Fiction Adaptation: Essay - 'Grimm' Analysis

As I'm now focusing on this television series as my focal text for my essay, I've decided to analyse the key adaptations which I can discuss in my essay. I will focus the evaluation on the first episode however will include any other aspects if necessary.

Semiotics & Intertextuality

The victim is wearing red - relating to
Little Red Riding Hood

Throughout the series there are frequent and obvious aspects of symbolism referring to 'Fairy Tale' stories, where some episodes are clear adaptations of different stories. For example, the first episode in the first series is a adaptation of 'Little Red Riding Hood'. We learn about a character type called a 'blutbad' - a character who seems average however transforms into a wolf - like the one in little red riding hood. Even the narrative is the same - a little girl is kidnapped by the wolf-man however is rescued. This intertextual link has intentionally been made obvious from the use of iconography. For example, the wolf lives deep in the woods and the little girl is wearing the iconic red coat. Therefore, relating to my essay question, this television series deliberately infringes the integrity of fairy tales in a variety of ways i.e. through the mise-en-scene, however has been adapted for a new unique television series.

Avant Garde (see avant garde post)

The blutbad's house - similar to the representation
of the wolf in Little Red Riding Hood

Similarly, Grimm is also a prime example of an avant grade adaptation. This is because the adaptation has a unique style - it can be argued that it revolves around creativity and individuality from the way fairy tales have been altered to create a sci-fi drama television series. Although these adaptations are only minor, its clearly evident how these fairy tales have been adapted arguably to a modern standard - nonetheless has been given it's own avant garde twist. Therefore, in a way this maintains the integrity of fairy tale stories by bringing these old stories for a modern visual - but with a twist.

Archetypes

The 'blutbad' - has a similar representation of the wolf in Little
Red Riding Hood

Although this series revolves around these fairy tale adaptations, you can argue that it isn't entirely dependent on them due to the creation of archetypes. For example, the first episode has 'blutbads', the second episode has bears. These do have relevance to fairy tale stories nonetheless have been given different characteristics making these archetypes unique. Thus, these adaptations may've been changed for originality purposes (so that it doesn't copy characters directly from fairy tale stories), or arguably have been adapted to suit the modern audience and to make the series seem more dramatic.

Character Homage

You can also relate these archetypes to the significance of fairy tale character homages. In a way, there integrity have been deliberately infringed due to the auteur creating a twist with the fairytale characters and giving them a new name with a slightly different identity, such as the 'blutbads' (an alternation of the big bad wolf). Nonetheless, this can be argued that these fairytale homages are still prominent and although altered work in an effective way, as it's as if these characters have been bought to the modern post modernist era. Therefore, this integrity has intentionally been infringed, nonetheless the homage is still instantly recognisable yet as if they're characteristics have been changed to suit the modern era.

Fidelity of the Series

In a way, you can argue whether these adaptations have been successful or not. Some of the audience may feel that these adaptations may have an effect on the fidelity of the series - that the characters aren't fully truthful to the original fairy tales which could furthermore make the characters seem weakly represented. For example, in the first episode, the story relates to Little red riding hood however there is n't a portrayal of the grandma, like in the original fairy tale.

Nonetheless, you could alternatively argue that this fidelity to the original text isn't entirely relevant. This is because the adaptation has deliberately challenged the original text so that the series has its unique style (an avant garde, as previously mentioned) so that it doesn't become a copy. Or additionally, they have been intentionally altered for entertainment values - it may make the narrative seem more problematic therefore intensifying the drama. 

Different Audiences: Post modernist vs modernist

It's clear that this adaptation is likely to have a different audience compared to the original fairy tales. Fairy tales were written around the 1700s - this means that the audience is before the modernist era as its over 300 years old. This is a very different audience to the audience for the television series which instead has a post modernist audience. Such difference in audiences therefore can reinforce how the adaptation is different to the original fairy tales themselves, thus arguing why the integrity may've been infringed. 

It's evident that Grimm revolves around a much more dramatical and action-packed problematic style compared to the original fairy tales themselves, thus hinting that the post modernist audience have this desire for texts to be more entertaining and beneficial. However, this is quite complex to compare as there was only books from the original fairytales instead of moving image (like Grimm), meaning it isn't entirely effective to compare a book to a film.