Translating 19th Century Literature into Tweets and Vlogs
The Lizzie Bennet Diaries
The Lizzie Bennet Diaries started as the brainchild of well-known vlogger and Vlogbrother Hank Green. Pride & Prejudice is his and his wife's favorite book, and, as stated by Pemberley Digital's FAQ page, is in the public domain and is therefore safe to use. Green talks about how turning a book into a vlog series on YouTube was something no one had ever done before, and that it was a totally new way of doing what he'd been doing alone for years. While many vlog adaptations of books exist today, The Lizzie Bennet Diaries was the first of its kind when it premiered.
The Lizzie Bennet Diaries aired its first episode (as shown above) on YouTube on April, 9 2012. Set in modern day, Elizabeth Bennet becomes Lizzie, played by Ashley Clements, a twenty-four year old graduate student studying Communications who makes a video blog for her thesis project. She's aided by her friend Charlotte Lu, and occasionally her two sisters, Jane and Lydia. The buzz in the first few videos is all about the rich young med student who just bought a house in Netherfield.
"My name is Lizzie Bennet and this is my life."
- LBD, Ep: 1 Intro
All the episodes start out with her catchphrase "My name is Lizzie Bennet and...", and some of them are pretty funny.
- "...and this is the story of the most awkward dance EVER."
- "...and Bing Lee just charmed the pants off everybody. *pause* Not literally."
- "...and William Darcy does not like me. At all. Not at all. *stares at Jane* Nope."
- "...and my mother has taken nuts to a new level."
- "...and Catherine de Bourgh's nephew is... WILLIAM. DARCY. WHAT THE--"
- "...and guess who showed up on my doorstep in the rain last night? *waves off-camera and Charlotte appears; Lizzie grins evilly* Not who you were expecting, right?"
Since only certain characters are included onscreen, the vlog makes frequent use of costume theater to show the audience past interactions, like Lizzie and Darcy's awkward dance at the wedding as depicted by Lydia (as Lizzie) and Lizzie (as Darcy). Though comical and witty, the costume theater immediately presents the audience with Lizzie's bias towards Darcy (as well as other characters). She plays him as robotic and stone-faced, which granted is usually how Mr. Darcy is played. Her best costume theater is Mrs. Bennet, a lady straight out of the Old South full of more drama than a theater department.
