The tragic events of September 11, 2001 have left deep wounds concerning in mutual trust of a globalised world. Its effects and aftermaths extend into all areas of life. Literature as a tool to reflect on historical events and process the events of the century was also affected by these tragic happenings.
A reflection of the impact of such tragic events on the literary production can be seen in the movie “I Am Legend”, directed by Francis Lawrence in 2007. While adaptations are based on already existing writings, they offer a contemporary understanding of the primary source shaped by the major events and questions of their time of production. The events of 9/11 also had their impact on Lawrence’s (re-)interpretation of Mathesons novel, leading to a transformed version of the original work of art. This allows for the following thesis:
The movie “I Am Legend” directed by Francis Lawrence, which is an adaptation of the novel “I Am Legend” by Richard Burton Matheson mirrors post-9/11 cultural, political and social conditions by featuring prominent deviations from the eponymous novel.
Table of Contents
- I. Introduction
- II. Main Part
- 1. Adaptation Theory
- a. Adaptation
- b. General Object of Research
- 2. 9/11's effect on Literature
- a. Literature after 9/11
- b. Zombie Narratives
- 1. Adaptation Theory
- III. Analysis
- 1. Deviations between Novel and Movie
- a. Time and Place
- b. Portrayal of the "Zombie"
- c. The Final
- d. Alternative Final
- e. Short Conclusion
- 1. Deviations between Novel and Movie
- IV. Conclusion
Objectives and Key Themes
This term paper analyzes the 2007 film adaptation of Richard Matheson's "I Am Legend," directed by Francis Lawrence, focusing on how the film reflects post-9/11 cultural, political, and social conditions through its deviations from the novel. The paper aims to understand how these deviations illuminate the film's interpretation of the original work and its engagement with the socio-political context of its production. * Adaptation Theory: The paper examines the concept of adaptation, moving beyond mere fidelity to the original text and considering the adaptation as an independent work of art influenced by the creator's interpretation and the socio-political climate. * The Impact of 9/11: The analysis explores the far-reaching consequences of 9/11, its impact on literature, and its reflection in the film's narrative and thematic elements. * Intermedial Adaptation: The paper specifically focuses on the transcoding process involved in adapting a novel into a film, examining how narrative elements and other aspects are translated between media. * Comparative Analysis: The core of the paper involves a detailed comparison of the novel and the film, highlighting key differences and their interpretations within the post-9/11 context. * The Role of Context: The paper emphasizes how the film’s creation was shaped by its time of production, considering the director's personal and political interests as motivations for deviating from the source material.Chapter Summaries
I. Introduction: This introductory chapter establishes the thesis that Francis Lawrence's film adaptation of "I Am Legend" reflects post-9/11 cultural, political, and social conditions through significant deviations from Richard Matheson's novel. It highlights the impact of 9/11 on global perspectives and its influence on literature. The chapter introduces the methodology, outlining the analysis of adaptations as reinterpretations influenced by contemporary circumstances, moving beyond simple fidelity comparisons. II. Main Part: This section lays the groundwork for the comparative analysis. The first part delves into adaptation theory, defining adaptation and exploring its various interpretations. It moves beyond the traditional fidelity approach, emphasizing the adaptation as a creative re-interpretation influenced by the filmmaker's vision and context. The second part discusses the effects of 9/11 on society, politics, culture, and literature, setting the stage for understanding the film's context and potential deviations from the original novel. III. Analysis: This chapter comprises a detailed comparison of the novel and the film adaptation. The analysis focuses on key deviations, such as differences in time and place, the portrayal of the "zombies," and the differing conclusions of both versions. This comparative analysis aims to establish links between these deviations and the post-9/11 context, exploring how these changes reflect the socio-political climate of the time the film was made.Keywords
Adaptation theory, "I Am Legend," Richard Matheson, Francis Lawrence, 9/11, post-9/11 literature, intermedial adaptation, film adaptation, socio-political context, cultural impact, zombie narratives, narrative deviations.
Frequently asked questions
What is this document about?
This document provides a language preview including the table of contents, objectives and key themes, chapter summaries, and keywords for an academic analysis of the 2007 film adaptation of Richard Matheson's "I Am Legend." The analysis focuses on how the film reflects post-9/11 cultural, political, and social conditions through its deviations from the novel.
What is the main argument of the term paper?
The term paper argues that Francis Lawrence's film adaptation of "I Am Legend" reflects post-9/11 cultural, political, and social conditions through significant deviations from Richard Matheson's novel. These deviations serve as reinterpretations influenced by contemporary circumstances.
What are the key themes explored in the paper?
The key themes include adaptation theory, the impact of 9/11 on literature and culture, intermedial adaptation (novel to film), comparative analysis of the novel and film, and the role of socio-political context in shaping the adaptation.
What methodology does the paper employ?
The paper uses adaptation theory to analyze the film as an independent work of art influenced by the creator's interpretation and the socio-political climate. It conducts a comparative analysis of the novel and the film, highlighting key differences and their interpretations within the post-9/11 context.
What are some of the key deviations analyzed in the paper?
The paper analyzes deviations such as differences in time and place, the portrayal of the "zombies" (or Darkseekers), and the differing conclusions in the novel and the film.
What are the key words associated with this analysis?
The keywords are: Adaptation theory, "I Am Legend," Richard Matheson, Francis Lawrence, 9/11, post-9/11 literature, intermedial adaptation, film adaptation, socio-political context, cultural impact, zombie narratives, narrative deviations.
What is adaptation theory, as discussed in this paper?
Adaptation theory is used to understand adaptation beyond simple fidelity to the original text. The paper considers the adaptation as a creative re-interpretation influenced by the filmmaker's vision and context. This means it looks at how the adaptation creates new meanings based on how it deviates from or incorporates elements of the original work.
How does 9/11 impact the analysis of "I Am Legend"?
The paper explores how the events of 9/11 influenced the socio-political climate in which the film was made. The film's narrative and thematic elements are examined for reflections of the anxieties, fears, and cultural shifts that occurred in the wake of 9/11.
What does "intermedial adaptation" mean in this context?
Intermedial adaptation refers to the process of adapting a story from one medium (a novel) to another (a film). It explores how narrative elements, characters, themes, and other aspects are translated and transformed during this process.
What does the "Analysis" chapter cover?
The "Analysis" chapter conducts a detailed comparison of the novel and the film, focusing on key deviations and interpreting them within the post-9/11 context. It aims to establish links between these deviations and the socio-political climate of the time the film was made.
- Quote paper
- Anonym (Author), 2023, The effects of 9/11 on Francis Lawrence’s adaptation of Richard Mathesons "I Am Legend", Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/1587130
