Skip to main content

Tom Butcher Cury abstract


Abstract

In this thesis I address some problems related to the pedagogy of screenwriting that is mainly focused on teaching US orthodoxy. My starting point is that there is a lack of theory in screenwriting courses and how-to books in general and no methodology around the teaching of unorthodox screenwriting poetics. To address this topic, I explore what are the already existing theories around screenwriting as an object of study and how the acknowledgement of different literature and film poetics throughout history may be a tool for screenwriters to develop a conscious writing in relation to the ideology represented on their scripts.

My conclusion is that the study of multiple narrative and dramatic forms, both in literature and film, can enable screenwriters to create scripts that better reflect their geo-cultural backgrounds and beliefs, consequently leading to a more diverse film aesthetics, subjects and ideologies.