Renowned literary scholar Linda Hutcheon explores the ubiquity of adaptations in all their various media incarnations and challenges their constant critical denigration. Adaptation, Hutcheon argues, has always been a central mode of the story-telling imagination and deserves to be studied in all its breadth and range as both a process (of creation and reception) and a product unto its own. Persuasive and illuminating, A Theory of Adaptation is a bold rethinking of how adaptation works across all media and genres that may put an end to the age-old question of whether the book was better than the movie, or the opera, or the theme park. In A Theory of Adaptation, renowned literary scholar Linda Hutcheon explores the ubiquity of adaptations in all their various media incarnations. In contemporary cinema, of course, there are enough adaptations-based on everything from comic books to the novels of Jane Austen-to make us wonder if Hollywood has run out of new stories. But, Hutcheon argues, if you think adaptation can be understood by using novels and films alone, you're wrong. Today there are cover songs rising up the pop charts, video game versions of fairy tales, and even roller coasters based on successful movie franchises. Adaptation has always been a central mode of storytelling and deserves to be studied in all its breadth and range as both a process of creation and reception, and as a product unto itself. Persuasive and illuminating, A Theory of Adaptation is a bold rethinking of how adaptation works across all media and genres that may put an end to the age-old question of whether the book was better than the movie, or the opera, or the theme park Are We Living In The Age Of Adaptation? In Contemporary Cinema, Of Course, There Are Enough Adaptations --based On Everything From Comic Books To The Novels Of Jane Austen--to Make Us Wonder If Hollywood Has Run Out Of New Stories. But If You Think Adaptation Can Be Understood By Using Novels And Films Alone, You're Wrong. Today There Are Also Song Covers Rising Up The Pop Charts, Video Game Versions Of Fairy Tales, And Even Roller Coasters Based On Successful Movie Franchises. Despite Their Popularity, However, Adaptations Are Usually Treated As Secondary And Derivative. Whether In The Form O. Front Cover; Contents; Preface; Acknowledgments; Chapter 1. Beginning To Theorize Adaptation: What? Who? Why? How? Where? When?; Chapter 2. What?: (forms); Chapter 3. Who? Why?: (adapters); Chapter 4. How? (audiences); Chapter 5. Where? When?: (contexts); Chapter 6. Final Questions; References; Index; Back Cover. Linda Hutcheon. Includes Bibliographical References (p. 179-202) And Index. Front cover 1 Contents 8 Preface 12 Acknowledgments 18 Chapter 1. Beginning to Theorize Adaptation: What? Who? Why? How? Where? When? 20 Chapter 2. What?: (Forms) 52 Chapter 3. Who? Why?: (Adapters) 98 Chapter 4. How? (Audiences) 132 Chapter 5. Where? When?: (Contexts) 160 Chapter 6. Final Questions 188 References 198 Index 222 Back cover 252
