FILM 3005 - Adaptation | Course Outlines

FILM 3005 - Adaptation

North Terrace Campus - Semester 2 - 2025

Have you ever heard someone say 'Of course, the book is better than the film'? This course starts by interrogating such statements. What is 'of course' about it? What are the underlying assumptions? Undertaking this course, you will ask searching questions about fidelity, textual authority and cultural prestige. Working through a series of modules, you will consider adaptations between a range of media, including literature-to-feature film adaptations, but also other kinds of adaptations, including TV, video games and true events. You will be introduced to specific knowledge about the cultural, industrial, political, social, historic and technological circumstances surrounding adaptation, and you will engage with important critical and theoretical debates informing the development of adaptation studies as a scholarly field. This course has the capacity to transform your experience: you may never look at an adaptation the same way again

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Course Details

Course Code	FILM 3005
Course	Adaptation
Coordinating Unit	English, Creative Writing, and Film
Term	Semester 2
Level	Undergraduate
Location/s	North Terrace Campus
Units	3
Contact	Up to 3 hours per week
Available for Study Abroad and Exchange	Y
Incompatible	ENGL 3042
Assumed Knowledge	9 units of undergraduate study
Biennial Course	Offered in odd years
Assessment	Discussion Board Posts, Essay 1, Essay 2

Course Staff

Course Coordinator: Associate Professor Peter Pugsley

Tutor: Katherine Perrotta

Course Timetable

The full timetable of all activities for this course can be accessed from Course Planner.

Course Learning Outcomes

Critically analyse a range of texts and films that demonstrate issues about adaptation
Engage with, critically analyse and evaluate a range of secondary sources and theoretical perspectives
Develop and conduct independent research projects on issues in adaptation
Write critically and theoretically informed analyses of adaptations
Use technologies as appropriate to complete assessments

University Graduate Attributes

This course will provide students with an opportunity to develop the Graduate Attribute(s) specified below:

University Graduate Attribute	Course Learning Outcome(s)
Attribute 1: Deep discipline knowledge and intellectual breadth Graduates have comprehensive knowledge and understanding of their subject area, the ability to engage with different traditions of thought, and the ability to apply their knowledge in practice including in multi-disciplinary or multi-professional contexts.	1,2,3,4,5
Attribute 2: Creative and critical thinking, and problem solving Graduates are effective problems-solvers, able to apply critical, creative and evidence-based thinking to conceive innovative responses to future challenges.	1,2,3,4,5
Attribute 3: Teamwork and communication skills Graduates convey ideas and information effectively to a range of audiences for a variety of purposes and contribute in a positive and collaborative manner to achieving common goals.	4,6
Attribute 4: Professionalism and leadership readiness Graduates engage in professional behaviour and have the potential to be entrepreneurial and take leadership roles in their chosen occupations or careers and communities.	4,6
Attribute 5: Intercultural and ethical competency Graduates are responsible and effective global citizens whose personal values and practices are consistent with their roles as responsible members of society.	1,2,3,4,5
Attribute 6: Australian Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultural competency Graduates have an understanding of, and respect for, Australian Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander values, culture and knowledge.	1,2
Attribute 7: Digital capabilities Graduates are well prepared for living, learning and working in a digital society.	3,5
Attribute 8: Self-awareness and emotional intelligence Graduates are self-aware and reflective; they are flexible and resilient and have the capacity to accept and give constructive feedback; they act with integrity and take responsibility for their actions.	3,4

Learning Resources

Required Resources

TBC in Week 1
"Memento Mori" Jonathan Nolan. (short story. To be made available via MyUni).
Memento. Dir. Christopher Nolan, 2001.
No Country for Old Men. Cormac McCarthy
No Country for Old Men. Dir. Joel and Ethan Coen, 2007.
The Shining. Stephen King.
The Shining. Dir. Stanley Kubrick, 1980.
The Talented Mr Ripley. Patricia Highsmith.
Pleil Soleil. Dir. Rene Clement, 1960.
The Talented Mr Ripley. Dir. Anthony Minghella, 1999.
Roadside Picnic. Arkady and Boris Strugatsky
Stalker. Andrei Tarkovsky. 1979.
The Invention of Hugo Cabret. Brian Selznick.
Hugo. Dir. Martin Scorsese. 2011.

