Adaptation for 12/1/14

Our last day of class is 12/1/14. Your final paper is due at class time that day. (Brad, I'm still waiting for your revised proposal...) If you want your final paper returned with comments, you must bring a self-addressed, stamped envelope with you to class that day.

Also, be prepared to discuss your final paper for about five minutes. You'll need to say which film and literary text you wrote about, what your theme is, why you chose that film, that text and that theme, and something (large or small) that you learned while writing and researching your final paper.

We'll also discuss Adaptation. If you missed our last class, you're still responsible for seeing this film. It's on reserve in the library, third floor.

Talking Points:
  1) What does the film have to say about the adaptation process?
  2) Do you like the film? Why?
  3) Does the film do justice to the book?

Comedy for 12/3/14

Our last day of class is 12/3/14. Your final paper is due at class time that day. If you want your final paper returned with comments, you must bring a self-addressed, stamped envelope with you to class that day.

Also, be prepared to discuss your final paper for about five minutes. You'll need to say which films you wrote about, what your theme is, why you chose those films and that theme, and something (large or small) that you learned while writing and researching your final paper,

We will also talk about Bernie. Some things to think about:
  1) How is this film subversive?
  2) How does this film represent the decade in which we're still living.
  3) With whom in this film do you identify, if anyone? Why?
  4) Does this film remind you of any other film or films we've seen this semester?

Adaptation for 11/24/14

This week, we'll be watching the movie Adaptation, based on the non-fiction book The Orchid Thief. Be sure to read the first 54 pages of the book (up through and including the chapter "Orchid Fever") and be ready to discuss what you've read this week. We'll also talk about the film.

Talking points:
1) How do you like the book so far? Why?
2) As you were reading the book, did it seem like it would be hard or easy to adapt as a film?
3) What does the film have to say about the adaptation process?
4) Do you like the film? Why?
5) Does the film do justice to the book?

Comedy for 11/19/14

FYI: I'm still waiting for emails about your final papers from Matt, Sean, Jake, John and maybe Andrew.

Talking Points for Burn After Reading:
1) What are the targets of the movie's subversion?
2) Did you like the film? Why?
3) How did each character end up?
4) Do you see a similarity among the film's winners? Among its losers?

Adaptation for 11/17/14

You'll be sharing your "surprising" passages from "The Little Mermaid" this week. So bring your text and have those passages marked.

We'll also be discussing both the fairy tale and the movie. Here are some talking points:
1) What is the fairy tale about?
2) What is the movie about?
3) Would you recommend the fairy tale for young children?
4) Does the movie seem different to you from the last time you saw it?

Adaptation Addendum

Hope everyone has recovered from our awesome party!

Now, it has come to my attention that our syllabus does not say when Paper 9 (about The Little Mermaid) will be due. It will be due at class time on 11/24, the week after we see the film. Your final paper is still due on 12/1.

Comedy for 11/12/14

I'm hoping that we'll all be recovered from the big pizza party and that we can get back to business -- discussing Election. Here are some Talking Points:

1) How does Election subvert "political correctness"?
2) Does the election in the movie remind you of the recent real-life election (or any previous elections)? If so, in what ways?
3) Of the major characters in the film, who is the best person?

Adaptation for 11/10/14

This week is our awesome (and required) Pizza Party. Be sure to bring a (non-alcoholic) beverage and be at our classroom by 7 pm. Your share of the pizza will be about $3. (Aurora, please bring the pizza with you, as well as a receipt.)

Also, we're having many of our Final Paper conferences this week. Please bring your prompt with you, filled out as much as possible. Try to be 5-10 minutes early, and wait for me on the bench outside the corridor to my office.

Here's the conference schedule:
Jack 6 pm, Cindy 6:10, Rafael 6:20, Erin 6:30, Erica 6:40, Anthony 6:50.
Yasin 8 p.m., Amanda 8:10, Andrew 8:20, Janise 8:30, Aurora 8:40, Brad 8:50.

