A Theory of Adaptation by Linda Hutcheon

Important Questions:

How does adaptation keep the audience’s interest?

How do audiences differ for different media forms?

How do audiences respond differently to different modes of engagement?

How do “knowing” and “unknowing” audiences differ?

Artist: Kansas “Carry On Wayward Son” Stan’s Dad Stan and Kyle

Audience: Stan’s Dad Stan, Kyle, etc. Friends

Perception: Visual Aural/Visual Kinetic

Mode: Telling Showing Interacting

Interaction: Written song Performance Playing video game

“Real guitars are for old people.” - Cartman

How does adaptation keep the audience’s interest?

Adaptation’s formulaic appeal

The comfort of the familiar

The ritual of repetition

Fan fiction

How do audiences differ for different media forms?

Demographic

Marketing strategy

Bankability

Cult following carry over

Norma Jean BakerPin-up Model

•Sex: Male•Age: 16-35•Marital Status: Single•Occupation: Military

Marilyn MonroeHollywood Movie Star •Sex: M/F

•Age: 16-55•Marital Status: S/M•Economic Status: Middle Class

Andy Warhol’s MusePop art subject

•Sex: M/F•Age: 21-75•Marital Status: S/M•Economic Status: Middle-Upper

Merchandise MavenImage licensed for mass consumption

•Sex: Female•Age: 13-35•Marital Status: Single•Occupation: Student/Working Class

How do audiences respond differently to different modes of engagement? Mass response vs. Individual response

Thinking vs. Percieving

Time and space

Degrees of immersion

5 Pages in the Book (p. 55-59)

Radio Broadcast Clip

Television Show Clip

Movie Clip

How do “knowing” and “unknowing” audiences differ?

Audience awareness of adaptation

Audience expectations and demands

Genre and media “literacy”

Adaptation’s ability to colonize audience consciousness

Music video for “Hurt”

“Hurt” was originally released on Nine Inch Nail’s The Downward Spiral Album.

In 2002, Johnny Cash covered “Hurt.” The video for Cash’s version of the song won best video at the Grammys and the Country Music Awards. It would be Cash’s final hit before his death on September 12th, 2003.

An unauthorized parody of “Hurt” appeared on YouTube in March of 2007 featuring the artist “Sad Kermit.”