I was initially so hesitant to getting into the LBD series; I found the acting so cringey and awkward, like the slow was Jane talked and the loud laughing of Lydia and how CLOSE they got when they all talked to each other! The only character I could stand in the beginning was Charlotte (and her hilarious in-video edits of mustaches and much needed commentary). But when I got to about episode 20, I started to really get into it. I was able to look past the acting because I found myself genuinely engrossed in the story, and this was all thanks to its modernization! I mean, the cutting out of coupons, the sock slides, the student debt; it was all so real and relatable (maybe too real, @ student debt).
Society and civilization changes over time, so it makes sense that when stories are changed with those times, they are more accessible to modern audiences. Now, that's not to say that people nowadays can't get into the original novel; that is definitely not the case. But, for someone like myself who finds Austen's writing convoluted and headache-inducing, this video series is perfect! I found myself really invested in a story that I honestly wouldn't have otherwise been this invested in! If I had just read the novel, I would have missed out on the beauty of the story. I think this is where the purists come in and say "Hey! You didn't really experience the story the right way!", and to them I say, "why does it matter how I experienced it? At least I experienced it at all". Overall, I'm glad (for the most part *remembers the unbearably cringey flirting between Jane and Bing Lee in episode 28*) that we were assigned to watch this series; I enjoyed something that I otherwise would have missed out on.
I definitely agree that watching remixes like this can enrich our understanding and appreciation of a classic work. Maybe it's just a bit of purism in me, but I would argue that someone who experienced LBD and just LBD would not have a full understanding of what P&P is. I don't deny that they would have a strong grasp on the themes, characters, and basic plotline. However, I think the element of P&P's original time period is intrinsic to the text. The modernization does a great job in demonstrating how the messages are still relevant today. But we miss out on Austen's commentary on early 19th century English society.
ReplyDelete...and now that I've written that, I'm staring at my screen trying to figure out why that's so important to me? Is an understanding of the time period in which it was written crucial in order to have a "full" appreciation of the story?
No right way to appreciate a story. Glad you enjoyed LBD - I really do love it and am glad to hear that you did too!
ReplyDeleteI totally agree with all of your initial critiques of the series - I myself couldn't really handle it until about episode 40 - but I also found myself liking it and I'm glad you did too. You mentioned that you find Austen's writing convoluted and that you were happy we were assigned to watch this series, but I couldn't help but wonder, do you think you would have appreciated the series in the same way without reading Austen first? I feel like if someone who hadn't read the novel just happened to stumble upon this series while scrolling through YouTube at 3 am, they wouldn't get as much out of it.
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