Comedy for 11/5/14

This week is our Pizza Party from 7-8 p.m. Be sure to bring a (non-alcoholic) beverage, a few buck for the pizza and a joke to tell.

We're also having a number of Final Paper conferences. Please try to come 5-10 minutes early and wait on a bench outside the corridor to my office. Brink your Final Paper prompt filled out as much as possible.

This week's final paper conferences:

Jason 6 pm, John 6:10, David 6:20, Carolyn 6:30, Rebecca 6:40, Ayomikun 6:50.

Coral 8 pm, Miranda 8:10, Matt 8:30, Sean 8:40, Jacob 8:50, Maggie 9.

Adaptation for 11/3/14

Reminder: Bring your passages from The Long Goodbye that paint word pictures.

Talking Points about the movie version of The Long Goodbye:
1) How is music used in this film? Why do you think it is used that way?
2) What is the movie about?
3) Are there any characters who have "doubles" or "mirror versions" in this movie?
4) What do we know about the character Philip Marlowe?

Talking Points about the novel The Long Goodbye:
1) What does the title mean?
2) Did you like the novel? Strengths? Weaknesses?
3) Was anything essential lost in the translation of this book to film?

Comedy for 10/29/14

Reminder: Final Paper conference begin this week. Please wait on the bench near the corridor to my office. Please arrive 5-10 minutes early if at all possible. Bring you Final Paper prompt, filled out as far as you can at this point. Also bring along any questions or issues regarding this course. Scheduled for 10/29 are Maggie (5 pm), Jen (5:10), Katie (5:20), Andrew (5:30), Andrea (5:40), Robert (9 pm), Abin (9:10).

Talking Points for Beetlejuice:
1) Have you seen this film before? Did it seem different in any way this time?
2) Would you call this film subversive? What are its targets?
3) What does this movie have to
say about death?

Adaptation for 10/27/14

Reminder: Bring in the Ghost World graphic novel with two places marked where important information is presented in a mainly visual way.

 

Talking Points for Ghost World:
1) Did you find anything shocking or inappropriate about the graphic novel or film?
2) How would you describe Enid? Becky? Their relationship?
3) What's the meaning of the bus in the graphic novel? In the film?

Comedy for 10/22/14

Talking Points for Sleeper:

1) Which gags did you not understand?
2) What are the targets of the movie's subversion -- both Establishment targets and anti-Establishment targets?
3) Do any scenes remind you of other films we've looked at in class?
4) Have you seen any other films directed by Woody Allen? Which ones?

Comedy for 10/15/14

Talking Points for M*A*S*H

1) Do you like it?

2) What annoys you about it?

3) What are the targets of its subversiveness?

4) What do you think of the shower scene?

Adaptation for 10/13/14

Marilyn Monroe as Miss Casswell and George Sanders as Addison DeWitt in All About Eve 

This week, we'll be watching All About Eve which, at 138 minutes, is the longest film we'll be exploring this semester. This means that there won't be time for much else this week and that we won't have a formal 10-minute break. No papers are due this week, although I do hope to return your papers on Being There.

Comedy for 10/8/14

Talking Points for Dr. Strangelove:
1) Who is the "I" in the movie's subtitle, How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb?
2) What do the characters' names mean?
3) What do you make of the disclaimer that precedes the movie?
4) What do you make of the fueling scene that beings the movie?

Adaptation for 10/6/14

We aren't going to watch a film this week. Instead, the entire class meeting will be devoted to discussing the literary and film versions of both A Room With a View and Being There. So you should bring both texts to class with the appropriate passages marked. Again, they are:
  1) A Room with a View: Three passages that highlight characters.
  2) Being There: Two passages that say something about television.

Also, here are some Talking Points for Being There:
  1) What is the final scene of this movie about? (When Chance walks on water.)
  2) What are the novella and movie about?
  3) What are they saying about television?
  4) What are they saying about politics?
  5) What does the title mean?

