Stories into song: theory and co-creative practice of adapting literary fiction into pop and rock songs

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Abstract Despite the many pop and rock songs adapted from literary texts, there has been little scholarship on the theory and practice of adapting novels and short stories into short-form musical works. This article is part of a British Academy-funded pilot project carried out by two researchers at Keele University, UK. Locating story-into-song texts within adaptation studies, it explores the theoretical issues involved in such adaptations; describes the methodology employed in a series of co-creative workshops with volunteers; and analyses the original songs that emerged from the project.