Section outline

  • Please listen to recordings and read information for lesson 9 before our next video  conference on 7th May at 1.45   meet.google.com/ecq-fvep-vczpm 

    Textual Transformation (Dramatic Adaptation)          

    Sainsbury 

    Thursday 13-15 Room 201 via San Gallo 

    Office hours: Friday 17-19 Room 24 vSR 

    N.B. You may only follow the second semester course if you have followed and completed the first.

    The 2 modules focus on the reading and analysis of a variety of texts with discussion of possible text type conversion for public presentation. Work in class begins with a careful phonological and linguistic analysis of the texts and a discussion of the themes and techniques used, in order to maintain the particular characteristics of each in a public reading.

    In preparing texts for presentation, attention is given to clear diction, the expressive potential of the voice and body but also to the use of music, image and film. The students prepare individual projects at home which are then developed with group work in class. Great importance is given to discussion skills, teamwork and the ability to give constructive criticism to fellow students. Short written reports outline the aims and results of each project.

    At the end of each semester, the students are given the task of organising a public reading, which involves drawing up a programme and publicising the event to other students. They are also asked to hand in a final written paper or a journal which maps the progress made over the whole semester.

    The material is made available in two booklets.

    This course aims to refine the students’ critical abilities in analysing different texts, develop their sensitivity to the expressive and performative potential of the material, perfect their speaking and writing skills and improve their practical abilities in organising work groups and events. These aims are achieved through group work in class, oral presentations and the writing of reports which assess progress on the projects undertaken.

    Given the nature of this course it is essential that students attend at least 80% of the lessons. Please do not enrol on this course if you know that you will not be able to attend very regularly. No particular aptitude in public speaking or acting is necessary, but a strong committment to the group work is very important.

    FIRST ASSIGNMENTS 

    1. Read pp 6 and 7 of the booklet. Start keeping a writer's journal (informal language, haphazard thoughts and ideas however vaguely related to the course, written at any time of day but at regular intervals throughout the week, including images). You will  continue to work on it over the entire course and hand it in (with some kind of revision and organisation at the end). Please upload a section (handwritten and photographed or typed) on our Google Drive folder as soon as possible. You can the all look at each others' work, give feedback and get ideas.

    https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1OmAbxlywW_ukpY9XNvb7OWpGIoWDfgPz?usp=sharing


    2. Look at activity 1 on p. 4 . We did this in class. For next week invent a character  who will present her/himself to the class in a similar way. She/he will be in a hotel room which she/he may describe. She/he will be in a particular state of mind related to the room, her/his personal circumstances (which may involve another person temporarily out of the room). She/He can say very little but should hold our interest even when silent. DO NOT WRITE THIS AS A TEXT. Just think about this person, think of the way they sit, stand and their typical gestures and come ready to hold our interest for 2 minutes.  Film this and upload on the Google Drive folder.

    3. Watch some or all of the short film 'A Lady of Letters'  
     for next week