Recommended Resources

We may also be discussing Stephen King's Doctor Sleep and Mike Flanagan's adaptation, as well as but you are not expected to access these independently necessarily unless you choose to write on them for assessment.
Learning & Teaching Activities

Learning & Teaching Modes

On Campus (face-to-face) - Students must attend 1 x 1hr lecture plus 1 x 2hr tutorial each week

Workload

The information below is provided as a guide to assist students in engaging appropriately with the course requirements.

156 hours per semester.

Learning Activities Summary

No information currently available.

The University's policy on Assessment for Coursework Programs is based on the following four principles:

Assessment must encourage and reinforce learning.
Assessment must enable robust and fair judgements about student performance.
Assessment practices must be fair and equitable to students and give them the opportunity to demonstrate what they have learned.
Assessment must maintain academic standards.

Assessment Summary

ASSESSMENT TASK	TASK TYPE	WEIGHTING	COURSE LEARNING OUTCOME(S)
Discussion board posts 1500 words total	Summative and formative	30%	1,2,3,4,5
Essay 1500 words	Summative and formative	35%	1,2,3,4,5
Take home exam 1500 words	Summative	35%	1,2,3,4,5

Assessment tasks to be confirmed in Week 1.

Assessment Detail

Assessment	Description	% weighting
Discussion board posts 1500 words total.	Distributed throughout the semester, these will give students and opportunity to engage with films, texts and readings.	30%
Essay 1500 words.	This will give students the opportunity to reflect on the first eight weeks’ learnings.	35%
Take home exam 1500 words.	Set at the end of the course, this will give students the opportunity to reflect on the last four weeks’ learnings and the course as a whole.	35%

Assessment tasks TBC in Week 1.

Submission

All submissions via MyUni.

Course Grading

Grades for your performance in this course will be awarded in accordance with the following scheme:

M10 (Coursework Mark Scheme)
Grade	Mark	Description
FNS		Fail No Submission
F	1-49	Fail
P	50-64	Pass
C	65-74	Credit
D	75-84	Distinction
HD	85-100	High Distinction
CN		Continuing
NFE		No Formal Examination
RP		Result Pending

Further details of the grades/results can be obtained from Examinations.

Grade Descriptors are available which provide a general guide to the standard of work that is expected at each grade level. More information at Assessment for Coursework Programs.

Final results for this course will be made available through Access Adelaide.

Student Feedback

The University places a high priority on approaches to learning and teaching that enhance the student experience. Feedback is sought from students in a variety of ways including on-going engagement with staff, the use of online discussion boards and the use of Student Experience of Learning and Teaching (SELT) surveys as well as GOS surveys and Program reviews.

SELTs are an important source of information to inform individual teaching practice, decisions about teaching duties, and course and program curriculum design. They enable the University to assess how effectively its learning environments and teaching practices facilitate student engagement and learning outcomes. Under the current SELT Policy (http://www.adelaide.edu.au/policies/101/) course SELTs are mandated and must be conducted at the conclusion of each term/semester/trimester for every course offering. Feedback on issues raised through course SELT surveys is made available to enrolled students through various resources (e.g. MyUni). In addition aggregated course SELT data is available.
Student Support
Policies & Guidelines
This section contains links to relevant assessment-related policies and guidelines - all university policies.
Fraud Awareness

Students are reminded that in order to maintain the academic integrity of all programs and courses, the university has a zero-tolerance approach to students offering money or significant value goods or services to any staff member who is involved in their teaching or assessment. Students offering lecturers or tutors or professional staff anything more than a small token of appreciation is totally unacceptable, in any circumstances. Staff members are obliged to report all such incidents to their supervisor/manager, who will refer them for action under the university's student’s disciplinary procedures.

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Authorised by:	Deputy Vice-Chancellor and Vice-President (Academic)
Maintained by:	Course Outlines Administrator