Literary Adaptation

A Literary Adaptation is an adaptation that transforms literary source material into different media formats.

• AKA: Book Adaptation, Novel Adaptation, Literature Adaptation.
• Context:
  • It can typically transform written narratives into visual mediums.
  • It can typically require creative interpretation of source material.
  • It can typically involve format translation across media boundarys.
  • It can often modify plot elements for medium-specific requirements.
  • It can often expand commercial reach through audience diversification.
  • It can range from being a Faithful Literary Adaptation to being a Loose Literary Adaptation, depending on its source fidelity.
  • It can range from being a Film Literary Adaptation to being a Television Literary Adaptation, depending on its target medium.
  • It can range from being a Complete Literary Adaptation to being a Partial Literary Adaptation, depending on its content coverage.
  • It can range from being a Contemporary Literary Adaptation to being a Period Literary Adaptation, depending on its temporal treatment.
  • ...
• Examples:
  • Novel-to-Film Literary Adaptations, such as:
    • "Shogun" Novel Literary Adaptation as 1980 NBC Miniseries.
    • Gone with the Wind Literary Adaptation as 1939 Film.
  • Novel-to-Television Literary Adaptations, such as:
    • Game of Thrones Literary Adaptation as HBO Series.
    • Outlander Literary Adaptation as Television Series.
  • Novel-to-Stage Literary Adaptations, such as:
    • Les Misérables Literary Adaptation as Musical Theatre.
  • ...
• Counter-Examples:
  • Original Screenplay, which lacks literary source.
  • Book Translation, which maintains same medium.
  • Literary Review, which lacks creative transformation.
• See: Adaptation, Film Adaptation, Television Adaptation, Media Production, Cross-Media Work, Creative Work, Transmedia Narrative.

---