WEB SERIES based on classic literature

[Kelly Farrow]

I can’t even remember how I came across the Lizzie Bennet Diaries, but that was the first of many YouTube series I’ve recently discovered that are based on classic literature. While some are more school-friendly than others, each one has been a lot of fun to watch. All of them were meant to be enjoyed in real time, incorporating Twitter, Instagram, and Tumblr feeds, and in some cases Q-and-A sessions based on viewers’ questions. But if you come to them after their completion, as I did in nearly every case, you will still be able to have almost as much fun! If you do catch one while it’s still in progress, however, you will get to enjoy the anticipation of a new post, much like Dickens’s readers excitedly awaited his newest installments. Here’s a list of the ones I’ve found so far; if you know of any others, please do add them to the comments!! (I added a few comments about appropriateness, but of course always preview yourself before using in class. I may have forgotten or misremembered some language or themes!)

 

• The Lizzie Bennet Diaries from Pemberley Digital: Based on Pride and Prejudice. Appropriate for high school audiences. Deals with sexuality frankly but not explicitly. Some language. Completed series.
• Welcome to Sanditon from Pemberley Digital: Based on Jane Austen’s unfinished novel Sanditon. Treated like a spinoff to the Diaries. Appropriate for high school audiences. It’s been a few months since I’ve seen it, but I don’t remember any language or sexual themes. Completed series.
• Emma Approved from Pemberley Digital: Based on Jane Austen’s Emma. Appropriate for high school audiences. Some language. Completed series.
• Frankenstein, M.D. from Pemberley Digital and PBS: Based on Frankenstein. Appropriate for high school audiences. Some language. In progress.
• Green Gables Fables from Alicia Whitson, Mandy Harmon, and Marie Trotter: Based on Anne of Green Gables. Appropriate for middle school and high school audiences. No language or sexual themes. In progress.
• Nothing Much to Do from the Candle Wasters: Based on Shakespeare’s Much Ado About Nothing. Would be awesome if it was appropriate for high school audiences since it’s set in a high school and would have lots of high school appeal, but a large number of F-bombs and the way the sexual themes of the story are dealt with cause me to say, “Exercise caution!” Completed series.
• Classic Alice from Kate Hackett: This one isn’t based on one story but many. The idea is that two college students, Alice and Andrew, are working together on a senior project wherein Alice will live her life based on classic stories she’s never read and Andrew will film the results. So far they covered Crime and Punishment, Pygmalion, Hans Christian Andersen’s “The Butterfly,” Macbeth, and Rip Van Winkle. Appropriate for high school audiences. Some language. In progress.
• The Autobiography of Jane Eyre from Nessa Aref and Alysson Hall: Based on Jane Eyre. Appropriate for high school audiences. No language or sexual themes. Completed series.
• Jules and Monty from Tufts University Television: Based on Romeo and Juliet. I’ve only just started watching this one, so I’m not sure about suitability, but based on the trailer, it looks like there may be F-bombs aplenty, so use caution. I think it’s a completed series.

[Kelly Farrow]

Just discovered another one!! Haven't tried it yet. The New Adventures of Peter and Wendy based on Peter Pan, by Epic Robot TV.

[Kelly Farrow]

Several more have appeared!! (Thanks, YouTube recommendations!!) I'm going to use this comment thread as my little mini-catalog of all of these so I can easily access them in one fell swoop. 

• In Earnest based on The Importance of Being Earnest by Oscar Wilde (one of my fave plays of all time). Videos by Taryn Cole et al. High-school appropriate (from what I've seen so far).
• East and West based on North and South by Elizabeth Gaskell. Videos by Eleanor Howell and Alison Shaw. High-school appropriate (from what I've seen so far).
• From Mansfield With Love based on Mansfield Park by Jane Austen. Videos by Foot in the Door Theatre. Mostly high-school appropriate (from what I've seen so far, but does depict drunkenness).

[Kelly Farrow]

Carmilla based on the vampire novella by the same name by J. Sheridan Le Fanu. Videos by VerveGirlTV. High-school appropriate but does depict a lesbian relationship (and a kiss). Know your audience and what will "fly" in your school.

The Misselthwaite Archives based on The Secret Garden by Frances Hodgson Burnett. Videos by Pencil Ink Productions. Really changes the tone of the original and makes it much edgier; if considering for high school, watch first and know your audience.

[Kelly Farrow]

Grimm Reflections by Wimsey Films: Reimagining/retelling of the Snow White fairy tale. Adds a new character and takes the story in a surprising direction! Safe for middle and high school.

The Jame Games: Creative game show approach to Jane Austen! Takes characters from all of her best-known novels and puts them in a reality show competition to win a honeymoon-type trip with their soulmate. Aimed at adults, depicts drunkenness. Could be a really fun addition to a book club focused on Austen's works!

The Writing Majors: Like the Jane Games, not based on one specific literary work. Set in modern times, Oscar Wilde, Emily Dickinson, and Jane Austen are college roommates honing their craft, arguing and working things out, spouting lines from their work, and dealing with relationships. Special appearances by people like Will (Shakespeare) and Jack (Kerouac). Depicts drinking and homosexual relationships.