“The Same River Twice”: An Analysis of Alice Walker’s The Color Purple and Steven Spielberg’s Film Adaptation
| Thesis title in Czech: | „Dvakrát do stejné řeky“: Analýza románu Alice Walker Barva nachu a stejnojmenné filmové adaptace Stevena Spielberga |
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| Thesis title in English: | “The Same River Twice”: An Analysis of Alice Walker’s The Color Purple and Steven Spielberg’s Film Adaptation |
| Key words: | afroamerická literatura|Alice Walker|filmová adaptace|Steven Spielberg|Barva nachu|próza |
| English key words: | African American literature|Alice Walker|film adaptation|Steven Spielberg|The Color Purple|prose |
| Academic year of topic announcement: | 2020/2021 |
| Thesis type: | Bachelor's thesis |
| Thesis language: | angličtina |
| Department: | Department of Anglophone Literatures and Cultures (21-UALK) |
| Supervisor: | Mgr. Pavla Veselá, Ph.D. |
| Author: | hidden - assigned and confirmed by the Study Dept. |
| Date of registration: | 21.12.2020 |
| Date of assignment: | 04.01.2021 |
| Administrator's approval: | not processed yet |
| Confirmed by Study dept. on: | 04.02.2021 |
| Date and time of defence: | 07.09.2021 09:00 |
| Date of electronic submission: | 01.08.2021 |
| Date of proceeded defence: | 07.09.2021 |
| Submitted/finalized: | committed by student and finalized |
| Opponents: | doc. Erik Sherman Roraback, D.Phil. |
| Guidelines |
| Alice Walker, as an African American writer and activist, explores themes related to the black community and culture. In her work, thinking of the black ancestors, she is preoccupied with black women in particular and the struggles they had and still have to deal with till this day. Walker addresses issues such as genital mutilation, domestic violence, or oppression established by patriarchy. Furthermore, she elaborates on female identity, sexuality, and spiritual freedom.
In my BA thesis I wish to analyze Alice Walker’s novel The Color Purple and compare it with Steven Spielberg’s film adaptation of the same name released in 1985. Since its publication in 1982, the literary work has been perceived by some as highly controversial because it includes topics considered taboo e.g. incest, abuse, sexism, rape, and explicit language. Moreover, the representation of black men in the book is being questioned. Spielberg’s interpretation of the story caused even more dissatisfaction felt not only by the black community, but also by Walker herself. This BA thesis focuses on significant differences between the two diverse works of art. It discusses the key discrepancies in scenes, portrayals of some of the characters, and in understanding of specific symbols incorporated by Walker. All points listed above are examined in detail, and the writer’s perspective on the creative journey as well as the final cinematic product based on her novel is provided. |
| References |
| Primary Literature:
Walker, Alice. The Color Purple. London: Wiedenfeld & Nicolson, 2017. The Color Purple. Directed by Steven Spielberg, Amblin Entertainment, 1985. Secondary Literature: Bobo, Jacqueline. “Sifting Through the Controversy: Reading The Color Purple.” Callaloo, no. 39 (Spring 1989): 332-42. Accessed October 27th, 2020.https://doi.org/10.2307/2931568. Ferris, William R., and Alice Walker. “Alice Walker: ‘I Know What the Earth Says.’” Southern Cultures 10, no. 1 (Spring 2004): 5-24. Accessed October 7th, 2020.https://www.jstor.org/stable/10.2307/26390920. Hutcheon, Linda. A Theory of Adaptation. New York: Routledge, 2006. McFarlene, Brian. Novel to Film. Clarendon Press, 1996. Peacock, John. “When Folk Goes Pop: Consuming The Color Purple.” Literature/Film Quarterly 19, no. 3 (1991): 176-80. Accessed November 13th, 2020.http://www.jstor.org/stable/43796499. Terry, Jill. “The Same River Twice: Signifying The Color Purple.” Critical Survey 12, No. 3 (2000): 59-76.https://www.jstor.org/stable/41557063. Tucker, Lindsey. “Alice Walker's The Color Purple: Emergent Woman, Emergent Text.” Black American Literature Forum 22, no. 1 (Spring 1988): 81-95. Accessed January 26th, 2019.https://doi.org/10.2307/2904151. Walker, Alice. Living by the Word: Selected Writings 1973-1987. San Diego: Harcourt, 1988. Walker, Alice. “In Search of Zora Neale Hurston.” Ms. Magazine (March 1975):74–79, 85–89. Walker, Alice. The Same River Twice: Honoring The Difficult. London: The Women’s Press, 1996. |