ENG 4815 - SUMMER B 2026 - Edwards

This course investigates the nature of textuality and its relationship to various media and technologies, while also exploring theoretical and practical questions related to the production and reception of texts in a variety of different forms and media. Students read works in which textuality is broached as a topic, including multimedia texts, and also produce a final project in at least two different media.

We will test out these key scholarly ideas by discussing some vibrant films as case studies. Our reading includes scholarship on textual studies as well as on film. “Textuality” refers to how "texts" make meaning by being understood in context. As we explore 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 audience reception and the "paratext," which refers to associated material surrounding the text but that is separate from the text itself. In addition to scholarly debates about how to define "text" and "textuality," we will study concepts of paratexts, intertexts, adaptation, interactive texts, and remixes. We will consider, for example, films that have been adapted from literature and how to unpack the meanings of various kinds of texts. We will ponder what contexts can influence our reading of these texts, ranging from associated material like a film trailer to fan reactions or genre expectations. Assignments include frequent Canvas discussion posts, a shorter essay, and the longer final essay. In the final project, students will get the chance to produce their own multimedia text and to analyze how their own work engages issues in textual studies.