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Contemporary Film & Novel
Syllabus - Fall 2005

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
  • Rita Hayworth and the Shawshank Redemption (from Different Seasons) – Stephen King
  • The Shawshank Redemption (1994, 142 minutes, drama)
  • Run Lola Run (1998, 80 minutes, drama, thriller, crime, romance) – manipulation of outcome; cause and effect
  • “Memento Mori” short story by Jonathan Nolan
  • Memento (2000, 113 minutes, drama, mystery, thriller) – circular technique, questioning perception and memory
  • Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind (2004, 108 minutes, drama, romance))

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Unit III - Characters & Genres
  • Goodfellas (1991, 145 minutes, crime, drama) – gangster genre)
  • This is Spinal Tap - ( 1984, 82 minutes, comedy, music)
  • The Silence of the Lambs (1991, 118 minutes, thriller, horror, crime) – psychological thriller
  • Austin Powers - The Spy Who Shagged Me (1999, 95 minutes, comedy,action)
  • Blade Runner (1982, 117 minutes, drama, sci-fi)
  • The Matrix (1999, 136 minutes, action, thriller, sci-fi) (11/28 – 12/2)
  • 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
  • The Truman Show (1998, 103 minutes,drama, sci-fi)
  • American Beauty (1999, 122 minutes, drama)
  • Fight Club (1999, 139 minutes, drama, thriller)
  • Crash (2005, 113 minutes, crime, drama)
  • Trading Places (1983, 118 minutes, comedy)

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© carla kurt