Novel-as-Mashup, Contemporary Cultural-Literary Remix. Why Zombie, Werewolves and Vampires Populate Victorian Novels? Cover Image

Powieść mashupowa jako współczesny kulturowo- literacki miszmasz, czyli dlaczego wiktoriańskie powieści nawiedziły zombie, wilkołaki i wampiry
Novel-as-Mashup, Contemporary Cultural-Literary Remix. Why Zombie, Werewolves and Vampires Populate Victorian Novels?

Author(s): Katarzyna Szeremeta
Subject(s): Fiction, Comparative Study of Literature, Sociology of Culture, Theory of Literature, British Literature, American Literature
Published by: Wydawnictwo Uniwersytetu Jagiellońskiego
Keywords: novel-as-mashup; zombie fiction; werewolf fiction; vampire fiction; prosumer culture; neo-Victorianism; parodical retellings of classics;

Summary/Abstract: The following article aims to expound the phenomenon of parodical genre of literary mashups (or novels-as-mashups). This recent pop-cultural trend, initiated by Seth Grahame-Smith and Quirk Classics’ series Pride and Prejudice and Zombies, has witnessed numerous followers and generated a new type of projected reader. This controversial, verging on plagiarism collaborative endeavour pairs contemporary writers and the authors of (mainly Victorian) classics. However, the latter’s participation is of posthumous nature. The following literary and cultural phenomenon has large intermedial potential, since several mashups have recently welcomed film adaptations. The main objective is to discuss the definition and typology of mashups, the origins of this pop-cultural phenomenon, its genological hybridity, commercial success, projected readers’ competences as well as ensuing nostalgic and ironic implications of literary mashups.

  • Issue Year: 15/2020
  • Issue No: 1
  • Page Range: 71-83
  • Page Count: 13
  • Language: Polish