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
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
IV. Conclusion
V. Works cited
1. Primary sources:
2. Secondary sources:
Objectives and Research Themes
This paper investigates the thematic and structural deviations between Richard Matheson’s novel "I Am Legend" and its 2007 film adaptation directed by Francis Lawrence, specifically analyzing how these changes mirror the cultural, political, and social anxieties of the post-9/11 era.
- Examination of adaptation theory and the transcoding of literary sources into film.
- Analysis of the societal and political impacts of the 9/11 terrorist attacks on American literature and media.
- Investigation into the zombie genre as a "barometer of cultural anxiety" in post-9/11 narratives.
- Comparative analysis of narrative shifts, including setting, character portrayal, and the endings of the story.
Excerpt from the Book
a. Time and Place
The first significant difference is the location of the plot. While Robert Neville’s survival story in Richard Mathesons novel is taking place in Los Angeles of 1976 (Matheson 13) more than 20 years’ after the publication of the book, Francis Lawrence’s “I Am Legend is situated in 2009 dystopian New York City only 2 years after the year of cinematic publication (Lawrence 00:02:33). Thus there is a deviation of time and place of the story. Concerning the difference in the proximity between date of publication and the time of action in the respective versions we can draw back to our conclusions about adaptations in general. While producer’s decisions are shaped by personal interpretation and economic reasons, they also can be shaped by the circumstances of the time and place in which they were produced (see above). As already mentioned above, after 9/11 a permanent state of anxiety and trauma was established. Setting a fictional dystopia in near future can activate exactly those fears and makes them more urgent. As it is imaginable that a scientific experiment gets out of control and a virus spreads around the world, the spectators anxieties of an imminent catastrophe in the future can be activated.
Summary of Chapters
I. Introduction: Outlines the research thesis regarding how the film "I Am Legend" reflects post-9/11 conditions through deviations from the original novel.
II. Main Part: Establishes the theoretical framework of adaptation studies and contextualizes literature and zombie narratives within the aftermath of the 9/11 attacks.
III. Analysis: Compares specific elements such as setting, the portrayal of the infected, and the multiple versions of the ending to analyze their political implications.
IV. Conclusion: Summarizes findings on how the film transforms the novel’s themes into a reflection of contemporary 21st-century anxieties.
V. Works cited: Provides a comprehensive list of primary and secondary sources used in the research.
Keywords
Adaptation Theory, I Am Legend, Francis Lawrence, 9/11, Post-9/11 Literature, Zombie Narratives, Cultural Anxiety, Robert Neville, Richard Matheson, Terrorism, War on Terror, Film Analysis, Dystopian Fiction, Media Interpretation, Intermediality
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the core focus of this research paper?
The paper examines how Francis Lawrence’s 2007 film adaptation of "I Am Legend" reflects the political and social fears of the post-9/11 era through thematic deviations from Richard Matheson’s original novel.
What are the primary themes discussed in the work?
Key themes include adaptation theory, the representation of national trauma, cultural anxiety in horror/zombie fiction, and the political motivations behind narrative changes in film.
What is the author's central thesis?
The thesis posits that the movie "I Am Legend" mirrors post-9/11 cultural, political, and social conditions by featuring prominent deviations from the novel that emphasize contemporary fears of terrorism and catastrophe.
Which methodology is employed in the analysis?
The author uses a comparative methodology, analyzing specific structural and character-based shifts between the written source and the film, interpreted through the lens of recent American history and adaptation theory.
What topics are covered in the main section?
The main part covers the theory of adaptation, the impact of 9/11 on literature and film, the role of zombie narratives as psychological barometers, and a comparative analysis of settings and narrative endings.
Which keywords best describe this work?
Keywords include Adaptation Theory, 9/11, Zombie Narratives, Dystopian Fiction, Post-9/11 Literature, and Cultural Anxiety.
How does the move from Los Angeles to New York City serve the film's narrative?
The relocation to New York City, the site of the 9/11 attacks, is used by the director to heighten the sense of trauma and relate the dystopian scenario directly to the collective memory of the terrorist attacks.
What is the significance of the "Alternative Final" discussed in the paper?
The alternate ending is analyzed as a potential critique of the "us-versus-them" rhetoric found in the theatrical cut, suggesting a more peaceful, conciliatory approach to the "others" that differentiates it from the dogmatic nature of the standard ending.
- Citar trabajo
- Anonym (Autor), 2023, The effects of 9/11 on Francis Lawrence’s adaptation of Richard Mathesons "I Am Legend", Múnich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/1587130
