Film Adaptations of The Cat in the Hat

master's thesis

• Title (croatian): Filmske adaptacije slikovnice The Cat in the Hat
• Author: Matea Bešenić
• Mentor: Smiljana Narančić Kovač (mentor)
• Committee member: Tea Gavrilović Smolić (predsjednik povjerenstva)
• Committee member: Marija Andraka (član povjerenstva)
• Granter: University of Zagreb; Faculty of Teacher Education; Zagreb
• Defense date and country: 2018-09-28, Croatia
• Scientific / art field, discipline and subdiscipline: FIELD OF ART; Film Art (Film, Electronic and Media Art of Moving Pictures); Animated Film (Directing)
• Scientific / art field, discipline and subdiscipline: HUMANISTIC SCIENCES; Interdisciplinary Humanistic Studies; Teaching Methods in the Humanistic Sciences

Abstract

The aim of this thesis is to describe how the picturebook The Cat in the Hat (1957) by Dr. Seuss was adapted into an animated movie (Pratt, 1971) and into a feature film (Welch, 2003) of the same title. An adaptation is a process of moving a story from one medium into another, where many changes occur, including those dependent on the expressive means of the new medium. Dr. Seuss was one of the greatest American children’s authors. His picturebook The Cat in the Hat is considered to be a masterpiece. The animated film adaptation of The Cat in the Hat is an example of a successful adaptation which preserves the integrity of the original story. The feature film adaptation changes the original story of the picturebook by adding new characters, conflicts, events, references, etc. The general meaning and the message of the original is also changed, which has been strongly criticized by the film critics and the general audience. Generally speaking, while adapting a literary work, the authors are expected to respect the original, and, at the same time, to create a new and unique work of art. The analysis of two film adaptations of The Cat in the Hat has shown that the animated film succeeded in meeting these contradictory requirements, while the feature film betrayed the original, and provided a new, but not a very successful piece.

Abstract (croatian)

Cilj je rada pokazati kako je slikovnica The Cat in the Hat [Mačak s klobukom] američkoga autora poznatoga pod pseudonimom Dr. Seuss (Geisel, 1957/2007) adaptirana, pod istim naslovom, u crtani film (Pratt, 1971) i u igrani film (Welch, 2003). Adaptacija je proces izmjene umjetničke forme iz jednoga medija u drugi (Hutcheon, 2006). Tijekom toga procesa dogode se mnoge izmijene i prilagodbe novomu mediju. Dr. Seuss bio je jedan od najpoznatijih Američkih dječjih pisaca. Njegov je utjecaj na dječju književnost velik. Slikovnica Mačak s klobukom smatra se njegovim remek djelom. Crtani film Mačak s klobukom primjer je adaptacije slikovnice u kojoj je očuvan integritet izvorne priče. Filmska je adaptacija odstupila od slikovnice tako što su napravljene izmjene u radnji priče dodavanjem likova, sukoba, događaja, referencija, itd. Izmijenjena je i sama poruka priče i njezin glavni smisao, što nije naišlo na odobravanje ni filmskih kritičara ni gledatelja. Pri adaptiranju poznatih književnih dijela autori bi trebali poštovati original, ali u isto vrijeme stvoriti novo i jedinstveno umjetničko djelo. Analiza je pokazala da je analizirani crtani film u tome uspio, dok je igrani film iznevjerio izvornik i ponudio novo, ali ne osobito uspješno djelo.

• Keywords: The Cat in the Hat; adaptation; picturebook; cartoon; film
• Keywords (croatian): Mačak s klobukom; adaptacija; slikovnica; crtani film; igrani film
• Language: english
• URN:NBN: urn:nbn:hr:147:574311
• Study programme: Title: Integrated Undergraduate and Graduate University Programme of Study of Primary Teacher Education and Integrated Undergraduate and Graduate University Programme of Study for Primary Teacher Education with English and German Language; Study programme type: university; Study level: integrated undergraduate and graduate; Academic / professional title: magistar/magistra primarnog obrazovanja (magistar/magistra primarnog obrazovanja)
• Type of resource: Text
• File origin: Born digital
• Access conditions: Open access
• Created on: 2019-01-07 07:45:49