by Sarah Barber
University of Missouri
Catalog Description: This course introduces students to the problems of adapting William Shakespeare's plays in contemporary film. Students will develop ideas about adaptation with reference to contemporary adaptation theory, which will liberate them from the notion of "faithfulness" to the texts so that modernized and contemporary stagings of the plays can be studied on their own terms. In this way, the course will help students relate to these classic texts on the grounds of their universal (and continuing) appeal. This course requires students to develop interpretations of both written text and recent adaptations of four major plays. Students will develop crucial interpretation skills, especially those relevant to film and literary study, and will also highlight themes in the texts that elucidate contemporary social ideals.
Time Limit for Course Completion: 9 months. All assessments must be submitted and graded within this time.
Course Keycode: 2310