ENG 4815 Spring 2023 Edwards

This course for the EWM track investigates theories of textuality, which refers to how "texts" make meaning by being understood in context. We will test out key theories by discussing some vibrant films as case studies. Our reading includes theories of textuality as well as relevant film theory. While we explore different ideas about what counts as a "text" and where the meaning of a text resides, we will assess debates about the relationship between the text and vital contexts. These contexts include the socio-historical context, audience reception, and the "paratext," which refers to associated material surrounding the text but that is separate from the text itself. In addition to theoretical debates about how to define "text" and "textuality," we will study theories of paratextuality, intertextuality, adaptation, cross-cultural textuality, interactive textuality, remediation, and textuality and cultural value. We will consider, for example, films that have been adapted from literature and how to unpack the meanings of different kinds of texts as well as what contexts can influence our reading of them, from associated material like a film trailer to theories of how fans interact with films to larger discourses like the cultural expectations of different mediums and genres. Assignments include Canvas discussion posts, a midterm exam, a shorter essay, and the longer final essay. In a final project involving both theory and practice, students will get the chance to produce their own multimedia text and to analyze how their own work engages issues of textuality.