ELC2013 English in Literature and Film
This is a three-credit Language and Communication Requirement elective subject.
- Examine and analyse literary texts from different perspectives
- Discuss literary techniques employed by writers
- Appreciate and articulate differences in textual and visual media representations
FIVE Q&As to Help You Better Understand this Subject:
Why spend time reading novels and poems?
This video gives you five great reasons.
I personally agree with the final reason in the video the most: Literature is a tool to help us live and die with a little more wisdom, goodness and sanity.
Any film adaptation of literature is never as effective as the original?
This is definitely a fun question to think about but before you give an answer, watch this video.
In this course, our goal is not to discuss whether we prefer the written work or the film adaptation but to appreciate and discuss the differences in textual and visual media representations.
I can read books and watch movies on my own, why take this course?
Studying literature and film involves mentally diving deeper below the surface in order to come back up with big ideas instead of just reading a flat page of a book or staring at a flat screen. This video is a good introduction to what we will be doing in this course.
Learning to read more critically and attentively can give you the linguistic tools to share your own ideas with more precision and persuasion.
What are the assessments?
There are three assessments in this course - one writing & two speaking.
Assessment 1: Individual essay (Out-of-class)
As individuals, you are required to discuss and explain 1) how one literary device studied in Unit 1 is evidenced in either a prose text or its film companion and 2) how the issues you address are reflected in, or related to, your daily life.
Assessment 2: Group presentation (In-class)
As pairs or groups of three, you are required to discuss how one literary device studied in Unit 2 is represented, compared or contrasted in the text and film companion of one of Shakespeare’s plays.
Assessment 3: Individual project (In-class)
As individuals, you are required to produce an audio-visual adaptation of one poem focusing on one literary device in addition to a spoken account that demonstrates your knowledge of the poem, device and adaptation.
Are you concerned about studying Shakespeare’s plays and poetry?
Do not worry if you have not studied literature before. If you are interested in English literature and good movies, then ELC2013 is for you.
If you have any questions about ELC2013, feel free to contact the Subject Leader:
Ms Jessica XIA