"Emma," "Sense and Sensibility," "Persuasion." Suddenly in the late 20th century, moviemakers turned these 19th-century Jane Austen novels into immensely popular movies. Elizabeth Langland, a UC Davis English professor and dean of the campus's humanities, arts and cultural studies division, wants to know why. "What's the appeal to today's audience? Why should the works of a writer who lived almost two centuries ago suddenly compel a mass market?" Langland asks. Langland intends to answer some of her questions -- and those of the audience -- when she talks in a lecture titled "Jane Austen and the Silver Screen" at 4 p.m., Friday, Oct. 1, in the Alpha Gamma Rho Hall of the Buehler Alumni and Visitors Center, located at the corner of Old Davis Road and Mrak Hall Drive. She is the featured speaker for the English department's annual fall lecture. She will show film clips during her lecture, which is billed as being "informative, entertaining and appropriate for all audiences." Langland studies gender issues in Victorian-era literature. A post-lecture reception follows in the lobby. The lecture is free and open to the public. Media contacts: Elizabeth Langland, Humanities, Arts and Cultural Studies, (530) 754-8920, elangland@ucdavis.edu; Lisa Klionsky, News Service, (530) 752-9841, lrklionsky@ucdavis.edu.