Adaptation and the Avant-Garde: Alternative Perspectives on Adaptation Theory and Practice [Hardcover]

Adaptations have occurred regularly since the beginning of cinema, but little recognition has been given to avant-garde adaptations of literary or other texts. This compelling study corrects such omissions by detailing the theory and practice of alternative adaptation practices from major avant-garde directors.

Avant-Garde films are often relegated to the margins because they challenge our traditional notions of what film form and style can accomplish. Directors who choose to adapt previous material run the risk of severe critical dismay; making films that are highly subjective interpretations or representations of existing texts takes courage and foresight. An avant-garde adaptation provokes spectators by making them re-think what they know about film itself, just as much as the previous source material.

Adaptation and the Avant-Gardeexamines films by Peter Greenaway, Jean-Luc Godard, Guy Maddin, Jan Svankmajer and many others, offering illuminating insights and making us reconsider the nature of adaptation, appropriation, borrowing, and the re-imagining of previous sources.

Introduction
Part IChapter 1: Defining the Avant-Garde Film Chapter 2: Adaptation Theory and Practice Chapter 3: Appropriation Chapter 4: The Exploitative AdaptationChapter 5: Why Avant-garde?
Part IIChapter 6: A Brief Narrative History of Avant-Garde Adaptation or, Some Instances of Avant-Garde Adaptation
Part III - Case Studies Chapter 7:The Fall of the House of UsherChapter 8:Scorpio RisingChapter 9:Fruit of ParadiseChapter 10:Hitler, A Film from GermanyChapter 11:Street of CrocodilesChapter 12:The Dante QuartetChapter 13:AliceChapter 14:Prospero's BooksChapter 15:Wisconsin lÓ$