Filmverwerking as interpretasie : die verwerkingsproses van roman na film met verwysing na Marlene van Niekerk se Triomf en Michael Raeburn se Triomf

[摘要] ENGLISH ABSTRACT: In this study the way in which a film adaptation adapts and interprets the literary novel it is based on in order to create a new story in the film medium is investigated. Not only does this ascertain the possible ways in which the novel is adapted to the film text, but it makes use of alternative methods of studying film adaptation than fidelity criticism, which is prejudice in favour of the novel as the film adaptation is regarded as a text secondary to that of the literary novel. The goal text is therefore regarded as the source text's equal. A recent Afrikaans literary novel is compared to its film adaptation to determine how the adaptation interpreted and adapted the novel for the film medium. The texts studied are Triomf by Marlene van Niekerk (1994) and Michael Raeburn's film adaptation thereof, Triomf (2008).Even though the novel and film are both narrative media with many narrative elements in common, the change in medium means that the adaptation cannot be faithful to the novel. Contemporary researchers argue that it is not the goal of an adaption to simply retell the novel's story in the film medium, but rather to interpret it and adapt it to the unique properties of the film medium. Fidelity to the goal text is hereby accomplished. By so doing, the film adaptation produces a filmic retelling of the novel's story, which can be regarded as an original story and functions independently from it source text. To produce a successful film adaptation of the novel the adapter must analyse and interpret the novel in terms of both literary and filmic elements. Knowledge of literature and film studies are therefore required. An overview of adaptation studies – the field of study of film adaptations – will be an asset to the adaptor as it provides insight to how film adaptations are studied and evaluated. The study of a film adaptation is thus not solely based on its relationship with its source text, but with how it interprets this text and adapts it for the film medium.Innovative arguments in adaptation studies concerning the comparison between the novel and its film adaptation are combined to study the gaps between the two texts: The manner in which the film adaptation changes the original story, adds to it, or takes away from it gives insight as to how the adaptation interprets the novel. Furthermore, the way in which the original story is adapted to fit the film medium's unique properties is evident of the deliberate interpretation thereof. Finally, the way in which Raeburn's film adaptation interprets Van Niekerk's novel is discussed and if this interpretation can be regarded as an original story which can function independently from its source text. This study does not judge whether Raeburn's interpretation is successful.

[发布机构] Stellenbosch University