  

Adaptation for 9/29/14

Peter Sellers in Being There

This is going to be a slightly weird class meeting. We're going to spend most of it watching the 1979 film Being There, which won't leave time for much else (including a formal break). However, I am hoping to get to at least a few passages from A Room With a View, so bring those books. We'll look at more passages the following week.

Comedy for 9/24/14

Reminder: There is no class on 9/24/14. 
(See you on 10/1/14!)

Adaptation for 9/22/14

John Wayne's dramatic entrance in Stagecoach

Talking Points for Stagecoach & "Stage to Lordsburg":
1) Where does the short story provide information indirectly? (Come to class with two passages marked.)
2) Which characters are different from story to film? Why might those changes have been made?
3) How does the movie "reward" and "punish" its various characters, and why?
4) If this is the first western you've ever seen, what do you think of it?

Comedy for 9/17/14

His Girl Friday

Marilyn Monroe in Some Like It Hot

Talking Points for His Girl Friday:
1) Do you like the movie's fast-paced dialogue, or do you find it confusing?
2) What are the targets of the film's subversiveness?
3) From which character's perspective do you mainly view the film?
4) Which movie feels older, His Girl Friday or The Miracle of Morgan's Creek?

This week's film: Some Like It Hot.

Adaptation for 9/15/14

Reminders:
1) Your paper on Bringing Up Baby is due this week, if you choose to do that one.
2) Come to class with passages marked in "Stage to Lordsburg" that present information indirectly.

Talking Points for Bringing Up Baby:
1) Which image from the film sums up the entire film?
2) Did you like the film or did you find it really annoying?
3) Where in the film do you see evidence of the "screwball" spirit?
4) What don't you understand about the film?

Comedy: Prompt #3

American Film Comedy

Prof. Jay Boyar

jay.boyar@ucf.edu

FIL 4830H

Paper #3

His Girl Friday

“In His Girl Friday, the life of the 'newspaperman' is presented as being naturally subversive.”

Defend the above statement with examples from the film and explain what the film’s journalists attempt to subvert. Please keep in mind that this paper is about how the journalist characters are subversive, not the film as a whole.

Along the way, you may also want to address these questions:

Why do the journalists do what they do?

Are they really as subversive as they seem?

Are they actually more subversive?

At all times, keep in mind our specific definition of “subversive.”

Comedy for 9/10/14

Talking Points for The Miracle of Morgan's Creek?
1) Did you like it? Why or why not?
2) Speculate about what might have struck audiences as shocking about this film in 1944.
3) Speculate about how the film got past the Hays Office censors.
4) Why is the word "Miracle" in the title?
 

Adaptation for 9/8/14

Bringing Up Baby

Reminders:
1) If you've chosen to write Paper 1, it's due this week.
2) Don't forget to highlight those passages in "Bringing Up Baby" about the couple's relationship, and bring that text to class.
3) You should already be reading A Room With a View, especially if you're not a fast reader.
4) We'll watch the film version of Bringing Up Baby this week.

Talking Points for Rear Window:
1) What does Hitchcock substitute for the short story's surprise of the broken leg? 
2) What happens to Sam in the movie?
3) What is this movie really about?

Comedy for 9/3/14

If you're writing the first paper (on A Night at the Opera), remember that it's due on 9/3. Also remember that you must submit at least one paper by 9/17.

Be sure to read the NT Times review of The Miracle of Morgan's Creek by class time.

Talking points for A Night at the Opera:
  1) Who's your favorite Marx Brother?
  2) Why do the characters they play care about the young lovers?
  3) To which economic classes do the various characters in this film belong?

Comedy for 8/27/14

Harpo, Chico & Groucho Marx

This week, we'll be watching the Marx Brothers in A Night at the Opera. Before class, please read the review of the movie I handed out last time.

Bring any comments or questions you may have about our syllabus. We'll spend a few minutes on that, too.

