Thesis:
The shift in both framing device and medium from book to Radioplay in the War of The Worlds 1938 adaptation, represents how the world's views on war changed after World War 1, and served as a warning of what could happen should World War 2 occur.
Social History:
War of The Worlds Book (1898, H.G. Wells)
- Written in 1898
- Made prior to World War 1 breaking loose.
- Is an anti-war piece in many ways due to it's depictions of the terrors the Martians inflict and what the Narrator must survive.
War of The World Radioplay (1938, Orson Wells)
- Premiered in 1938
- Made in a post World War 1 world, and World War 2 was looming on the horizon.
- Radio was still relatively new and becoming widespread at the time, if there was a national emergency you'd hear it first through the radio.
Genre:
War of The Worlds (1898, H.G. Wells): Sci-Fi/Apocalypse novel
War of The World (1938, Orson Wells): Sci-Fi/Apocalypse radioplay
The genres stayed relatively the same over the adaptation process, but the switch from novel to radioplay is the main difference.
Semiotic Relationships:
- Martians and War
- Mars and the enemy
- Radio and Truth
Although it's a solid idea, I would like to see this expanded upon and to make it your own. Analysis of WotW as a war piece that adapts over time is pretty common, so I think adding in a new analysis (or creating a new reading) would be helpful here. Perhaps readings of imperialism and nationalism/fascism can be worked into this narrative as well.
ReplyDelete