Popular Narrative Appreciation 101

How to Appreciate Narratives in All Their Forms

When I studied Popular Culture at Brock University, Popular Narrative was one of my favourite classes. The course description was this:

Textual and contextual analysis of popular literary genres such as the detective novel, gothic fiction, science fiction, the romance novel; adaptation of popular novels to a variety of other media forms.

- Brock University Undergraduate Calendar, 2008-2009

I studied various forms of text but primarily it was film and literature that influenced the studies in that course. The first month and a half was spent analysing "Frankenstein" by Mary Shelley Wollstonecraft, watching the first feature film with Boris Karloff, the spoof "Young Frankenstein" by Mel Brooks and the remake featuring Kenneth Branagh. By the end of the unit, I felt we had over analyzed the texts that I lost appreciation for the works itself. 

That's where this club comes in.

The mission of The Film Adaptation Club is to appreciate film without reading the original narrative texts. If I never read "Frankenstein" would I have the same appreciation for the original , spoof or Sir KB's versions? Yes. But while reading the novels made me understand the narrative much better, I appreciate the value of the film much more. 

How this club will run:

It can be done weekly, bi-weekly or monthly. Members will submit suggestions for the film we will watch, and we will draw a film title out of a glass bowl (Hunger Games-style). After watching the film we will discuss the film: our likes, dislikes, comparisons to other adaptations or, if you've read the original narrative, the book. Once we get the ball rolling, we can venture into various territories of film adaptations.

Depending on who signs up, this can be done online or in person. Friends in the Niagara region, we can meet to watch the movies. Anyone can participate if you've seen the film! I welcome all comments and criticisms of the film adaptations we will watch.

Develop an interest in life as you see it; the people, things, literature, music - the world is so rich, simply throbbing with rich treasures, beautiful souls and interesting people. Forget yourself.

- Henry Miller