Interpretation

Throughout time, books and plays have been modernised and regenerated to suit the times they are being interpreted in. Doing this keeps the stories alive, but interpreting them into the modern day, means that audiences are forever captured, watching and reading images that they are used to, instead of images that are dated.

Within 50 years of the story been published, Peter Pan was made into a movie and musical adaption. In 1950, Leonard Bernstein produced the first musical theatrical performance of the novel. The play poster, designer unknown, was very bright and captivating, almost removing the innocence of the story with its strong appearance. However, it is clear from the poster design that Peter Pan has now been completetly visualised as the caricature of the flying boy wearing green. In 1953, Walt Disney interpretated the story of Peter Pan, bringing it to movie screens. Once it was bought out on video and DVD, the covers continuously changed, so that they were suited to the times they were being re-released in. The most recent one, using the most modern technologies, still holds onto the same idea's that have been used in previous designs for the past, such as Peter wearing the same green 'elf' costume, Mary wearing the blue peticoat, which was originally seen in Attwell's illustrations. The use of colour and editing gives the image the most mystical and magical appearence it has had. The innocent and magical characters would capture children of the millenium generation, as this is an image they would understand in comparison to the originals by Bedford.

In conclusion, artworks for stories, movies and productions will be constantly edited and changed as they stand the fight against time. This is mainly so that they will continuously appeal to and suit their targeted audiences as well as developing possibilities of development in different medias, keeping the novel's alive for years to come.

 Bibliography

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Peter_Pan_1915_cover.jpg

http://www.fanpop.com/spots/fairy-tales-and-fables/images/732364/title/peter-pan-photo

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/b/b8/PeterPan-1950-ArthurKarloff.jpg

http://findmeapirate.com/Pages/Captain%20Hook/Images/Peter%20Pan%20DVD%20cover.jpg

A classic example of interpretation within stories is J.M Barrie's novel Peter Pan (1904), which was later adapted twice into two new novels, Peter in Kensington Gardens (1906) and Peter and Wendy (1911). The original book cover illustrations, by F. D. Bedford, are quite typical for the era they were designed in. Using engraving and ink, Bedford has created a very mystical and detailed picture, with peter looking like an ordinary boy, a far cry from the caricature of the mystical boy in green.
In 1921 Mabel Lucy Attwell illustrated another publication of Peter Pan, bringing it into the new decade, and new generation of children. Attwell introduces colour to the characters, and starts to illustrate Peter as a more magical character. The colours are soft and innocent, giving it a more friendly feel compared to Bedford's illustrations. The characters have more detail in their faces, representing their personalities and the angelic theme of the story.