It seems that contemporary audiences cannot get enough Jane Austen. Some two hundred years after her novels were written, they continue to be filmed, adapted, and discussed. Why do we keep rewriting Austen’s work? How should we understand what Austen had to say about mating, marriage, and material success? How should we understand what she had to say about women and writing? How do we maintain those values in our society – and what might that mean for us? 

To answer these questions, we will read Austen’s novels alongside contemporary interpretations of her work. For example, students will compare Pride and Prejudice with  Bridget Jones’ Diary, or  Emma  with  Clueless , or  Mansfield Park with  Metropolitan , all the while considering the impact of Jane Austen on our contemporary culture.