Adaptation is one of the most ubiquitous forms of artistic expression in the world today. Works inspired by earlier cultural products continue to proliferate in a variety of media, most obviously film and television, but also theatre, radio, graphic novels, and video games. This module aims to equip students with a key understanding of how adaptation operates as a multimedia practice. Drawing on a range of adaptive materials from the nineteenth century to the present day, it examines why artists choose to adapt, and how they engage with the possibilities and limitations of their specific media. In tandem with this consideration of the key drivers behind adaptation, students will examine the wider dimensions of the adaptation industry and the implications of working within it (including franchising, publishing rights, and questions of copyright and intellectual property). Like Adaptation Studies more broadly, the module is interdisciplinary, exploring connections between different forms of art, and challenging students to interrogate what adaptation means in the twenty-first century. In so doing, it also reflects on ways in which a theoretical understanding of adaptation can support students in enhancing their future employability and potentially building towards careers in the adaptation industry.
Learning Outcomes
By the end of the module students should be able to:
20.1
Articulate the different theoretical debates in adaptation theory, and chart their development.
20.2
Demonstrate an understanding of the cultural importance of adaptations and how this informs industrial practice
20.3
Identify key methods of adaptation that can be used for their own creative practice
20.4
Work across disciplinary boundaries and norms to produce interdisciplinary creative and critical work
Assessment
Assessment Methods & Exceptions
Assessment:
Students will choose one of the following assessments: – 100% A 4000-word essay A 4000-word creative piece A 10-minute video essay
Reassessment:
Failed component only
Students will choose one of the following assessments: – 100% A 4000-word essay A 4000-word creative piece A 10-minute video essay
