Whodunit? Mystery and Suspense in Literature and Film
| Writing Course | |
|---|---|
| Course Code | WHOD |
| Year Opened | 1998 |
| Sites Offered | CGV, LOS |
| Previously Offered | ASU, ATN, BRI, BTH, CAL, CHS, EST, HAV, FRD, SCZ, SUN |
Course Description
From the CTY Summer Catalog:
This writing class explores the techniques great writers and filmmakers use to convey mystery and suspense in popular culture. You and your classmates will learn and discuss how elements like sound and cinematography build suspense in film; the literary merits of the mystery genre, and what mysteries tell us about humanity. You’ll read works by classic mystery writers such as Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, Edgar Allan Poe, and Agatha Christie, and watch clips from early horror classics and noir films from the ’40s and ’50s. By examining characterization and plot techniques used in literature, and elements like camera angles and lighting techniques used in film, you will learn the ways writers and directors build suspense and heighten tension on the page and onscreen. You’ll also build your critical thinking skills by writing critical essays analyzing elements of mystery and suspense, and show off your own storytelling skills by writing scenes using techniques you’ve learned in the course.
