Literature in Films: Realism, Fantasy, and the Art of Adaptation

Author: (USA) Robert Stam
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2006-01-01
Features: This textbook on film adaptations of literary works is concise and easy to understand, making it an ideal introductory read, written by a leading figure in film and literary studies. It vividly, rigorously, and clearly explains key moments in the history of novels, from Don Quixote and Robinson Crusoe to Lolita and One Hundred Years of Solitude. It emphasizes the literary texts and their diverse cross-textual film adaptations. It examines various literary trends, such as self-aware novels and magical realism, and explores their cinematic adaptations. It examines the field of adaptation studies within a contemporary theoretical framework, infusing it with fresh vitality. By reflecting on literary film adaptations in relation to contemporary issues, it brings them into a multicultural, postcolonial, and internet era. Through this process, Robert Stam helps us better understand the two most important art forms of our time—literature and film—and in doing so, he uses new materials to illustrate their uniqueness. His unique analysis of the process of transforming one medium into another is itself a significant contribution to adaptation theory. —Michael Holquist
This book analyzes the differences between literary masterpieces before and after their adaptation into films, exploring the deep relationship between realism, magical realism, and film adaptation. It helps us better understand the two main art forms of our time—film and literature.