I was reading an article in the UK Guardian a few days ago that said 1 in 10 Britons admit to watching film versions of classic novels instead of reading the original texts. You can find the link to the original story here http://books.guardian.co.uk.
With the exception of the most devoted of Literature graduate students, and scholars, who isn't guilty of committing such an infraction? I've all but worn out my VHS copy of Sense and Sensibility, but I can only remember reading it a handful of times over my entire life. Does this make me a "bad English major?" Should I be worried that my alma mater is going to break down my door, pull my degree of the wall, and toss it in the fireplace?
This past Easter weekend, my college roommate and I were discussing film adaptations of Jane Austen's novels. While most women I know are all mooney about Mr. Darcy, and will continuously manipulate those "Which Jane Austen character are you?" online quizzes until their answer is Elizabeth Bennett, I personally am much more inclined towards Mansfield Park, and Sense and Sensibility, which I know puts me into the minority, at least amongst the women I know.
When I told her this, she admitted that she's never read any Jane Austen novels beyond Pride and Prejudice, but that Masterpiece Theatre airing the BBC adaptations of all six of her novels this past winter has made her all the more eager to actually read the books.
Back in my more "books are vastly superior to films" snobbish days, I was always appalled when someone would voice preference of a film adaptation of a novel, or to seeing the movie first, then coming to the book later. Just look at the Harry Potter phenomenon. But as our society is reading less and less, I don't think it really matters anymore how people come to read; the point is that they are reading. Synergy...it can be a wonderful thing.
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