아쿠타가와 류노스케(芥川龍之介)의「라쇼몽(羅生門)」고찰- 그 영화와 연극, 소설의 비교적 시점에서 -

Abstract

Rashomon, The purpose of this paper is to conduct research on Rashomon as a work that can be appreciated in three different genres, namely, novel, film, and play. Films adopt psychological and ideological expressions from literature. Novels have reached their prime in the 19th century as an expression of inner workings of the human mind. Unlike literature, however, films have limited freedom in depicting human mentality in minute detail. Through dramatization, literary films must seek a different way of illustration from original novels. The discovery that films cannot portray humans the same way that novels do eventually contributes to the advancement of film art and translates into reality the linguistic space created by literature. Also, a play depends heavily on the interaction with its audience, so it is difficult to keep dramatic tension consistent throughout. Therefore, the tension is partially removed through comic relief and other elements such as costumes, make up and sets, which are absent from the original film. According to Akutagawa, appreciation of art is like cooperation between the artist himself and the appreciator. That is, the appreciator merely attempts his or her own creation on the artwork as a task. A work renowned at all times is necessarily attributed with features that call for a variety of impressions. Excellent art must allow for polysemantic criticism. If it was Akutagawa’s intention to reflect such idea through his works, he was successful. Producers or directors who have selected to adapt this piece of literature into a film or play must have shared the same view. The reason for the novel Rashomon’s film and play adaptations ever since its release in 1915 is because of the original work’s emphasis on the universality of human nature transcending time. In particular, the humanity is destined to face the multifaceted nature of human character and the ironic reality surrounding it, regardless of time. Films or plays are attractive in their own way, showing strength as mass media with strong visual appeal. Yet, appreciating again the author’s keen observation on such destiny and imagination-driven power of writing, a novel as a medium based on the premise of readers’ pure imagination until the end will certainly present a much deeper resonance.