From Text to Subtext: Transposition and Otherness in the Adaptation of the Theme of Queerness in Fried Green Tomatoes

Abstract

[eng] The process of transposition when adapting a work from one media to another will lead to considerable changes in the texts. This begs the question as to whether these changes could be influenced by aspects from outside the texts and, if so, how do they affect it. This article will study this phenomenon by comparing the portrayal of the theme of queerness in Fanny Flagg’s Fried Green Tomatoes at the Whistle Stop Café (1987) and Carol Sobieski’s script for Fried Green Tomatoes (1991), directed by Jon Avnet. This will be done by analysing relevant scenes from both texts, with a focus on the relationship between Idgie Threadgoode and Ruth Jamison. Subsequently, these changes will be related to factors from outside the texts which may account for the differences in portrayal. Additionally, this adaptation will be related to the concept of otherness, both in adaptation studies and in Queer studies.