First-Year Seminars 110CR - Adaptation: Creation Myths

The Oxford English Dictionary lists as its primary definition for adaptation: "the bringing of two things together in order to effect a change in the nature of the objects." Rather than studying adaptation as a project that attempts to reproduce an original work in another medium, our course considers the complex relationship between a source and its retellings. Our focus will travel through the concept of "creation myths," which will lead us to consider how such retellings permanently alter the source material. In addition, we will attend to the ways that each incarnation of a given narrative offers a window of insight into a particular historical and cultural moment. We will also consider the ways in which literary and visual representations differ in their communicative and affective mechanisms, and challenge where we draw the line between "art" and "entertainment".
Taught by A. Rodgers Tuesdays and Thursdays 10:30-11:45am

Mount Holyoke first-year students only, by placement.