Adaptation for 8/25

Great first class meeting!

This week, we'll be watching Rear Window, considered to be one of Hitchcock's greatest thrillers. Be sure to have read the short story that goes with it by class time and to bring any questions or comments about the reading with you to class.
We'll also take another quick look at the syllabus and the "18 Tips." Again, questions and comments are welcome.
See you in class!

American Film Artist: July 31, 2014

Wes Anderson

David Lynch

1) On Thursday (7/31), we will have our Final Exam. It will contain 50 multiple-choice questions and will be given during the last hour or so of class.

2) Be sure to bring a pink scantron and your correct student ID number with you.

3) After class on Thursday, I will be unavailable until the Fall semester starts. If there is an issue to address, it will have to wait until then.

4)  There is a very, very high bar for you to be allowed to make up the Final Exam. You will have to document your reason, and it will have to be something very serious like illness or a court appearance. (Pulling another shift at work or picking up your grandmother at the airport won't cut it.) Again, any fix will have to wait until the Fall term. Basically, be at that exam unless it is impossible.

5) Final Exam tip: A poster on a wall (in Mullholland Drive) that features actress Rita Hayworth is a key to one question.



 

American Film Artist: Letter to Lynch

David Lynch

Dear David Lynch,

This summer I taught a course about your work, which was offered to students at the University of Central Florida through the School of Visual Arts and Design. There were 50-60 students in this class, most of them in their twenties, some of them film majors, some not.

I gave them an optional assignment to write a short note to you containing a question or comment about your work. I explained that I would write a letter to you including some of those questions and comments. Almost everyone responded.

Most of the students expressed great admiration for your work. Many asked about your sources of inspiration. There were also many inquiries about whether you are planning to make another film and, if so, what it would be about.

Of all your films, Eraserhead received the strongest response in these notes.

“It's one of the most memorable films I have ever seen,” wrote a student named Maelynn Perez. “I don't just remember the visuals and sound, but my horror.” Another student, Asa Gentry wrote, “Eraserhead got under my skin. For days after viewing it, I reassessed my life choices and considered changing my major. It reads to me as a testament to all the things we can't control in life and the ways in which we try.”

Here are some of the questions my students asked in their notes:

“Do you want your audience to discover or fully understand the symbolism in your films?” (from Spencer Card)

“I noticed that you have a strong fascination for 1950s culture...Knowing that you were raised under the influence of the decade, what aspect of that culture do you admire the most?” (Paul)

“How would you change Dune, given the chance? I loved it, BTW.” (Kevin Morris)

“How do you know where to place the camera?” (Alex Mierisch)

“What appealed to you about pursuing The Straight Story, considering that the plot was drastically different from the high-tension films you previously created?” (Karli Windischmann)

“Is there a dream film project you would like to make?” (Wade Burkett)

“Are you interested in the interpretations/theories that fans come up with, with regard to the plots of your films? Would you prefer that they accept them at face value or do you enjoy the discussion?” (Alexandra Christman)

I'd like to add that we had extraordinarily spirited and, I think, insightful discussions after your films.

I know you are busy, but even a word from you would mean a lot to my students.

Jay Boyar

American Film Artist for July 29

Fantastic Mr. Fox

1) Test 5 will be on July 29. Be sure to bring a pink scantron and your student ID number.
2) Also, we'll be watching Fantastic Mr. Fox, Wes Anderson's animated feature.
3) I'm still having phone issues. If you need to reach me by phone for the rest of the semester, call me at 321.316.4351. But email is probably more reliable.
4) Tip for Test 5: There is neither a canteen nor a flask in The Darjeeling Limited.

American Film Artist for 7/22/14

Gwyneth Paltrow in The Royal Tenenbaums

1) Test 4 will be on 7/22. Bring a pink scantron and your student ID number, as usual.

2) We'll be watching The Royal Tenenbaums, my person favorite Wes Anderson movie, plus a clip from The Life Aquatic.

