ENG4934 – Spring 2027 – Edwards

This seminar functions as a senior capstone course for the various majors within the English degree program at FSU. Topics vary. If you have previously taken "What Is a Text?" in the past, please do not register for this section of ENG 4934.
This course investigates concepts of ‚"textuality" which refers to how "texts" make meaning by being understood in context. We will test out key scholarly ideas by discussing some vibrant films as case studies. Our reading includes scholarship on textuality and on film. 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," defined as associated material surrounding the text but 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 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. Students also do a multimedia project and analyze how their own work engages textual studies.
This course meets the English Capstone requirement; Upper-Division Writing requirement; and Scholarship in Practice.