First-Year Writing Seminar (101-8-20)

Topic

Pride, Prejudice, and Permutations

Instructors

Jennifer Comerford

Meeting Info

University Hall 418: Mon, Wed 9:30AM - 10:50AM

Overview of class

Topic: Pride, Prejudice, and Permutations

From the beloved Emma-inspired film Clueless (1995), to the hit Web series Lizzie Bennet Diaries (2012), to Netflix's divisive tongue-in-cheek rendition of Persuasion (2022) and Hulu's queer adaptation of Pride and Prejudice, Fire Island (2022), Jane Austen's works have inspired innumerable adaptations. How do adaptations like these comment on and critique the original work and what do they tell us about our contemporary preoccupations and blind spots? In what ways do adaptations illuminate the original text for us in new ways? What makes an adaptation good or bad or faithful to the original? And why do we still love—or love to hate—so-called "bad" adaptations? In this course, we will explore how film, television, and novelistic adaptations of some of Austen's most popular works operate as critical and creative practices of storytelling. We will also consider how our responses to these adaptations reflect our own cultural investments as well as our reading and viewing habits. Some of the topics we will discuss in relation to adaptation include: the dynamics of race, class, and gender and sexuality; clichés and audience expectations; hate watching and ironic enjoyment.

Evaluation Method

Canvas posts, discussion, writing assignments.

Number of writing assignments and their lengths: Short, weekly writing assignments, 2 papers of around 3-4 pages each and a final assignment of around 7-9 pages with options for a creative component.

Class Materials (Required)

Jane Austen, Pride and Prejudice
Jane Austen, Emma

Additional readings and films will be available on Canvas

Class Attributes

WCAS Writing Seminar