Abstract
This essay examines two examples of contemporary adaptations of the Chinese classic Journey to the West (Xiyou Ji) in American popular media: the 2001 NBC TV mini-series The Lost Empire and the 2008 Hollywood film The Forbidden Kingdom. This analysis applies Mikhail Bakhtin’s theory of literary chronotope to the study of cross-genre and cross-media adaptations, and explores the relationship between chronotope and adaptation. Following a brief overview of the major chronotopic features of the original text Journey to the West, focusing on the contrast of the “biological time” of Tripitaka and the “magical time” of the Monkey King, an analysis of time travel in the two adaptations demonstrates the significant changes that these adaptations have made by means of altering the chronotope, additionally explicating the orientalist and imperialist logic of such changes. This study represents an argument for the value of the chronotopic approach in the study of cross-cultural and cross-media adaptations.
Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callMore From: Asia Pacific Translation and Intercultural Studies
Disclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
