Time Schedule:
Heidi R. Pauwels
HONORS 211
Seattle Campus
Evolution of an idea or a discipline central to the humanities. Content varies from year to year. For University Honors Program students only. Offered: W.
Class description
This course focuses on how Indian literature is transformed in film and on television, including the creative appropriation of scripture on the screen. The goal is to foster understanding of Indian aesthetics for appreciating literature and film as well as to question the use of literature (religious and secular) for socio-political agendas. The class raises questions at the interface of cinema and literature, such as how popular Indian films change the way literature is read, offer different (broader or narrower) interpretations, and shift plots, stories, and characters to accommodate the medium and the economics of the genre. It also raises issues of canonization, of literature and film classics. We explore the multiple agents at work in such processes, paying special attention to political, sociological, psychological and economic forces of the market place.
Student learning goals
Knowledge: understanding Indian aesthetics to appreciate Indian literature and film
Knowledge: understanding use of literature for socio-political agendas; influence of economic forces of market place on film transformations of literature
Exploring: issues at interface of cinema and literature, including process of canonization
Skill: building writing skills about film and literature: from shorter "blogs" to paper
Skill: meaningful participation in discussion and providing constructive peer-feedback
Skill: effective oral presentation
General method of instruction
Lecture and discussion
Recommended preparation
open mind and interest in Indian film and or literature
Class assignments and grading
Students complete a weekly writing assignment and post this on GoPost after seeing the movie in preparation for the paired discussions in class. After the discussion, students will incorporate the peer-feedback and polish their initial draft into a short essay, which they keep for their final portfolio. They have to polish their screening reports into a full essay only every other week, for a total of 4 such essays.
Students will work towards a final presentation in class during the final week of instruction, which they will write up as a paper due during final’s week.
Final paper (due Mo exam week by 5 pm) and presentation (W10): 30 + 10%
Weekly screening report and bi-weekly essay for final portfolio (due F W10) 10+40%
Participation in discussions and class: 10%
