Task 1: Case Studies

Produce a detailed comparative analysis of a range of media adaptations. You

must explore a minimum of three case studies.
Case Study 1: A Clockwork Orange

Original Text Original Target Adaptation New Target Key Changes Legal/ethical Issues
Audience Audience in genre,
style, form
etc.

A Clockwork Orange is a The target A The target Older Sensitive subjects,

dystopian novel by English audience would b Clockwork audience would characters. sexual scenes and
writer Anthony Burgess, people over the Orange was still be over 21’s violence.
published in 1962. In an age of 21. The first as it still has Outfit
England of the future, Alex Demographics published in scenes of a difference. Alex's gang beats up an
(Malcolm McDowell) and would be working 1962. sexual and
old man who was walking
his "Droogs" spend their to middle class violent nature. Alex (the main
nights getting high at the people. The A Clockwork character) is down the street, beating
Korova Milkbar before psychographics Orange The demographic much less him up because he is
embarking on "a little of the would be aspirers movie was for this book and violent.
carrying school
old ultraviolence," while and explorers. first released movie would be
jauntily warbling "Singin' in on the 13th Alex chosen textbooks. The fact that
working class to
the Rain." After he's jailed Firstly, due to the of January, middle class. due to Alex's gang would just
for bludgeoning the Cat fact that A 1972. stepping up in
randomly beat people up
Lady to death, Alex Clockwork The movie, in book
submits to behavior Orange deals with A Clockwork its cause he because they are
psychographic
modification technique to topics such as Orange would be also killed a carrying books is simply
earn his freedom; he's rape and assault, soundtrack explorers and man in prison. unethical. If Alex's gang
conditioned to abhor the novel requires was also aspirers.
violence. Returned to the a relatively high first released Movie ends was threatened by the
world defenseless, Alex amount of in 1972. The target sooner than old man, and the gang
becomes the victim of his maturity in order audience, the books. By fought in self defense, it
prior victims. for it to be both demographics, the end of the
would not have been
enjoyed and and books he gets
understood by the psychographics a new set of such a serious ethical
audience. have not changed droogs, then dilemma. However, the
Therefore, as through considers
gang beat the old man up
there is a high transmedia. becoming a
concentration of normal person basically for enjoyment
graphic and often with a family and for carrying books
This book, movie
disturbing and goods job.
and soundtrack around.
representations of In the movie
are enjoyed all
violent and he ends just
around the globe,
criminal acts healed, this is Alex's act of raping two
it is not limited to
throughout the chapter 20 of ten year old girls is
one country.
 novel, A the books unethical. In order to
Clockwork which the last accomplish his goal of
Add detail about the Orange is by no words of were
raping the two girls, he
original media format. means suitable actually ‘I was
Dates. Production details. for younger healed alright’ gives them alcohol, which
Key facts audiences makes the two girls
(generally under Story line
drunk. Alex then rapes
the age of 21). stays the
same however the two young girls, who
Through A movie focuses are completely unaware
Clockwork more on the
of what is going on until it
Orange, Burgess prison.
attempts to is too late to stop Alex.
motivate change Movie focuses Rape, in any
in the general on time zones, circumstance, is
public (above the stereotypical
age of 21 as cops, being considered unethical.
stated above), less violent, However, the fact that
and in particular, etc. movie Alex had raped two ten
those living under focuses more
year old girls makes the
oppressive on choices
governments (not and human situation much worse
specifically nature. than if he was raping a
confined to
twenty year old women.
communism or Book includes
socialism). a nod at
Through his clockwork The medical testing done
satirical orange
on Alex while he is in
representation of meaning with
society in the the man's prison is an ethical
1950’s, Burgess manuscript dilemma because the
directs the first page, scientists are playing
audience’s movie doesn't
'god' by controlling and
attention towards do this.
issues prevalent changing Alex's reactions
in society at the to certain things. As a
time and attempts
group, we agree with the
to inform them
about their method used because it
detriment on teaches one to learn how
individual liberties
to respect others for who
and rights.
they are, and how to act
Add detail about morally. It created a
the target socially acceptable
audience,
demographics person, and thus allows
and people to thrive more
psychographics. morally. Even though it
Global / National
can be arguable that it
etc.
controls ones set ways, it
has a positive outcome.

Alex is incarcerated and

subjects himself to a
treatment in order to gain
an early release from
prison. The treatment
subjects him to a drug
that makes him quite ill.
The drug is administered
with each exposure to a
violent act, and is used to
recondition his response
to violence. The
government allows this
with the thought that if a
violent act makes him ill,
he would no longer
perform these acts and
would be safe to live in
the public. The ethical
dilemma stems from this
since by reconditioning
his response to a
stimulus Alex no longer
chooses to perform or not
perform the violent act.
His ability to choose is
suppressed but the
strong negative
conditioning he has had
and he simply responds
to the stimuli without a
conscious thought to
choose one way or
another. Taking away a
person’s free will is
reducing that person to a
machine with an
automated response.
People have the God
given right to choose,
and the government must
not impose a moral code
on people.

