Memory

The discussion we had in class on Monday about how the image you generate in your head can be affected by adaptations seemed especially relevant after watching the 1989 film version of Parenthood.

Having seen the 2010 television adaptation really affected my viewing experience of last nights film, which was made 20 years prior to the version I initially saw. I had the actors, performances, setting, tone, and story of the television adaptation imprinted in my brain, which made for an emotionally confusing viewing of the 1989 film. When I saw Steve Martin, I thought to myself: "That's not him (the dad character)." I had similar feelings for the other cast members as well. However, in about a half hour or so, I had been reconditioned to accept the actors and their roles, and was no longer picturing the corresponding actors from the television series.

Though these two works were both of the same story, they really weren't all that alike. If the film wasn't called Parenthood, and I were to watch it in a different context, I likely wouldn't have even realized that it was the film from which the TV show was adapted from. Issues of parenthood seems to be a pretty flexible subject.

One difference I noticed was the brother and his gambling problems. The details of the main dad's brother are not really translated to the tv series, or at least not for me. Steve Martin's character also seems much more sarcastic, pessimistic, and pathetic in the film version. Pathetic meaning I felt sorry for him a lot. The daughters boyfriend, Tod, also seemed to play a larger role in the movie, although since we only watched the pilot episode, I'd imagine the whole daughter-Tod relationship would be further explored in later episodes.

A similarity I noticed was the dad's dad. This character seemed extremely similar in both the film and the tv show. They acted the same, they talked the same, and they even looked the same.

I think after last nights screening, the film is what is going to stick in my memory when I think of Parenthood. I guess we'll see though, maybe if I watched more episodes my memory wouldn't be so malleable.