USING MOVIES IN A LITERATURE CLASSROOM (Pages 21-31) by Ms. Smruti Chaudhari in THE INTERNATIONAL RESEARCH SPECIALIST / ISSN: 2350-1499 (Online); 2350-0751 (Print)

Mvies based on the texts that are read in class are an interesting way of making sure educators develop the skills that Dial-Driver enlists. The major reason why movies could be used is the overpowering hold of technology in today’s world. Learners tend to relate better to the visual medium of communication. Also, this teaching technique caters to different learning styles. Secondly, the movies could present a different perspective to those who have already read the text, that is, it would broaden their horizon and open them to other possible interpretations of the text that they have read. Thirdly, for those who have or have not read the text, it could inspire the learners to go back to the text so as to check the exactness of the adapted, which implies, they would compare the two media of representing the same ‘story’ and hence develop analytical skills and consequently, think critically about the media involved. With adequate prompts, learners could be made to think about the different ways in which the narrative has been presented, how similar or different are the responses to books vis-à-vis their movies and which aspects in the respective works make it possible. They could also draw parallels between the cinematic and literary techniques – the effect of colors in the visuals vs. the effect of colors in the written text, editing vs. structure of the written text, camera placement vs. point of view, music vs. the figures of speech (related to sound), the actors who have played the roles of the characters in the book, the use of recurring motifs and stylistic devices to name a few. Key Words: interpretations of the text, cinematic and literary techniques, camera placement, media of representing