ADAPTATION OF BOOK PHENOMENONS IN FILM AND TELEVISION FORM

Subject of this bachelor thesis is the process of adapting literature into audio-visual form. We define adaptation itself and it’s position in larger context of culture as whole with special interest in relationship between literature and film. From that point we look closely at two well-received pieces of art, first examining the books (J. R. R. Tolkien – Lord of the Rings: Fellowship of the Ring; G. R. R. Martin – A Song of Ice and Fire: Game of Thrones) and then looking into film, respectively serial adaptation. We examine narrative, focusing on precision of transferring the content of the story as well as the impression that reader gets from books. Those pieces of art are chosen intentionally because the original content is so large it forces the creators of adaptation to choose only the most important, best-functioning parts. Special focus is also given to the audio part of the adaptations, since it cannot be captured in the books at all and needs to be made from scratch. We find parallels, both adaptations being modern at their time with the creative approach but truthful to the original atmosphere. Both pieces are also considered a masterwork among both critics and fans, especially the music. Differences are found in amount and techniques of shortening the story, which was necessary in both cases, but is much more significant in the movies and therefore the series seem to be a better solution for an epic fantasy novel adaptation.