3) Tip for Test 4: Remind yourself of the "distancing devices" that David Lynch uses in the clip we watched from his Inland Empire. (Dark and fuzzy imagery is one of those devices, BTW.)

4) Your notes to David Lynch are fascinating! One of many good questions: A student who loves Dune wants to know what Lynch would change about it if he had the chance.

 

American Film Artist for 7/17/14

Rushmore

1) I hope you're thinking about what question or comment you'd like to include in my letter to David Lynch. We'll work on this on 7/17.

2) We'll be looking at Rushmore on 7/17. It's Wes Anderson's second feature -- and his first that fully seems like a "Wes Anderson" movie to me.

3) To answer a question that came up in class, Bottle Rocket (the feature-length version)
was mostly filmed in Texas, but not in Austin. It was in the Hillsboro area, which is about an hour from Dallas. Post-production was done in the Hollywood area, probably Brentwood.

American Film Artist for 7/15/14

Wilson brothers in Bottle Rocket

1) Our third test will be on July 15. Please bring a pink scantron with you. Also, if you haven't already found out your student ID number, please find it out for the test.

2) Test tip for blog readers: There will be a question on the test about the scene in Mulholland Drive with the hit man and the vacuum cleaner.

3) On July 15, we will also see Wes Anderson's first feature film, Bottle Rocket.

4) Schedule change: Our review for the final exam will be on July 24, not July 29. Also, it won't be a traditional review. It'll be more like a series of tips on how to study for the exam.

American Film Artist for 7/10/14

Mulholland Drive

1) On 7/10, we'll be watching Mulholland Drive, considered by many to be David Lynch's masterwork. It's a long movie (147 minutes) so you might want to hit the washroom before class.

2) If you missed the test on Tuesday (7/8) and want to take a makeup, you need to contact me to make arrangements right away.

3) As always, a really great discussion after the film on Tuesday. One of the best things about that discussion is our discovery that although The Straight Story is a G-rated film, it is, like much of Lynch's work, about the pain and horror that lie just beneath the surface.

American Film Artist for 7/8/14

The Straight Story

1) For those who asked to see the "Log Lady Introduction" to Twin Peaks, I have not forgotten your request. We will get to it eventually.

2) Our second test will be on 7/8. Again, 10 multiple-choice questions. Be sure to bring a pink scantron.

3) Also on 7/8, we'll watch David Lynch's G-rated movie, The Straight Story.

4) Looking ahead, on 7/10 we'll watch Mulholland Drive, considered by many to be Lynch's great masterpiece.

American Film Artist for 7/3/14

Once again, I'm sorry, sorry, sorry about my mistake that prevented us from having the first test on Tuesday. As I said in class, I'll give that test near the start of class on Thursday (7/3). It will be exactly the same test I would have given on Tuesday.

Our second test will, as scheduled, be on Tuesday, July 8 -- unless I make another idiotic mistake. (I hope I sound sorry enough. I really am.) Remember to bring a pink scantron.

American Film Artist for 7/1

1) Remember that we'll be having our first test on 7/1. It'll be 10 multiple-choice questions about anything we've covered so far.
2) Be sure to bring a raspberry (pink) scantron for the test.
3) Great discussion about The Elephant Man on Thursday. I wish I knew more of your names so I could single some of you out for your sophisticated insights! Just keep up the good work. And if you've been holding back during discussions, step up and join the party. It's fun. Really.
4) Here's a tip for blog-checkers about a question that will be on that first test: Keep in mind that while David Lynch has done significant work in series television, Wes Anderson has not.

Adaptation: Good News & Reminders for 6/16

Good news: My Internet connection is working again! Feel free to use it.

Reminders:
1) If you haven't yet turned in Paper 7 (a required paper), please remember they are due on 6/16.
2) Come to class with three passages from The Long Goodbye that paint "word pictures."
3) Read "The Little Mermaid" and find two surprising (or, at least, interesting) passages.

