The Comic(s) Shakespeare: <i>Kill Shakespeare</i> and Audience Experience in Adaptation Studies

In this thesis, I expand upon Linda Hutcheon's use of the terms knowing and unknowing audiences that she briefly outlines in her book <i>A Theory of Adaptation</i>. Hutcheon suggests that when experiencing an adaptation, one may be a knowing audience member, someone that knows the adapted work, or an unknowing audience member, someone who is not familiar with an adapted work. Hutcheon proposes the terms knowing and unknowing audiences as a way to reorient adaptation studies to consider the experience and the knowledge of the audience members. This model runs contrary to orthodox adaptation theory or fidelity criticism, wherein the value of an adaptation is determined by its closeness to an original. Theoretical discussions that rely upon studying the closeness of an adaptation to an original text do not provide insight into the text but simply re-establish a hierarchy for an original. Thus, Hutcheon's use of the terms knowing and unknowing audiences is valuable because these terms provide new language to reinvigorate the field. Thus Hutcheon's new language presents a step toward redefining the theory and producing scholarship that explores audience literacy or literacies.

Name thesis:degree_name

Master of Arts (MA)

Level thesis:degree_level

masters

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

English/Literature

Grantor dc:publisher

Bowling Green State University

Year dc:date

2013

Author dc:creator

• Zullo, Valentino L.

Contributors dc:contributor

• Gearhart, Stephannie

• Literature
• Adaptation
• Theory
• Linda Hutcheon
• Comics
• Graphic Novel
• Shakespeare
• Hamlet
• Pop Culture
• Literacy
• New Media

Statement dc:rights

• unrestricted
• This thesis or dissertation is protected by copyright: all rights reserved. It may not be copied or redistributed beyond the terms of applicable copyright laws.

Language dc:language

English

Repository record dc:identifier

http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=bgsu1363444777

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:etd.ohiolink.edu:bgsu1363444777