Fiction Adaptation: Theory Essay Ideas

Besides our film adaptation, we also have to do a 2,000-2,500 word essay based on one of the following essay questions.

1) Discuss the view that "with a successful adaptation, the original work is transformed into something new and different, although retaining many traces of what it was formerly" with reference to at least one text adapted for broadcast on television.

2) To what extent is it true that "Adaptations of classic texts enable contemporary audiences to re-visit the past; as such they can be situated within the broader context of postmodern appropriations of history" ?  Examine with reference to at least one text adapted for broadcast on television.

3) In adapting a novel the adaptor inevitably infringes the integrity of the original text  –  discuss with reference to at least one text adapted for broadcast on television.

We analysed the essay questions in depth and looked at examples such as the Sherlock example I mentioned in my last post on the Fictional Adaption Unit. For this assignment I have decided to pick Question 1.

I chose this because it seemed like it allows the widest choice for open interpretation. So I can answer it in many different ways.  I can talk about a definition of an adaption, what makes it successful or not and how its interpreted depending on the audiences. I want to use more than one example and it would be most useful to apply this theory to a TV adaption as well as a film.

This is such an interesting idea to me because there are seemingly endless opinions and topics I can discuss in this matter.

Some key points I want to focus on for my essay:

• The audience from the original book vs a newer adaption.
• The time period in which the adaption was produced as opposed to when its set.
• The use of pastiche/parody used un-ironically.

Jack Nicholson in Kubrick's adaption of The Shining (1980)

A book to film that I have considering discussing is "The Shining". The original 1977 Stephen King novel was adapted into one of the most acclaimed adaptions of all time in 1980.

Critics and fans alike loved Stanley Kubrick's interpretation of the book, however some like the original author, Stephen King, found it disrespectful and unfaithful to the original. Some have immediately jumped to the film's defense, claiming that King is irked that Kubrick's film adaption has since overtaken his original version in popularity. 

Strangely enough, considering i've seen the film adaption, it also slipped my mind that it was based on a book by Stephen King. This is an example of how post-modern adaptions can sometimes overshadow the original work. So what makes a successful adaption? Is it important that it is faithful to the original? How much creative license should the film/TV interpreters use?

One of the most iconic films scenes of all time.
"Here's Johnny!"

Stephen King's
original cover for
The Shining (1977)

http://www.salon.com/2013/10/01/what_stanley_kubrick_got_wrong_about_the_shining/