The Diary of A Wimpy Kid: An Ecranisation Study

ABSTRACTPutri, F. A. 2012. The Diary of A Wimpy Kid: An Ecranisation Study. Thesis, English Department, Faculty of Letters, State University of Malang. Advisor: Evi Eliyanah, S.S. M.AKeywords: novel, film, ecranisation, The Diary of A Wimpy KidThere are many cases of adaptation ever since cinema was invented, and the most common is adaptation from written work. The process of adaptation from novel to film is called Ecranisation. The differences often show up in the process of ecranisation is mostly because of technical limitations caused by the difference of art system (in this case novel) and the film system. The Diary of a Wimpy Kid is a very popular graphic novel that it is made into films of the same title. However, various critiques are given regarding the film and it is considered disappointing for the Wimpy Kid lovers; the movie appears to be significantly different from the book. This study, thus, presents to highlight the differences and then to find the meaning behind these differences. To study differences between The Diary of A Wimpy Kid 's first novel and its film adaptation, Ecranisation as one transformation process from novel to film is used. To help understand the elements better, the Structural Theory by Robert Stanton is used to learn the structure of both the novel and the film. Moreover, Reception Theory is also used to help finding the meaning behind the differences made in the production of the film. Reception Theory tells how one text transforms while welcomed by various readers who have various experiences.This study results in several differences found between the first series of the novel and the film The Diary of A Wimpy Kid. From the findings, it can be concluded that differences occur are not bound to technical issues; instead, the film production team intentionally conducts it for specific purposes. Based on the analysis, it is concluded that the presence of school as a moral institution is strengthen and becomes the main theme of the film, and the film emphasizes the value of friendship more while in the novel, the presence of family and friends are relatively equal. Moreover, there is a shift of power occurs in the process of transfer of the novel into the film; the main character has power in the book while it has none in the film–it is held by the two side characters in the film.ABSTRAK Putri, F. A. 2012. The Diary of A Wimpy Kid: An Ecranisation Study. Thesis, English Department, Faculty of Letters, State University of Malang. Advisor: Evi Eliyanah, S.S. M.A Keywords: novel, film, ecranisation, The Diary of A Wimpy Kid There are many cases of adaptation ever since cinema was invented, and the most common is adaptation from written work. The process of adaptation from novel to film is called Ecranisation. The differences often show up in the process of ecranisation is mostly because of technical limitations caused by the difference of art system (in this case novel) and the film system. The Diary of a Wimpy Kid is a very popular graphic novel that it is made into films of the same title. However, various critiques are given regarding the film and it is considered disappointing for the Wimpy Kid lovers; the movie appears to be significantly different from the book. This study, thus, presents to highlight the differences and then to find the meaning behind these differences. To study differences between The Diary of A Wimpy Kid 's first novel and its film adaptation, Ecranisation as one transformation process from novel to film is used. To help understand the elements better, the Structural Theory by Robert Stanton is used to learn the structure of both the novel and the film. Moreover, Reception Theory is also used to help finding the meaning behind the differences made in the production of the film. Reception Theory tells how one text transforms while welcomed by various readers who have various experiences. This study results in several differences found between the first series of the novel and the film The Diary of A Wimpy Kid. From the findings, it can be concluded that differences occur are not bound to technical issues; instead, the film production team intentionally conducts it for specific purposes. Based on the analysis, it is concluded that the presence of school as a moral institution is strengthen and becomes the main theme of the film, and the film emphasizes the value of friendship more while in the novel, the presence of family and friends are relatively equal. Moreover, there is a shift of power occurs in the process of transfer of the novel into the film; the main character has power in the book while it has none in the film–it is held by the two side characters in the film