and cartoons will be made available for viewing at the NTU Media Library)
Assessment
Research Essay (1000 - 1500 words)
Exam
50%
50%
Assignment Deadline: 8 October 2014, Wednesday (Tentative)
Course Outline
Week
1
Topics
Readings
2
Dreams and the Individual I
“The Secret Life of
Walter Mitty” (1939)
& The Great Gatsby
(2013)
3
3
Dreams and the Individual II
“The Secret Life of
Walter Mitty” (1939)
& The Great Gatsby
(2013)
3
4
Horror and Fantasy I
The Others (2001)
3
5
Horror and Fantasy II
Signs (2002)
3
6
Horror and Fantasy III
Inglorious Basterds
(2009)
3
7
Digesting History
Maus I (1986)
3
Introduction to Module
Lecture Hours
3
RECESS
8
Digesting History
Maus II (1991)
3
9
Music and Pop Culture I
Lady Gaga, Lorde &
Kanye West
3
10
Music and Pop Culture II
Lady Gaga, Lorde &
Kanye West
3
11
The Animated Platform
Family Guy, South
Park & The
Simpsons
3
12
The Animated Platform
Family Guy, South
Park & The
Simpsons
3
13
Conclusion/ Revision
*Submission of Assignment
(Tentative)
3