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English Through Film Adaptation Across Cultures Juanita Huan Zhou York University English Language Institute Toronto, Canada

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Presentation on theme: "English Through Film Adaptation Across Cultures Juanita Huan Zhou York University English Language Institute Toronto, Canada"— Presentation transcript:

1 English Through Film Adaptation Across Cultures Juanita Huan Zhou York University English Language Institute Toronto, Canada juanitaz@yorku.ca

2 Outline A Special Kind of Film Adaptation Rationale Objectives Approach Tasks of Comparison and Contrast Group Presentation Assignment Sample Analysis Conclusion

3 A Special Kind of Film Adaptation Hollywood Remakes of Films from Other Countries

4 Filmography No Reservations (USA, 2007)Mostly Martha (Germany, 2001) The Departed (USA, 2006)Mou gaan dou (Hong Kong, 2002) The Lake House (USA, 2006)Il Mare (South Korea, 2000) Shall We Dance? (USA, 2004)Shall We Dansu? (Japan, 1996) Vanilla Sky (USA, 2001)Abre los ojos (Spain, 1997) The Birdcage (USA, 1996)La cage aux folles (France, 1978) Point of No Return (USA, 1993)La femme Nikita (France, 1990) Sommersby (USA, 1993) Le retour de Martin Guerre (France, 1982) Three Men and a Baby (USA, 1987) Trois hommes et un couffin (France, 1985) Breathless (USA, 1983)A bout de souffle (France, 1960)

5 Rationale Advantages over Literary Adaptation ‣ Length, scope, vocabulary Advantages over Stage Adaptation ‣ Availability Advantages over Hollywood Remakes of Classic Hollywood Films ‣ Cultural diversity ‣ Affective filter hypothesis

6 Objectives Developing cultural awareness Developing critical thinking skills Improving English language skills

7 Approach A content-based seminar In a university preparation program for ESL students To students of lower-intermediate level and up 12 lessons over six weeks, two lessons per week, 105 minutes per lesson Limited to two pairs of films per session: First pair led by T; second pair led by Ss Two-part viewing for each film Rotate the pairs from session to session

8 Which Pair? Selection of the pairs of films to study in depth will factor in the following Variety of Film Genres Students’ Preferences Students’ Nationalities Students’ Ages Students’ Religions

9 Tasks of Comparison and Contrast Compare the characters in age, occupation, marital status, personality, problems, motivations, etc. Compare the casting decisions Identify omitted, added, and combined characters Identify omitted, added, rearranged, and modified scenes Compare the endings Compare the social issues raised Compare the cinematic treatment of major scenes in terms of length, number of shots, type of shots, mise-en-scène, lighting, editing, soundtrack, etc.

10 Why?

11 Group Presentation Assignment Choose one of the non-American films shown in class; or one not shown in class; or a famous Hollywood movie. Imagine yourself as a filmmaker. If the original film were to be remade by you for audiences in your country, what changes would you make in the plot and characterization? Why? Who would you cast to play the main characters? Why?

12 Sample Analysis Shall We Dance? Vs. Shall We Dansu? (USA, 2004)(Japan, 1996)

13 Task One: The Heroes Estate LawyerAccountant Married to an attractive, highly educated, successful career woman Married to an ordinary housewife Has a daughter, a son, and a dog Has a daughter Lives in a beautiful two-storey estate home Lives in a nondescript two-storey house Cause of unhappiness: Wife’s neglect Cause of unhappiness: Losing self while living up to society’s expectations

14 Task Two: The Heroines Daughter of a dry cleaner Daughter of the owner of a dance school Initiated into the world of ballroom dancing by a blond, Caucasian “goddess” Initiated into the world of ballroom dancing by a visit to Blackpool with her parents Wardrobe: Tight outfits showing nipples and breasts Wardrobe: Elegant long skirts with matching blouses Sex appealDance techniques

15 Task Three: Added Scenes Scene of the Rumba Scene of the Tango

16 Task Four: The Endings SimilaritiesDifferences USAJAPAN Goes home, changes, and buys a rose/goes to wife’s workplace, presents rose & invites her to dance/goes to party with wife & dances with the heroine after wife’s approval/introduces the two women/dances with wife/the other couples cheer them on & the heroine is partially in frame and not easily recognized/epilogue: happy ending for everyone Goes to the party and dances with the heroine/the other couples join them/the hero and the heroine disappear in the crowd/film ends with a wide shot of the dance floor ✓ Morning: Wife’s note ✓ After work: Undecided ✓ On the train: Sees invitation

17 Task Five: Film Styles Length with Credits104 min119 min Length w/o Credits100 min114 min # of Shots1,337748 Ave. Length of Shot4.5 sec9 sec Mise-en-scèneOne depth of field Long takes with three depths of fields Types of Shots Dominated by close shots and close-ups Dominated by full shots and long shots Editing Dominated by cross- cutting and reaction shots; Obsessed with Continuity editing Cross-cutting and reaction shots limited in number; Unconcerned with continuity editing USAJAPAN

18 Culturally Embedded Film Styles Personal Space Eye Contact Need for Sensory Stimuli Attitude Towards the Audience

19 Conclusion It is not the purpose of the course to evaluate which film, culture, or ideology is better. It is the hope of the course to help students understand how a culture or ideology presents itself and why it does so.

20 Credits of Images http://www.bennadel.com/resources/uploads/no_reservations_movie_poster.jpg http://richkleber.com/family/rich/moviereviews/moviereviews/movieimages/thedeparted.jpg http://www.impawards.com/1993/posters/sommersby.jpg http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_4nfE_zw3Tnw/S2ZvlbIBmrI/AAAAAAAAAO8/0ppzP7ArEeY/s400/the_lake_house.jpg http://www.impawards.com/2001/posters/vanilla_sky.jpg http://i27.photobucket.com/albums/c200/dreamersball/birdcage.jpg http://www.disneydreaming.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/01/Three-Men-And-A-Baby1.jpg http://www.impawards.com/1993/posters/point_of_no_return.jpg http://content7.flixster.com/movie/10/89/98/10899813_det.jpg http://www.impawards.com/2004/shall_we_dance_ver2.html http://www.movieactors.com/freezeframes33/ShallWeDanceUSA5.jpg http://www.wearysloth.com/Gallery/ActorsG/6473-27248.gif http://images2.cinema.de/imedia/2695/2302695,cco3qxjLvMXjAo3gDnzRhOFI61LbD0zPjeNoyonQG0juBIdgcna4J L5SCXXB2wTq8H0SWOYoM3UXHtvYWCQ3+A==.jpg http://www.dvdbeaver.com/film2/DVDReviews37/shall%20we%20dance%20blu- ray/HF7Y2758_shall_we_dance.jpg http://images1.asianmediawiki.com/images/thumb/d/d5/Shall_We_Dance%3F.jpg/250px-Shall_We_Dance%3F.jpg http://msnbcmedia1.msn.com/j/msnbc/Components/Photos/040927/040927_jlo_vmed.grid-4x2.jpg http://www.torito.nl/tango/video/shallwedance_trailerpic100.jpg http://www.pymmik.com/Shohei_Sugiyama1.jpg


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