Can Adaptations Affect Their Source Materials’ Legacy?
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Can adaptations affect their source material’s legacy? Most importantly, can they elevate it? Short answer? Yes. Long answer? Yes, but it can get complicated.
Adaptations have always been a tricky business. There are many issues involved with adapting original material - does the work stay true to the source material’s message? Does it adequately convey it? Does it elevate the experience for the consumer? We can address many detailed questions by first answering some simple ones:
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Who Elevates The Source Material? To Whom Do We Look?
There are many people we can look to for adapting the source material. Take the example of a franchise like Star Wars or a source like the novels of J.R.R. Tolkien - people who have adapted those source materials include authors, filmmakers, artists, and game developers. These people can make the difference between positive impacts, such as spawning new and better entertainment. At the same time, the original source still evolves independently or has negative impacts, where the indecisiveness of the source material’s creator can constantly change canon and upend established fandom. In addition, the opinions of a creator can affect their fans’ perception of their creation and therefore affect its independence. (Example: J.K. Rowling and the Harry Potter franchise)
What Can Be Done To Elevate Source Material?
Any number of things can be done to elevate source material. For example, books can be adapted into motion pictures for dramatic expansion and effect, or a novel can be written to expand upon and/or tie into the storyline of a movie. Also, toys and video games can be created to enhance source material in ways that haven’t been considered yet. But ultimately, the impact of an adaptation format is determined by fan reception.
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When Do You Elevate Source Material? Is There Ever A Good Time?
Source material can be adapted whenever a creator might want! In the case of a franchise like Star Wars, promotional material might be released before a film’s premiere, expansion materials can be released alongside the film, and additional materials can be released as a follow-up to capitalize on the source material’s success. In the case of source material like Lord of the Rings, the material can be released decades later to expand upon the source and attract the attention of a younger and potentially wider fanbase. A common element of many different source materials is permanence; a franchise is more successful when the base source material is solidly defined and generally doesn’t change.
Where Do You Go To Elevate Source Material?
This question can particularly apply to film adaptations - where do you accurately portray the source environment? This is where professionals like location scouts come in. They go out and find places close enough to or exactly like those portrayed in the source material so that the setting/story can be successfully transferred into a new medium. The ultimate success of settings in adaptations depends on the people finding and creating those settings knowing what they are doing.
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How Can We Elevate Source Material?
Some materials can be elevated in any number of ways. For example, books can be turned into movies or online games, and films can be turned into television shows and other forms of entertainment. And, of course, there are always appreciative works created by fans. Fans also play a big part in the success of a particular adaptation method - potential success can often be influenced by using an adaptation method that more people will be receptive to.
Why Do We Elevate Source Material?
We elevate source material out of love. We adapt from sources because we love them, want to share them, and want them to survive. We also elevate because we CAN - creating adaptations is just one of many creative outlets that can provide incredible returns. Ultimately, success depends on reception- people might like it or not. An adaptation might only exist for a few, or it might exist for many. But, in the end, nothing will stop us from creating.
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