The people who are

against the government,
such as F. Alexander, try
to use Alex as a way to
get what they want. They
do this by conspiring
against Alex. Knowing
that classical music
drives Alex to extreme
sickness as a result of
the Ludovico Technique,
F. Alexander plays the
music. As a result, Alex
becomes violently ill and
jumps out the window in
an attempt at suicide.
However, Alex survives
the fall. Though Alex
survived, F. Alexander
and his men were
successful in proving the
monsterous effects of the
Ludovico Technique.
The actions of F.
Alexander and his men
were completely
unethical, due to their
use of Alex as a means
to the end, whatever the
cost may be.
 Copyright. Classification.
BBFC, Intellectual
property & permissions,
Royalties

Notes on overall success of the transmedia adaptation:

Popularity / Wider audience / New franchise / Financial Success / Reviews etc

This franchise has never failed to be a success. It is a global sensation. The creators of the movie have earned back their original
budget and more in movie sales over the years. Over time the audience has spanned to younger people, even despite the age
restrictions and sensitive themes. The movie seems too have been more successful then the book, especially now that people
tend to read less. Overall, I think the book is a masterpiece that shall continue to be held as such. I also believe the movie was
pure cinematic art, the director (Stanley Kubrick) is known for being a perfectionist and it payed off in this movie. The main actor
(Malcolm Mcdowell) is best known for this movie and his pure talent in this movie. He took the character of Alex Delarge to a
level we had never seen before. This movie shall always be an incredible movie.
Case Study 2: Mario

Original Text Original Target Adaptation New Target Key Legal/ethical Issues
Audience Audience Changes
in genre,
style,
form etc.

Mario Bros is a platform The target The first The target The only The only ethical issue I could
game published and audience for this game audience then key see would be kidnapping. The
developed for arcades by would be 3+. dedicated to moved to 3+ and changes games are designed for
Nintendo in 1983. It was mario was adults that grew between children so there is no gore or
created by Shigeru Most people released on up with the severe violence.
Miyamoto. It has been would would play October Mario/Nintendo. games
featured as a minigame in the original 18th, 1985. have All Mario products are owned
the Super Mario Advance games were too The demographic usually by Nintendo and are legally
series and numerous other young to work. The Super mixes between been copyrighted by Nintendo. This
games. Mario Bros working/lower settings means it cannot be used by
The movie was class and people and other companies to confuse
Mario was first thought to psychographic for initially too young to even styles. audiences and to make them
be seen in Donkey Kong as Mario would be release on be working. Occasion think it it is their game. It
jumpman which was explorers. 28 May ally a cannot be used for commercial
released on 9 July 1981. 1993 (USA). The new or marketing purposes either,
The Mario games psychographic character unless by Nintendo. Nintendo
have always been The Super would still be will be does not accept permission
a global success Mario Bros explorers. added. requests.
dating back to the soundtrack Usually
first Mario game. was first The Mario and the https://www.nintendo.co.uk/Le
released on Mario Bros storyline gal/Copyright/Copyright-
2 July 1993. franchise have is the 625949.html
always been a same:
global success rescue
https://w and have Princess
continued as such Peach
ww.game
throughout their from
crate.com Bowser,
history.
/look- however,
history- there
and- have
been
legacy-
exception
mario/184 s where
41 some
games
storylines
do not
depend
on this.
The key
changes
 between
the
games
and the
movies
seem to
be a
completel
y different
setting,
different
voices
and much
older
character
s. The
storyline
is that
they must
rescue
Princess
Peach
from King
Koopa,
usually in
the
games
they
rescue
her from
Bowser.

Notes on overall success of the transmedia adaptation:

Popularity / Wider audience / New franchise / Financial Success / Reviews etc
Case Study 3: Pokemon

Original Text Original Target Adaptation New Target Key Legal/ethical Issues
Audience Audience Change
s in
genre,
style,
form
etc.
 The first Pokémon games, Pokemon is not The first The target Over the The only ethical problem I see
Pokémon Red and Green necessarily aimed Pokemon audience then years the is that the animal like
Versions, came to the at a certain age games were moved to 3+ and character creatures known as Pokemon
Nintendo Game Boy demographic. It called Red adults that grew s have are forced to fight each other.
system in Japan on was originally and Green, up with often This game is made for children
February 27, 1996, which aimed at +3 but they were Mario/Nintendo. changed, so there is no gore or severe
was the fulfillment of specifically kids first released As the players of as has violence.
Satoshi Tajiri's dream and between 10 - 17 on 27th the first game the
allowed people of all ages years old. february, have grown up region All Pokemon products are
to catch, train and trade 1996. the pokemon the game owned by Nintendo and are
151 creatures and become The original target brand has is set in. legally copyrighted by
a Pokémon Master. audience were The first adapted. The More Nintendo. This means it
predominantly too Pokemon brand has pokemon cannot be used by other
young to work. movie was adapted to follow are companies to confuse
released on the modern usually audiences and to make them
The 14th april, developments of discovere think it it is their game. It
psychographic 2000. video games d as new cannot be used for commercial
would be while also games or marketing purposes either,
explorer. The keeping a are unless by Nintendo. Nintendo
Pokemon TV nostalgic feeling. released. does not accept permission
Pokemon became show was Due to this The art requests.
a worldwide first released nostalgic feel, style has
success rather in japan on addictive changed https://www.pokemon.com/us/
quickly. 1st april, gameplay and the slightly copyright/
1997. history of the over the
game, it has years in
The first set become the
of trading accessible and games,
cards was aimed at anyone but it has
released on between +3 and changed
October 20, 40+. slightly
1996, more in
containing The demographic the
102 cards.. would be working movies
class however and TV
the children that shows.
play it are usually
too young to
work.

The
psychographic
would still be
explorer.

Since the first

Pokemon game,
the fan base has
been global.
Since then it has
yet to slow down.
 When Pokemon
Go came out the
fan base was so
global that
problems were
being reported all
over the world
because people
would not stop
playing this
game. (Pokemon
Go is a
smartphone app
that allows you to
play Pokemon in
the real world. As
you could
imagine this
caused many
issues to the
general issues,
cutting off road,
starting mobs and
many other
problems.)

Notes on overall success of the transmedia adaptation:

Popularity / Wider audience / New franchise / Financial Success / Reviews etc