The Study On The Evolution Of King Arthur’s Image From A Cross-media Perspective In The 21st Century

King Arthur,as a renowned figure in Western literature,has long surpassed the confines of a singular textual representation through several centuries of evolution.The advent of the 21 st century has witnessed an intensified revolution and development of media formats,further propelling the ongoing evolution of King Arthur’s image.This dissertation examines various Arthurian works in different media forms since the 21 st century as its main research object,with a focus on the “Arthurian image”.By analyzing and interpreting different media texts,this dissertation explores the classification and new changes of the Arthurian image from a cross-media perspective since the 21 st century.Additionally,it aims to explore the main track of the evolution of this image and to uncover the underlying factors behind it.Composed of four chapters,the first chapter briefly reviews the Arthurian image in literary works before the 21 st century in chronological order and classifies it into two categories: historical and literary.The second chapter focuses on exploring the new quality of the Arthurian image in stage works since the 21 st century.This includes discussing the Arthurian image as the embodiment of “mercy” from three aspects:“mercy” to self,rival and people and analyzing the comprehensive impact of various stage elements,such as music,lighting,recitation,and dance,on the portrayal of the Arthurian image.The third chapter further categorizes the Arthurian image in film and television media forms since the 21 st century.With reference to some representative and influential film and television works in the 21 st century,this chapter explains the unique aesthetic significance and transcendental value of the Arthurian image from three angles: “humanization”,“marginalization”,and “diversification”.It also explores the deep cultural implications and cross-cultural features behind these images.The fourth chapter analyzes the factors influencing the evolution of the Arthurian image since the 21 st century.It can be argued that the evolution of the image of King Arthur in the 21 st century is the result of multiple factors,such as the replacement of media technology,the aesthetic transformation of audience,and the deconstruction of story content.In summary,the mutual impact and influence between different media forms have driven the continuous evolution of the Arthurian image in the 21 st century.It represents an active exploration of new modes of literary classics in the era of media convergence,providing a reference for discovering new connotations and seeking new paths of development for other classic characters in the new era.Meanwhile,compared with the images in written works before the 21 st century,the images of King Arthur on stage and film media show more diversified features,which not only carries the specific cultural cognition of western countries and nations,but also shows the possibility of foreign cultures being spread and accepted by other nations in the cross-cultural process.And the fundamental connotations that have remained unchanged for centuries will continue to propel this image forward.