Shakespeare on Film

One-semester course. In this course, students will examine 5 frequently adapted Shakespeare plays, as well as movie and television adaptations. They will read and discuss the plays, answering and asking questions about the characters, plot, setting, style, and language of the works. They will also reflect on the adaptations, asking and answering questions about their setting, costume, acting, editing, directing, and context, and comparing those adaptations to Shakespeare as well as to each other. The course will focus on examining how we choose to adapt Shakespeare to the screen and what that we emphasize, keep, alter, or discard, as a way of learning how to better appreciate Shakespeare as well as see something about ourselves in what we choose to highlight and minimize in making the adaptation.

*Alternates with Introduction to Film Studies. Will be offered Spring 2026.