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| Unit name |
Greek Tragedy & Cinema |
| Unit code |
CLAS37011 |
| Credit points |
20 |
| Level of study |
H/6
|
| Teaching block(s) |
Teaching Block 2 (weeks 13 - 24)
|
| Unit director |
Dr. Michelakis |
| Open unit status |
Not open |
| Pre-requisites |
None, |
| Co-requisites |
None |
| School/department |
Department of Classics & Ancient History |
| Faculty |
Faculty of Arts |
Description including Unit Aims
This unit explores screen adaptations of Greek tragedy, and more specifically adaptations of Oedipus the King (Pier Paolo Pasolini and Woody Allen), Medea (Jules Dassin and Lars von Trier) and Electra (Michael Cacoyannis and Miklos Jancso). The techniques of adapting a narrative for the screen will be investigated, as well as the context of cultural history, national ideas, political circumstance and social conventions. Particular emphasis will be given to the principles of film adaptation, the generic affinities between stage and screen, and the ideological and aesthetic preoccupations which have informed cinematic appropriations of Greek tragedy and which account for the cinematic appeal of Greek tragedy to modern audiences.
The aims of the unit are to:
- develop skills in the analysis and interpretation of dramatic and cinematic texts, based on close readings of texts, images and videos in seminars;
- enable students to use the knowledge acquired in seminars and through independent research to construct coherent, relevant and critical arguments concerning the interpretative issues raised by the literary and audio-visual sources studied.
- develop skills in oral and written communication.
Intended Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of this unit, students should:
- have developed skills in the analysis and interpretation of dramatic and cinematic texts, based on close readings of texts, images and videos in seminars;
- be able to use the knowledge acquired in seminars and through independent research to construct coherent, relevant and critical arguments concerning the interpretative issues raised by the dramatic and cinematic texts studied.
- have had the opportunity to develop their skills in oral and written communication, in making seminar presentations, taking part in seminar discussions, and producing an essay and a written examination.
Teaching Information
Seminars
Assessment Information
One essay of 3,000 words (50%) and one examination of 90 minutes (50%).
Reading and References
- Easterling, P. E. (ed.) (1996), The Cambridge Companion to Greek Tragedy, Cambridge: Cambridge University Press
- Hall, E., F. Macintosh & A. Wrigley (eds.) (2004), Dionysus Since 69: Greek Tragedy at the Dawn of the Third Millennium, Oxford: Oxford University Press
- Leitch, T. (2007) Film Adaptation and its Discontents: From Gone with the Wind to The Passion of the Christ, Baltimore: The John Hopkins University Press
- MacKinnon, K. (1986) Greek Tragedy into Film, London: Croom Helm Naremore, J. (2000) Film Adaptation, London: Athlone Press
- Stam, R. & A. Raengo (eds.) (2005) Literature and Film: A Guide to the Theory and Practice of Film Adaptation, Oxford: Blackwell
- Winkler, M. M. (2009a) Cinema and Classical Texts: Apollo’s New Light, Cambridge: Cambridge University Press
