(Ü/PS) Welcome to Austenland: An Introduction to the Work of Jane Austen
It is a truth universally acknowledged that few British authors are as popular and prominent as Jane Austen, may this refer to their original work or the adaptations and merchandise they inspired. The work of just as few authors can be considered as simplified or romanticised by readers and the film industry alike, considering that the name (or brand?) ‘Austen’ nowadays mostly seems to signify love, landscapes, and men in tight breeches.
This seminar delves into the phenomenon of ‘Austenmania’, Austen’s rise to a pop-cultural icon and international brand. We will examine her original work to get an understanding of her own special type of social criticism, with a particular focus on issues of gender and class. Investigating the tradition of heritage cinema, we will not only turn to questions of national identity by reflecting on specific strategies of adaptation, but also see how Austen has been increasingly romanticised and commercialised. In this regard, we will furthermore look into the Americanisation of Austen through the lens of the ‘chick flick’ and Jerusha Hess’s Austenland (2013).
In preparation to this class, you do not have to make ‘ten thousand a year’, but please buy and read:
- Austen, Jane (1813/2003). Pride and Prejudice. London et al.: Penguin Books. [ISBN 978-0-141-43951-8]
If possible, also watch:
- Austenland (2013). Dir. Jerusha Hess. Perf. Keri Russell, JJ Field, Jennifer Coolidge, Jane Seymour. Sony Pictures Classics and Stage 6 Films.
- Pride and Prejudice (2005). Dir. Joe Wright. Perf. Keira Knightley, Matthew Macfadyen, Rosamund Pike, and Donald Sutherland. United International Pictures.
Additional material will be provided during the term. Please sign up for this class via OPAL.