The artistic rift that divides literature from that of the visual arts is a gaping, uneven, ragged canyon that is rarely spanned and often poorly crossed. This estranged relationship is rarely ever mended and more often than not, authors clash with directors and one gets a J.K. Rollins/Chris Columbus Harry Potter-esque disaster.
Did you like the book? Sure, so you see the movie. Whatever. You read the book again, but it doesn't look the same, the images in your mind are forever thwarted, mutated into some artificial Hollywood production.
That's why I was shocked when Canin revealed that he loved Hollywood's portrayal of his story.
Something happened when the short story "The Palace Thief" was translated into the realm of cinematic art: The film clarified its complexities, thus justifying Canin's praise. The story was changed, thematic work was brought to the surface and the complexities of language dumbed down.
Whereas "Thief" concentrates more heavily on the relationship between teacher and student, Emperor's Club exposes the entire system of higher education as a vortex of distorted ethics and amoral tactics.
The short story is innocent, a tribute to an old teacher. "Thief" allows Sedgewick Bell, the spoiled son of a rich senator, to cheat his way to Capitol Hill without condemnation. The movie shows the blatant favors associated with wealth, like unwarranted college acceptances, that he receives along the way.
Sounds familiar, huh? Emperor's Club doesn't skirt the issues.
Duke used this story as honor code propaganda. The freshmen understand that; everyone does. The movie did something different'Äîit highlighted the corruption of elite education and the oppressive atmosphere of competition and endowment politics.
Duke beware, this addresses the feelings of many students. This isn't about cheating. It's about the integrity of elite education; it's about how universities like ours reward the over-privileged for their Annual Fund potential, while hard-working students on financial aid are hard pressed to compete.
Duke should scrap the story and send DVDs of the movie to every new student. This is the world of elite education'Äîthis is our world.
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