Northampton Electronic Collection of Theses and Research

V versus Hollywood: a discourse on polemic thievery

Shadrack, J. H. (2011) V versus Hollywood: a discourse on polemic thievery. Studies in Comics: Alan Moore Themed Issue. 2(1), pp. 195-205. 2040-3232.

Item Type: Article
Abstract: Given that textual narrative can be infinite and the filmic framework finite, a space is created between the source material and its possible reappropriation, where a choice is made. Do the film executives decide to be true to the original (where the auteur's true meaning possibly rests) or do they bow to fiscal policy and socio-politically risk-free cinema? The adaptation of Alan Moore's V for Vendetta from the original source and how this process evolves through film as a cultural, political and diasporic text is examined, with particular focus on the differing geographic and cultural ideologies that underpin the graphic novel and the filmic representation. This article posits a celebration of the beauty, visceral power and freedom of the graphic novel set against the power and homogeneity of the Hollywood film industry. It is possible to say that graphic novels do not exist as Hollywood's occassional goldmine, but in fact exist as a site of narrative and visual freedom, in and of themselves. The audience or subject position of experiencing the "altered" version of literature, from all its various forms and sources, can be seen to create a spoonfed pre-existant narrative usage via Hollywoodized culture that somehow manages, in this instance, to defuse political vibrancy and vitality and potentially reformat the narrative as mainstream popular culture...or does it?
Uncontrolled Keywords: Hollywood, film, adaptation, V for Vendetta, Alan Moore
Subjects: P Language and Literature > PR English literature > PR6050 1961-2000
P Language and Literature > PN Literature (General) > PN6700 Comic books, strips, etc.
P Language and Literature > PN Literature (General) > PN1993 Motion pictures
Creators: Shadrack, Jasmine Hazel
Publisher: Intellect
Faculties, Divisions and Institutes: University Faculties, Divisions and Research Centres - OLD > Faculty of Education & Humanities > English and Creative Writing
University Faculties, Divisions and Research Centres - OLD > Research Centre > Centre for Critical and Creative Writing
Faculties > Faculty of Education & Humanities > English and Creative Writing
Research Centres > Centre for Critical and Creative Writing
Date: 2011
Date Type: Publication
Page Range: pp. 195-205
Journal or Publication Title: Studies in Comics: Alan Moore Themed Issue
Volume: 2
Number: 1
Language: English
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1386/stic.2.1.195_1
ISSN: 2040-3232
Status: Published / Disseminated
Refereed: Yes
URI: http://nectar.northampton.ac.uk/id/eprint/4375

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