CrossOver Journal of Adaptation Studies

Beyond the Screen: The Retconning of Black Characters In Popular Culture Movies Through the Lens of Blackwashing

Lu'lu'a Lu'lu'a — 2024-12-30

The portrayal and adaptation of characters in movies often reflect societal norms and values, with "blackwashing" emerging as a significant phenomenon. Blackwashing refers to casting black actors in roles traditionally portrayed by white characters, often as part of efforts to promote representation and address historical inequalities. This study explores the types of retroactive continuity (retcon) found in black characters within popular culture films through the perspective of blackwashing. The research employs Hutcheon’s (2013) adaptation theory, which conceptualizes adaptation as creative reinterpretation rather than mere replication, alongside Friedenthal’s (2017) retcon framework and Genette’s (1997) qualitative transformation theory for supplementary analysis. Using a qualitative approach, the study applies the documentation method for data collection and Spradley’s (2016) analysis technique. Seven adapted films (hypertexts) are compared to their original works (hypotexts), revealing three distinct types of retcon: reinterpretation, reinscription, and revision. These findings demonstrate how adaptation practices not only reshape narratives but also challenge traditional representations to align with evolving social values. The findings highlight how adaptation practices reshape narratives to address historical inequalities and enrich representation in media. This research contributes to the understanding of blackwashing as a tool for inclusivity and social progress in film adaptation. Future studies are recommended to explore blackwashing across diverse cultural contexts and genres to deepen insights into its impact on global representation and audience reception.

I'll No Longer be a Capulet: Archetypal Shifts in the Movie and Anime Adaptations of Shakespeare's Juliet

Futiha Alambarra Amaan Ahmada — 2024-12-30

Adaptation is being a striking phenomenon that attracts many people because it tends to produce a different sensation of the source text. This research considers this phenomenon in order to reveal the shifts between the source text and the adaptation versions. The article is a comparative study that applies the archetypal theory. It sets out to reveal the similarities and differences with respect to the archetypes pertaining to the Juliet character in Shakespeare’s play, Romeo and Juliet, and its film and anime adaptations. The descriptive qualitative method is used to enable the researcher to do the interpretation and descriptive analysis. Moreover, the research uses the theory of structuralism and archetypal characters by Mark and Pearson. The theory of archetypal character draws from twelve primary archetypes to find and analyze the data through some dialogues and passages of the story. The archetype shifts in Juliet's character are identified by comparing three texts, including William Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet (second quarto version), Baz Luhrman’s Romeo + Juliet (1996), and Fumitoshi Oizaki’s Romeo x Juliet (2007). It is discovered that the archetypal character of Juliet shifts in the three analyzed texts. Based on the function of the character, the archetype of Juliet the Lover is maintained in Luhrmann’s Romeo + Juliet. Nonetheless, in Oizaki’s Romeo x Juliet, it changes into Juliet the Hero.

From Hae Chan to Haikal: Localization of K-Pop Idol Names in Twitterature

Naura Mukti Larasati — 2024-06-30

Alternate Universe (AU) on Twitter employs public figures such as K-pop idols as characters and localized their names. K-pop idols already possess global appeal, but localization helps integrate these figures into regional or cultural contexts, making stories resonate deeply with local audiences. Name localization in this context is about adapting names to fit different languages and cultures. This research aims to investigate the localization of a K-pop idol’s names in the context AU based Twiterrature in X platform, formerly Twitter. The focus is to see how localization of K-pop idol names is applied in Twitterature, addresses a significant gap in existing studies by exploring the intersection of localization strategies. To analyze it we used localization based on Lyons (1977), the idea that spatial expressions are more essential, grammatically and semantically than non-spatial expressions. In this context, spatial expressions are the different strategies used to localize each K-pop generation. In order to localize, name translation could be expressed through aleatory and intentional techniques. To analyze the data we used Spradley 4 step technique; domain analysis, taxonomy analysis, componential analysis, and cultural theme analysis. The primary findings in this research indicate that the author's choice of names was frequently influenced by random or arbitrary factors rather than a systematic or thematic rationale. This study aims to enhance understanding of how localization strategies function in Twitterature, specifically in adapting global cultural figures like K-pop idols into localized and culturally relevant stories.

Through Our Lens: Exploring Cultural Adaptation of Miracle in Cell No. 7 Korean Film and Its Indonesian Version

Annisa Fitriana — 2024-12-30

This research enriches the rare discussion of adaptation especially related to representation of local culture in cross-border film adaptations. While many studies focus on narrative and thematic changes, in-depth analysis of how local culture, such as social values, traditions, and Indonesian identity are adapted in the story is still minimal. This research explores how Korean cultural elements in the film Miracle in Cell No. 7 are adapted into Indonesian culture and are adjusted to Indonesian values in the adaptation version. Using the theory of transstylization by Genette (1997) and the theory of seven cultural elements by Koentjaraningrat (1986), it was found that five cultural elements underwent changes, namely language, religion, knowledge system, living equipment, and livelihood system. This is not only because Korea and Indonesia basically have different culture but also influenced by the different religious landscape. This research contributes to the understanding of how Indonesian local culture is integrated in movie adaptations without changing the core of the original story.

Characters’ Enhancements in the Series Adaptation of League of Legends

Muhammad Alif Fadhillah — 2024-12-30

Arcane is a TV series adaptation from a game named League of Legends and was categorized as the best TV series in 2021. When many TV series adaptations take novel as its source, this adaptation becomes interesting to analyse because the source text is from a game. This research aims to find out the changes applied to the characters in the series adaptation using Linda Hutcheon’s adaptation theory, in which she mentioned that character is one of aspects often changed when a work is adapted into different form. The Arcane is based on Zaun and Piltover's past, there will be so much to compare from the TV series and the game. Using qualitative method and spradley’s data analysis steps, this research reveal that changes are applied to the characters Vi, Jinx, and Caitlyn. These changes involve appearance, outfit, and ability, which gives more realistic and grounded effect to Arcane’s story. This is due to the different mode of engagement that Hutcheon calls from interacting to showing. With some adjustments made to the characters, the series are able to present engaging story and new audience.

Count Dracula, Louis De Pointe Du Lac and Edward Cullen: The Archetypal Shift of Vampires Figures Across Three Eras of English Literature

Bety Setiyawati — 2024-12-31

The research aims at finding out the archetype, archetypal shift and the dominant archetype of vampire figures: Count Dracula, Louis de Pointe du Lac and Edward Cullen. The methods used in this research is descriptive qualitative research, used documentation as the technique of collecting data. In this research, the researcher used Archetype theory by Margareth Mark and Carol Pearson and Linda Hutcheon’s theory of shifting to analyze the data. The result of this research showed that there were 137 data in total and are 10 of 12 total archetypes. The analysis on the archetypal shifting classified were; 8 archetypes uses historicizing and 129 dehistoricing. 15 archetyes uses racializing and 122 archetypes uses deracializing. 9 Disembodiments and 3 embodiments. It is found that each figure has a different orientation of characterization depicted its own zeitgeist. Count Dracula a vampire from Victorian era has a clear characterization of a ruler. Contrastingly, Louis de Pointe du Lac of post-modern era has an ambigous personality of being good ‘evil’ and is bond through his past. Differently, A vampire of Contemporary era, Edwrad Cullen, has an obvious characterization as a lover with 2 dominant archetypes takes 66% of the data. Furthermore, the dominant archetype of the data is the Lover which takes 30% of the data as both Louis and Edward created in the era where there is no distinguish point of being good and evil.

Keywords: Vampire, Archetype, Archetypal Shift, Characterization.