Crossing Borders in Film Theory and Adaptation Studies

Abstract

The history of film theory is full of what we might call migrating concepts. From the Russian Formalists which, in their Poetica Kino (Poetics of cinema) adapt concepts initially created as part of literary theory (fabula vs. syuzhet, film as language, cine-stylistics) to David Bordwell and Kristin Thompson and their formalist inspired approach to film studies, from André Bazin and his theory of realism, inspired by phenomenological concepts, the history of film theory can be thought of as a genealogy of crossing borders. The circulation of concepts from literary theory to film theory is also quite astonishing in the theory of adaptation. In the study of the adaptation of literary works for cinema, the travel of concepts (the crossing of borders) can be observed and analysed especially in narrative theory and adaption theory.

Keywords

• adaptation studies
• film adaptations
• travelling concepts
• theory and borders
• migrating theory