Theatrical Adaptation

Meditation #7

One interesting aspect of theatrical adaptation is how many different stories can evolve from one main idea. The first thought that came to my mind when we began discussing this as a class was superheroes. Superman especially, since 1940, there has been at least 30 different adaptations released in the form of film. (http://searcha.movies.go.com/?q=Superman) This number does not include the television series “Smallville”, “Lois and Clark” or the new movie based on the original Superman’s life, entitled “Hollywoodland”. All of the preceding based from one original work, a comic book. It is interesting to me to see so many varieties of adaptations evolving from a comic book. Television series, novels, fantasy movies and dramatic movies are just a few of the factors that contributed to Superman’s fame and made him an international icon. I don’t believe that all adaptations have had as much influence as the Superman cartoons did. But really, think of Spiderman or Batman, they have theme parks and action figures and Saturday morning cartoons created because of them. I believe that these are myths, in a sense that they have magical powers, and more likely than not they could not really occur. However, to the children of our generation, they are heroes, in the same sense as the Greeks believed their gods were heroes. As I think about all of the stories I was told as a child, I realize how much they came to be a part of my identity. Take Santa Claus, a legend, a myth- one which has sparked countless stories, movies, and become an iconic part of Christmas.

It fascinates me to think about how important one character can become to so many people’s lives. In a way, we are just like the Greeks, knowing that there is no way that our heroes could really accomplish the feats they claim but still accepting them. Like Santa Claus, leaving presents under every child’s pillow in one night, no person could possibly accomplish this, and yet we still accept it; not as truth, but as a story which dances in our dreams.

posted by Taylor @ 3:10 PM