Paper 3

Jacob Bash

4-26-12

Paper # 3

Adaptation vs. Appropriation

DISCLAIMER: These are my definitions that I am to try and argue, not those of any true validity.

There is a fine line running between the idea of adaptation and appropriation when it comes to films. The question always gets asked when a new film comes out, is it adapted from an earlier work, or is it just appropriated?  According to the free online dictionary, the definition for adaptation is, “something that is changed or modified to suit new conditions or needs” (Free dictionary).  The definition for appropriation is, “the act of setting apart or taking for one's own use” (Free Dictionary).  Adaptation is where a film or play, keeps the same structure, lines (for the most part) and setting of the script or novel.  All a producer and director would try to do according to the dictionary definition is change the script for a play, and turn it into the movie, otherwise keeping the same spirit of the show.  Appropriation on the other hand tries to set the film apart from the script or novel.  Adaptation tries to keep the script as similar to that of the movie, while appropriation brings something new to the table.  

The works of William Shakespeare are perfect examples of the definition of adaptation and appropriation.  Two play scripts to look at are: Hamlet, Romeo and Juliet.  Both of these scripts have movies accompanying them that are each adaptation and one an appropriation.  

Looking first at Hamlet, the two films to look at are: Hamlet starring David Tennant, and Disney’s The Lion King.  First, one needs to look at Hamlet as a play. This is Shakespeare’s longest piece of writing.  This also is one of his most studies works, and often times most quoted in modern day.  David Tenants version of Hamlet is going to be considered an adaptation of Shakespeare’s Hamlet.  This version was true to Shakespeare’s script, vision, and even the time it was written, taking place in the same age as Hamlet.  Looking at the dictionary definition, Tennant just modified the play text to “suit new conditions”.  The conditions being that it was to go on screen, and not done in a live theatre.  This will get Shakespeare’s play out to a wider audience than if on stage.  The interesting thought is that not very much was changed.  Of course some was cut out to make it a reasonable length, but it stayed true to how the play generally was done.  

The Lion King on the other hand, is a complete appropriation, only keeping a very basic storyline of Hamlet.  The story lines of each the play and the movie match well, with Hamlet, or Simba, having to take revenge on his fathers murder by killing his uncle.  Timon and Pumba represent different characters from Hamlet.  What doesn’t make this an adaptation, is that Disney made it their own.  They turned hamlet into their own work so that when someone viewed The Lion King, they thought of the Disney movie, instead of Shakespeare’s work.  This was an animated movie, created for kids using modern day language.  Disney did not try to simply adapt the movie into newer times with newer equipment and technology, but rather appropriated it, coming up with their own version and their own masterpiece.

Another of shakespeare’s plays to look at is Romeo and Juliet.  If one looks at the masterpiece film by Franco Zeffirelli, this is another example of an adaptation.  He stayed as true as possible to the play, even casting his Romeo and Juliet to be of that same age.  The play uses the text from Shakespeare, and again, just adapts it to the screen.  There isn’t any major changes to the story, or setting or anything to that effect, but rather is a true to the script story of two tragic lovers.  Again, the only change to Shakespeare’s version is the venue, from a stage to the big screen.

There are two other versions of Romeo and Juliet.  One is known as West Side Story, a classic musical about the Jets and the Sharks.  The other is directed by Baz Luhmann, and released in 1996.  These are two very interesting cases.  West Side story would be considered an adaptation seeing as it is a musical, and has nothing to do with Montagues or Capulets, but rather two modern day (for their time) gangs.  It is a musical that is now part of popular culture and is quotes very often.  This movie not only adapted a musical from stage to screen, but also changed the setting, lines, names, everything.  The storyline is the same, but it is hard to argue it being an adaptation because so much is different.  People who watch it think of the movie as West Side Story, rather than Romeo and Juliet.  This movie has been set apart from the original, and even the play script, and became its own masterpiece.  

The newer Romeo and Juliet is a very tough one to call.  While it is the same story line, same names, and even same dialogue, it is hard to accept it as only an adaptation.  The director took so many liberties, putting this in modern day, adding the guns, and even the big stars to the movie makes many Shakespeare critics cringe.  This is a very well done movie with fantastic acting and creativity to make it so modern day.  The question to ask, is it enough to differentiate from the original play?  In this case, the answer could go either way.  Once a viewer hears the language and names, there is no mistaking what this movie is based on, but watching, it seems very different from the original (I personally feel it is an adaptation rather than appropriation).

There are many examples of movies being adapted from books, and even from songs or scripts.  Because of Shakespeare’s breadth of work, his plays have been turned into movies many times.  Often times they are adapted straight from stage onto screen, and at other times, they are appropriated into a modern day styles movies, and just briefly have the storyline, but someone came up with their own creative spin to differentiate his or her work from the great playwrights.  Twelfth Night and She’s the Man are two other movies to look at, along with Much ado about nothing, and the same BBC version.  All of these are Shakespeare inspired, but some follow his word closer, than others.

"Dictionary, Encyclopedia and Thesaurus." The Free Dictionary. Farlex. Web. 26 Apr. 2012. <http://www.thefreedictionary.com/>.