Well, whether you've heard or said them, at one point or another, you have experienced them.
As a student, you have probably at one point or another decided to watch the movie, or thought the movie would give you the same information as the book. Maybe you still think that now. It doesn't matter how old you are, what you're studying in school, or even if your whole life is dedicated to reading. I am a 21-year-old English Education Major who reads every day, and I STILL sometimes have an urge to just watch the movie.
It is very difficult for some English majors to admit that at one point or another they wanted to watch the movie. Whether or not they acted on it is on their own consciences (I keep telling mine to leave me alone). In any case, it is generally known to society that the movies, while most of the time displaying decent adaptations, leave out some crucial moments in the book.
Now that is exactly what people get angry about when they see a movie based on a book, right? They say, "I can't believe they left this part out! It was so important!" While I myself get a little annoyed at these things, I keep reminding myself that there is a time limit in film and television that does not exist in books. At most, moviemakers have 3 hours to make the movie attempt to measure up to the glorified entity that is the book. When reading the book, you have all the time in the world to finish it, and even re-read some parts if you wanted. To go even further, why not read the whole thing again (I mean, there's no way I read The Other Boleyn Girl 7 times, what are you talking about?)?
While I am defending the movie industry, I am also attempting to make a point that movies are not the only thing to be relied on, especially when studying a piece of literature in school. The movies will be enjoyable, I'm sure, but books hold the key to the themes and symbolism that must be absorbed in order to understand the entirety of the text. In fact, the movies can be used in the classroom, but AFTER the book is read, discussed, and throughly comprehended. For example, after completing Charlotte Bronte's Jane Eyre (Happy Belated Anniversary!) in my British Literature class, we watched the BBC mini series in order to get the visual effect.
Here is another side to this argument: Shakespeare. William Shakespeare wrote his plays with the intention of them being performed. While it is important and crucial to read and understand his plays in textual form, seeing them performed is just as necessary and helpful to reinforce our understanding of the text. Back in the 16th century, audiences had to watch the plays because most of them were illiterate, but those who were studied Shakespeare's plays when they appeared in print, shortly after their composition.
To close, I would like to thank you all for reading this post. As English, History, Math, Science, Health/Phys Ed., Music, Dance, and Art Teachers (if I forgot your major, my apologies!) there will come a time where you have to make the big choice: To Read or Not to Read?
P.S. Here's a funny cartoon for your enjoyment!
i really enjoyed your going back in history part. You caused me to think of the time of Shakespeare, when like you said, he wanted and expected his plays to be acted out and performed. And, then, you mentioned how this was during a time that majority of the people was illiterate. So, if children do decide to watch the movie, I feel that they should first do the reading, so that the symbolism, themes etc... can still be in their minds. We are no longer illiterate, so we need to make use of one of our many skill, reading.
ReplyDeleteAlso, I found the little picture that you put up to be hilarious!!!
Hey Allison,
ReplyDeleteThanks for this funny and insightful post! I definitely agree that the movie version of a book has to viewed merely as an adaptation of the book. I would also say that it's important to view movie adaptations as one version or interpretation of the story - not as a concrete translation of it. It's very difficult, if not impossible, for the movie to "get it right," because every reader comes to a story with his or her own ideas and forms unique perceptions, picturing the characters and settings at least slightly differently than every other reader. I think it would be beneficial for English teachers to capitalize on this idea but giving students the opportunity to be creative and act out scenes from a play or portions from a novel. "Becoming" a character could help students understand their motivations and how they further the plot, theme, etc. of the novel.
Your post brings up a really good point. So many students think that they don't have to read if there is a movie adaptation of the book. Sometimes, it is just easier to watch a movie then to read an assigned book. However, I like your point that the films can only fit so much into a certain amount of time. I took a film course a few years ago and was amazed to learn about how much needs to be done to create a film in a 90 min time period.
ReplyDeleteI think watching the film adaptations of books is great... as long as you've read the book. Watching a film can bring to mind a point about the book a student may not have realized before. Book and film comparisons are a great way to get students to analyze a writing even deeper. Many students love watching movies because they say they are "visual learners", however part of reading is visualizing! As much as we love movies, what's interesting is that often if students have read the book first, they would prefer the book over the movie.
Thanks for the interesting post and amusing pictures!