Adaptation: Schedule & Reminders for 6/11

Schedule for 6/11
Noon-1:15: Final Paper Conferences. William at noon, Katie at 12:10, Kristen at 12:20, Robert D. at 12:30, Jacob at 1:40, Katherine at 12:50, Taylor at 1 pm.

1:15-2:15: Pizza Party

More Final Paper Conferences: 2:15 -3:40. Haley at 2:15, Josh at 2:25, Diana at 2:35, Robert F. at 2:45, Rachel at 3, Michael at 3:10, Nick at 3:20, Priscilla at 3:30.

Reminders for 6/11
1) Bring your Final Paper prompt with you to your conference.
2) If possible, arrive 5-10 minutes early for your conference.
3) Please wait for your conference on a seat outside the corridor to my office.
4) Please bring $1 to the party for pizza.
5) Please bring a non-alcoholic beverage to the party.
6) You can turn in your required paper on The Long Goodbye either on 6/11 or 6/16, whichever you prefer.

Adaptation: Talking Points & Reminders for 6/9

Ghost Word: Talking Points
1) What does the title mean?
2) How does the relationship between Enid and Becky evolve throughout the film and graphic novel?
3) How does the addition of Seymour to the movie affect the meaning of the material?
4) How does the ending of the movie differ in meaning from the ending of the graphic novel?

Reminders:
1) Bring the graphic novel to class with passages marked in which information is presented in a mainly visual way.
2) You will sign up for Final Paper conferences, which will take place on 6/11.
3) We will sort out the remaining issues about our Pizza Party, which will also take place on 6/11.

Adaptation: Talking Points & Reminders for 6/4

Talking Points for All About Eve & "The Wisdom of Eve"

1) Who is the short story's narrator? The movie's narrator?
2) How would you describe the Eve of the film?
3) What do you think of Marilyn Monroe's performance as Miss Casswell?


Reminders:


1) Bring your text for "The Wisdom of Eve" with passages marked.
2) If you're ready to discuss your Final Paper, don't hesitate to contact me for a meeting.

Adaptation: Talking Points for 6/2

About Being There:

1) What is the final scene of the film about?
2) What is the movie about? Is the novella about the same thing?
3) What does the title mean?

4) Do you like this novel? This film? Why?

Reminders:
1. Paper 3, about A Room with a View, is due. This is a required paper.
2. We will go over the passages you've marked in A Room with a View that highlight a character or characters. Be prepared!


Talking Points for A Room With a View
1) How do do feel about Mr. Beebe (in the film and in the novel) and why?
2) How do you feel about Charlotte Bartlett (in the film and in the novel) and why?
3) How do you feel about Mr. Emerson (in the film and in the novel) and why?
4) Do you like this novel? This film? Why?

Honors Adaptation for 5/21

Reminder: Bring in "Stage to Lordsburg" with two passages marked that show how information is presented indirectly.

Talking Points for Stagecoach & "Stage to Lordsburg":
1) How does each character in the movie end up? Does he or she "earn" that fate?
2) What are the film & short story about?
3) Which version of the material do you prefer?
4) What major changes are made for the movie?

Honors Adaptation: Reminders & Talking Points for 5/19

Reminders:
1) Paper 1 is due on 5/19.
2) Be sure to bring your book to class with two passages from "Bringing Up Baby" marked that highlight the couple's relationship.

Talking Points:
1) What is there in the short story "Bringing Up Baby" that is not politically correct? In the movie?
2) In the film, how and where do Susan and David meet?
3) What evidence of the "screwball" spirit do you see in the movie?
4) Which version is more romantic, the film or the story?

Honors Adaptation: Talking Points for 5/14

1) What are some things that films typically do better than books?
2) What are some things that books typically do better than films?
3) Do you like the short story version of Rear Window? The film version?
4) What do we know -- and not know -- about the main character in each version of the material?
5) What has been added or changed in the film version of the material?