Elżbieta Rokosz-Piejko
Adapting, Remaking, Re-visioning: Alex Haley’s Roots in a Triangular Relationship with Its Two Television Adaptations
Polish Journal for American Studies, vol. 12 (Spring 2018) pp. 143-152

Abstract:

The 1977 television adaptation of Alex Haley’s family saga was an overwhelming (although rather unexpected) success, both in the United States and abroad. The 8-hour miniseries, aired first by the History Channel on Memorial Day 2016, is a new take on the adaptation of Haley’s text, advertised as a remake of the 1977 production. The article refers to the original success of Haley’s text, followed by numerous controversies, and then discusses the appropriation of the story for the 1977 mostly white television audience, to finish up with a discussion of the angle which the 2016 production took, engaging in dialogue with the “iconic” 1977 miniseries.

Keywords: Roots, Alex Haley, adaptation, television miniseries, remake

DOI: 10.7311/PJAS.12/1/2018.10

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