What does it do to an original work, when it is constantly reread, revised, discussed, analysed and transitioned? These are the questions this paper is trying to find answers to.
To answer this question, the author will start by exploring the relation between original and adaptation, where she will give an overview of the various ways of adapting techniques and show which role fan fiction plays in this. This will lead to an abstract on fan cultures, what they are and how they come into being. This first part will be concluded by a theoretical approach on how original works are in a constant change. The second part of this paper will study these concepts in the works of Jane Austen.
Starting with a look at the reception of Austen’s novels, she will go on with an overview of why and how her work was adapted, followed by a chapter on the fan culture which focuses exclusively on her and her work. This part will then be concluded by tracing the elements of fan culture in the series Lost in Austen, to see how the changing process applies here and is furthermore shown on several levels.
Table of Contents
1 Introduction
2 Original and Adaptation
2.1 Adapting a Literary Work
2.1.1 Fan Fiction and Fan Culture(s)
2.2 The Original in Constant Change
3 Reception of Austen’s Work
3.1 Adaptation of Austen’s Work
3.2 Austen Fan Cultures
3.2.1 Lost in Austen as a Work of Fan Culture
4 Conclusion
5 List of Works Cited
Objectives and Themes
The academic paper investigates how literary works undergo a continuous process of change through constant rereading, diverse interpretations, and the emergence of adaptations and fan cultures, using the work of Jane Austen as a primary case study.
- The relationship between literary originals and their various adaptations.
- The evolution and participatory nature of modern fan cultures.
- The concept of intertextuality within fan fiction and audience reception.
- The application of cultural theories, such as the simulacrum, to literary change.
- The specific reception history and fan-based transformations of Jane Austen's novels.
Excerpt from the Book
3.2.1 Lost in Austen as a Work of Fan Culture
With this fan culture in mind and regarding the numerous adaptations, an overlap in these areas is a given. The series Lost in Austen, which I already mentioned in the introduction, is an excellent example to show the fans’ influence on works of fiction and to illustrate the everlasting changing process literary works experience. This series is not only an adaptation in the form of a commentary of Austen’s most popular novel Pride and Prejudice, but it also shows the extents of fandom and how this interacts with the original novel in more than one way. It is a visual example of the Austen fan culture, showing the extends of fan culture on screen while being itself a result of fan culture. Amanda, the protagonist, serves as an excellent example of a real fan, a fan of Jane Austen’s most popular work Pride and Prejudice. Dreaming about Mr Darcy, perfect manners and the romantic behaviour that is pictured in the novel, she clearly shows her love for this narration and its characters. Due to this love she also sees all the flaws in her own life, the society she lives in and the people who surround her, so she uses the novel as a way to escape all this. It is an escape to an alternative reality, a reality she wishes for herself. These aspects of love and escapism are characteristic features in fan cultures. The urge to escape into an admired and well-known fictional world is taken to the next level in this series, when Amanda finds herself inside the universe of her favourite book.
Summary of Chapters
1 Introduction: This chapter introduces the thesis statement regarding the constant change of literary works, using the series Lost in Austen as a practical example.
2 Original and Adaptation: This section explores the theoretical relationship between source material and its subsequent screen or text adaptations, including the role of fan fiction.
2.1 Adapting a Literary Work: This subsection details the technical and artistic difficulties of screen adaptations and introduces Wagner’s categories of transposition, commentary, and analogy.
2.1.1 Fan Fiction and Fan Culture(s): This part examines the shift from fans as passive consumers to active participants in a participatory culture through textual poaching.
2.2 The Original in Constant Change: This chapter discusses how every reading and interpretation subjects a text to a continuous process of evolution, preventing it from remaining static.
3 Reception of Austen’s Work: This chapter provides a historical overview of how Jane Austen’s novels moved from initial indifference to widespread modern popularity.
3.1 Adaptation of Austen’s Work: This section analyzes the "Austenmania" phenomenon and the diverse ways her novels have been adapted across different media forms.
3.2 Austen Fan Cultures: This part explores the development of the "Janeite" subculture and its evolution into modern online communities.
3.2.1 Lost in Austen as a Work of Fan Culture: This subsection uses Lost in Austen to demonstrate how fan expectations and desires actively reshape the narrative of a classic novel.
4 Conclusion: The conclusion synthesizes the findings, confirming that through endless adaptation and fan engagement, the original text effectively becomes a simulacrum.
5 List of Works Cited: This section lists all academic sources, media references, and critical theory texts used in the paper.
Keywords
Jane Austen, Adaptation, Fan Culture, Fan Fiction, Original, Simulacrum, Literary Theory, Pride and Prejudice, Lost in Austen, Participatory Culture, Intertextuality, Reception, Media Studies, Narrative, Interpretation
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the core focus of this research paper?
The paper focuses on the transformative nature of literary works, arguing that they do not remain static but are constantly reshaped by readers, critics, and adaptations.
Which primary case study does the author utilize?
The author uses the work of Jane Austen, specifically her novel Pride and Prejudice and its adaptation in the ITV series Lost in Austen, to illustrate these concepts.
What is the central research question?
The research asks what happens to an original literary work when it is continuously reread, revised, analyzed, and adapted over time.
What methodology is employed in this study?
The work employs a combination of literary analysis, reception theory, and the study of fan cultures, drawing on theorists like Henry Jenkins, Jean Baudrillard, and Roland Barthes.
What does the main body of the text cover?
The main body covers the theory of adaptation, the rise of fan cultures, the reception history of Jane Austen, and a specific case study of Lost in Austen as an active fan-driven narrative.
Which key terms are central to understanding the work?
Central terms include "simulacrum," "textual poaching," "adaptation," "fan fiction," "intertextuality," and "Austenmania."
How does the author define the term "simulacrum" in the context of this study?
The author adopts Baudrillard's definition, suggesting that through constant adaptation and reinterpretation, the original work loses its "originality" and becomes a copy of a copy, eventually vanishing behind its own reception.
What role does the series Lost in Austen play in the analysis?
It acts as a literal manifestation of fan culture, where the protagonist, representing a fan, physically enters the fictional world and alters the narrative based on her own expectations.
Does the author argue that adaptations are inferior to the original text?
No, the author argues that adaptations are not necessarily rivals to the original, but rather enrich the literary landscape by creating new meanings and perspectives.
How does the concept of "Janeitism" reflect modern fan practices?
The author highlights that "Janeitism" has evolved from early male-dominated literary appreciation into a diverse, modern participatory culture that engages with Austen through everything from digital discussion groups to costume balls.
- Arbeit zitieren
- Anonym (Autor:in), 2020, What is the Original? Literary Works in Constant Change Drawing on the Example of Jane Austen, München, GRIN Verlag, https://www.hausarbeiten.de/document/541417
