ABSTRACT
Multimodal texts redefine some of the key concepts in Translation Studies, like the nature of source or target texts and their hierarchical relationship. Moreover, since the end of the 1990s, the emergence of Internet and Social Media and their “convergence” with other media have made sharing stories fast, easy and participative. Transmedia narratives are becoming a standard in storytelling and challenge traditional definitions and borders of authorship, readership and adaptation.
If these new narratives often have a lot in common with what is called a “necessary recreation” that takes place when the target context changes, Adaptation scholars cannot tackle them with a traditional book-to-film approach because their media platform varies from book to cosplay and include fan fiction, video games, comics and interactive audiovisual products.
In the case of Transmedia narratives and Adaptation Studies, is an interdisciplinary approach enough? If so, how many disciplines should be involved? The chapter explores the benefits for Adaptation Studies to give up their traditional borders to survive the explosion of transmedia stories and stay visible. It considers how both disciplines could benefit from considering themselves as parts of a complex system.
