Expository Writing (105-0-20)

Topic

From the Page to the Screen: Black Adaptations

Instructors

Lauren Delores Johnson

Meeting Info

555 Clark 230: Tues, Thurs 11:00AM - 12:20PM

Overview of class

Have you ever read a book and immediately wondered if there is a film adaptation? Or have you ever watched a movie and realized after that it was based off of a book? Or, have you ever watched a movie adaptation that had completely different aims from your understanding of the literary work? This course will consider the process from text to film adaptations, specifically through an African American artistic tradition. Our goal is to place Black literature and Black cinema in conversation, as we will first read Nella Larsen's Passing (1929), James Baldwin's If Beale Street Could Talk (1974), and the Black Panther comic (1977), and then watch the film adaptations (2021, 2018, and 2018 respectively). We will explore questions such as what makes a book or a film "Black?" Should some texts/authors refuse a film adaptation? How does the literary and movie market influence Black cultural production? What are the distinct demands and expectations for African American artists in the 20th century versus the 21st century? Were Black authors a part of the adaptation process, and if so, how did their opinions influence the film as a whole?

Class Materials (Required)

1. Nella Larsen, Passing, 9780593437841
2. James Baldwin, If Beale Street Could Talk, 978-0307275936, Black Panther Comic (ISBN TBD)

Enrollment Requirements

Enrollment Requirements: REASON: Pre-registration is not allowed for this class. Please try again during regular registration.