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?