Defining a Classic
Over the course of centuries, classic stories have been written and adapted many, many times.
What exactly is considered a ‘classic’? Despite common belief, a classic can be something other than the fabric-bound novels collecting dust wherever you store them until you, ‘read them later.’
The term ‘classic’ usually refers to those dusty novels and texts, but can include things like art and music, as well.
To be a classic, the work has to have a certain weight, or impact, on society and on readers. These works have to stand the test of time, and at the end of the day are comparable to a work of art.
Mark Twain, a well-known American novelist (and considered to be one of the best), commented once that classics are, “…something that everybody wants to have read and nobody wants to read.”
Twain may be more correct in this age than ever.
Why are Classics less popular now?
There comes a certain stigma regarding classics, which is usually that those who enjoy them think higher of themselves or are more pretentious than most.
Rebecca Lugo, an English major who had taught literature for ten years, comments: “[It] was a thing of status… Books were expensive and not everyone could afford books, so it was a point of stature.
Libraries… were something that showed you had money, you had intelligence, you had wealth, y’know [sic], you weren’t just the average Joe. It was something that showed you had an education, and that was worth something.”
It could be that many people don’t wish to be seen this way, or think this mentality is silly.
The Impact of Classics
Despite public opinion, classic novels have influenced media and pop culture (modern, popular media more so aimed at young people) over decades. Because of this, actually reading the classics is not entirely necessary, or even favored, it seems, because of how redone the story is- like Shakespeare’s ‘Romeo and Juliet.’
Ironically, despite being a very hated classic to some (mainly students), this play helped start the beloved idea of lovers meant and destined to be with each other, but doomed by external forces. The idea of ‘forbidden love’ is a trope so loved yet used over and over and we have Shakespeare to thank.
The main question is, with new varieties of centuries-old stories, why would anyone sit down and go through reading something ‘no longer relevant’ or ‘hard to understand?’
I find these comments hard to understand. Stories deemed classics like ‘Dracula’, ‘Frankenstein’, or ‘The Picture of Dorian Gray’ all contain messages and characters that are relatable in a sense and can still be applied to life today.
The idea that classics are ‘irrelevant’ is a misleading one. However, many would not believe this, as classics and their themes are not usually known (as they are not typically read).
Lugo notes that “…they (people in general) feel like the classics are so far removed from their life now. And nobody wants to live in the horrible reality that Dickens wrote of orphan children being so horribly mistreated, in the dirty town of London. But, we’re all about watching fantasy, and reading fantasy story stuff that takes us out of reality.”
To me, however, there is something so beautiful about these older stories. There is a universal theme (as is a requirement to be considered a classic) in all of them, from Dorian Gray’s vanity and corruption to Dracula’s loneliness.
The idea that vanity is something corrupting, or something that strips away empathy and humanity is not a new one. It can be seen in reality shows, the idea that looks are all that matter in a person.
And the idea that loneliness can be such a driving factor in one’s actions is also not new. The want to be seen and appreciated, and overall understood by others is a universal feeling, I believe. It can be seen in a teen giving into peer pressure, or someone online following a trend thousands of others have given into.
From having read both classics and more fantasy-aligned novels, it seems that classics are more of a commentary on society, and show the consequences of how things would be if things were done that way.
Fantasy and fiction are more “fun” or interactive ways to comment on society while providing a way for that messed up society to be “fixed’- similar to taking a red or blue pill from The Matrix- would you like to passively live in this society? Or will you find out more and gain the ability to change it?
Because of this, I do understand why classics are not a popular go-to on many peoples’ to-read lists. However, this does not excuse bad and pointless remakes.
These authors put their heart and soul into their works. These themes are so personal, and so human, and were portrayed in a way only their authors could portray them.
Modern adaptations and reworks lack that sense of humanity, despite being redone by other humans. There is not the same level of intentional care, or depth, in movie remakes as there is in the actual novels, it seems.
This is mainly due to the fact that remakes are created to grab money. This is especially true with Disney remakes. Stories are taken and redone in ways that lack care or depth regarding both plot and characters and are only made to expand a brand and earn more money on merchandise.
If this is the case, then remakes are usually made to answer the question, “What if we take the story of (insert classic), but have it set in this different circumstance?”
This can be seen with the movie, “Pride and Prejudice and Zombies,” the pointless retelling of Jane Austen’s novel, but if there was a zombie outbreak.
This can also be seen in the upcoming remake of Oscar Wilde’s ‘The Picture of Dorian Gray,’ which will essentially destroy the original story, and will completely disregard the original theme entirely.
These people question the relevance of classics. Then if the relevancy of classics is questionable, why are remakes done over, and over, and over again?
If these stories are so irrelevant, why do you keep coming back, and redoing them? There is very little care and appreciation for them, so just leave them the way they are, the way they were made to be.
Lugo states, “Classic literature is classic for a reason. Why do you have to come and try to “improve it”, and try to put your fingerprints all over it when the best person already did that work, and they made it a classic?
I feel like people trying to interpret the classics is not paying homage to the classics, I feel like that’s being like a lazy bum. Like, come up with your own story, do your own work.
You can’t improve upon a classic.”
There are some remakes of classics that I truly love and enjoy, and you can tell that there was care and appreciation put into them.
The Main Issue with Remakes
The issue mainly is the constant redoing of these classic stories, just for the money. Or even worse, the production of a classic, but done by people who have completely missed the point of the source material.
The ‘artistic liberties’ taken are usually irrelevant to the actual source material or just don’t make sense. They seem pointless and are usually just another way to make money.
Creativity in media seems to be running low now, so in order to keep the entertainment industry thriving, everything needs a sequel, a prequel, or a reboot.
It has been said there are only about seven original stories available and reboots only prove that statement more.
