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Teaching Screenwriting as Translation and Adaptation: Critical Reflections on

Definitions and Romanticism 2.0

Article in Journalism and Media · December 2022

DOI: 10.3390/journalmedia3040053

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Patrick Cattrysse
University of Antwerp
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 TEACHING SCREENWRITING AND/AS TRANSLATION AND ADAPTATION:
CRITICAL REFLECTIONS ON DEFINITIONS AND ROMANTICISM 2.0
©2022 Patrick Cattrysse

Abstract

This essay discusses teaching screenwriting in terms of translation and adaptation. Realigning
terminology with everyday language, translation is redefined as an invariance-based
phenomenon while adaptation is reconceived as a variance-based phenomenon, which entails
better fit. More specific working definitions follow specifying what one could be teaching or
learning in more precise terms.
The acceptance of these proposals remains a matter of contention. One major obstacle
involves the current Western Romantic view on art and culture. Having driven a rift between
art and craft, Romanticism 2.0 opposes the aforesaid working definitions, and disparages
screenwriting, translation, and adaptation, lest they comply with the Romantic rule.
Suggestions follow to re-open the Romantic view to its pre-Romantic stance, and to revalue
both art and craft values in screenwriting, translation and adaptation.
Finally, conclusions highlight some caveats foreshadowing resistance also against nudging
back Romanticism 2.0 to its pre-Romantic views.

Keywords

Screenwriting, adaptation, translation, art versus craft, Romanticism, teaching

Affiliation

Em. Prof. Patrick Cattrysse has taught narrative studies and adaptation studies at the
Universiteit Antwerpen and screenwriting studies at the Université Libre de Bruxelles
(Belgium).

Patrick Cattrysse has has also published on these subjects internationally. He is the author of
Descriptive Adaptation Studies. Epistemological and Methodological Issues (Garant
Publishers; 2014) and co-editor of Transcultural Screenwriting: Telling Stories for a Global
World (Cambridge Scholars Publishing; 2017).

Contact

E-mail: patrick.cattrysse@telenet.be

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