Contemporary Television Reading of I. Nechuy-Levytsky’s Novel “Kaidash’s Family”: Semiotic Aspect
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.31861/pytlit2024.109.092Keywords:
I. Nechuy-Levytsky, “Kaidash’s Family”, “Catch Kaidash”, Ukrainian literature, semiotics, adaptation, intermediality, the language of the filmAbstract
This article meticulously examines the semiotic aspects of the contemporary televisual adaptation of I. Nechuy-Levytsky’s story “Kaidash’s Family”, directed by N. Vorozhbyt. It outlines the intricate specifics of the adaptation process against its historical backdrop, with particular focus on the temporal shift to the modern era (2010–2014) and subsequent thematic reinterpretations. The semiotic ramifications interwoven into the translation of literary language and the visual lexicon of the film have been scrutinized. Through a comprehensive analysis of narrative structure, thematic motifs, and ideological reconfigurations, the transformation and reinterpretation of semiotic signifiers from a literary source into a cinematic medium are elucidated. The adaptation strategically diverges from the original literary source, skillfully introducing new thematic elements such as rampant consumerism, rural unemployment, and a crisis of cultural identity. This transformative process entails the nuanced decoding of literary signs into visual and auditory realms, wherein cinematic techniques are employed to encapsulate the essence of the original narrative. The intricate intertextual dialogues embedded in the adaptation are also examined, highlighting the adept utilization of audiovisual cues such as motifs from radio news to convey multifaceted layers of meaning to the audience. The portrayal of landscapes and visual elements in both iterations is juxtaposed to discern subtle disparities in the depiction of the Ukrainian countryside. It is concluded that the creative ethos of the adaptation hinges on cross-mediality and the synergistic interaction of artistic mediums, engendering a synesthetic experience for the audience. By adeptly navigating the intricate interplay between literary and cinematographic signifiers, the screen adaptation adeptly reshapes the narrative landscape for modern viewers, while preserving the essence of I. Nechuy-Levytsky’s original work.
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