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Contemporary Film & Literature
Syllabus

Carla Kurt, Instructor
English Department
Canton High School
Canton, CT
ckurt@cantonschools.org

This syllabus is subject to change, in terms of both content and schedule. Detailed notes, resources, and assignments will be posted for each unit.

Unit I - How to Read a Movie/ Adapting Literature to the Screen
  • Introduction to film study & unit
  • The Wizard of Oz directed by Victor Fleming (1939, 112 minutes, family, fantasy, adventure, musical)
  • The Body (from Different Seasons) – Stephen King
  • Stand By Me (1986, 89 minutes, adventure, drama) – adaptation of literature to film with author’s commentary on the process

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Unit II - Telling a Story - Narrative Structure and Meaning
  • The Shawshank Redemption (1994, 142 minutes, drama)
  • Chronicle of a Death Foretold - Gabriel Garcia Marquez
  • Rashomon (1951, 88 minutes, drama, mystery)
  • Memento (2000, 113 minutes, drama, mystery, thriller)
  • Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind (2004, 108 minutes, drama, romance))

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Unit III - Characters, Genres & Journeys

Documentary, Comedy & Parody:

  • VH1 Behind the Music - Motley Crue
  • The Best of SNL - Christopher Walken
  • This is Spinal Tap - ( 1984, 82 minutes, comedy, music)
  • Austin Powers - International Man of Mystery (1997, 94 minutes, comedy,action)
  • Dr. No - directed by Terence Young (excerpts)
  • A Hard Day's Night - directed by Richard Lester (excerpts)

Characterization/ Social Significance in Crime & Psychological Thrillers:

  • Psycho (1960, 109 minutes, horror, mystery, thriller)
  • The Collector - John Knowles
  • The Silence of the Lambs (1991, 118 minutes, thriller, horror, crime)

The Hero's Journey:

  • The Matrix (1999, 136 minutes, action, thriller, sci-fi) (11/28 – 12/2)
  • Saving Private Ryan (1998, 170 minutes, action, drama, war)
  • O Brother Where Art Thou? (2000, 106 minutes, comedy, adventure, crime, music)

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Unit IV - Social Commentary/The American Dream
  • The Stepford Wives – Ira Levin – social satire, cautionary tale
  • American Beauty (1999, 122 minutes, drama)
  • Edward Scissorhands (1990, 105 minutes, drama, fantasy, romance)
  • Pleasantville (1998, 124 minutes, comedy, drama, fantasy)
  • The Truman Show (1998, 103 minutes,drama, sci-fi)

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© carla kurt