About the 2005 film, Wright State University English Professor, Sharon Lynette Jones wrote, "While the film remained true to some aspects of the plot, major omissions involving characters and events cause the film to ignore much of the social and political commentary in the novel. As a result, while the film introduced Hurston's landmark novel to a wide audience for the first time, the film version does not come close to illustrating the complexity and innovation of
Their Eyes Were Watching God."
Do you agree that the film version does not compare to the novel?
What key differences and omissions did you notice while watching the film version?
How did these differences change the original source material's political and social commentary, Hurston's message on gender, race, and class relationship to power and voice.
Write a detailed response in at least one full paragraph (minimum five sentences) as a comment below.
I do agree that the film version does not compare to the novel because there were scenes in the book that were not included in the movie. Mrs. Turner was not included in the movie and it changed the overall message of the film a little bit because her social commentary was race and race played a big role inside of the novel. Another scene that was not included inside the film was the court scene film with Janie, this scene was important because the jury was made up of all white men so the importance of it meant that her fate was chosen by people who had higher power than her and it changed the dynamic of the film. In the film after the hurricane struck the everglades Tea Cake didn't work for the white men by picking up the dead bodies from the ground. This changed the message on class because Tea Cake was poor and didn't have much and it played a big role inside the novel and for them not to add it inside the film changed the whole concept of class in some way because he represented how he relied on Janie for his well being. Therefore I do agree that the film version does not compare to the novel.
ReplyDeleteI disagree that the movie is as good as the book because the film version was way different from the book. some scenes were not shown in the movie. The book has a lot of things but the movie does not have as much Information as the book. When I was watching the film version I didn’t see the mule part in the movie but the book talks about the mule. Two other key scenes missing from the movie were when Janie went to the courtroom and when the white men tell Tea Cake to separate dead bodies, black from white. Hurston's message was to show how the women don’t have a voice in the book but the film version doesn’t show anything about women not having freedom.
ReplyDeleteI feel like the movie was better than the book because you can get a better feel of what the characters in the movie is feeling. one omission that was in the book that wasn't in the movies her social commentary was race and played a big role inside of the book. Another scene that was not included inside the film was the court scene film with Janie this scene was important because the jury was made up of all white men so the importance of it meant that her fate was chosen by white people who always had higher power than her and it changed the dynamic of the film.
ReplyDeleteI totally agree that the movie doesn’t relate with the book. In the book the Ms. Turner was played a big part in the book, and in the movie she was not included at all. Race played a huge party through this movie because throughout the movie janie gets lighter over time. Also Tea Cake was dark skin and in the movie he was carmel. Another change was the dog bit him in the arm on the movie but in the book it bit him in the face. They also left out the court scene this was important because the jury was pro dominantly white. This shows that the ruling wouldn’t be in her favor and they did not show that in the movie.
ReplyDeleteI do agree that the film version does not compare to the novel. There were some scenes left out and some that were added in. For example, the film left out te court scene when Janie killed Tea Cake. Also Mrs.Turner and her husband were left out of the film. The film should of left political stuff alone and keep it in. Leaving so many things out it even adding things in changes the whole perspective of the novel and film.
ReplyDeleteI agree that the film version does not compare to the novel. There was many different scenes from the book that was left out from the book. Some of the scenes that was not played in the movie was important parts. One important part that was left out was the mule. The mule played a large part in the book and it messed the movie up without it . The film should have had all the scenes just like the book because the movie was not as interesting as the book was.
ReplyDeleteI agree that the film version does not compare to the novel because the movie did not show alot of scenes in the book. For example the Mrs. Turner character was not mentioned in the movie at all. But in the book it shows how race plays in the 1930s and how dark skin people was treated in the black race. In the movie tea cake was not abusive towards Janie, he didn’t put his hands on her in the movie. After she kills Tea Cake and went to trial and that wasn’t a scene in the movie. The book had more details about race, gender and class but the movie didn’t show that at all.
ReplyDeleteAziza Harmon
ReplyDelete11/1/17
Period: 2nd
Yes, I do agree that the film does not compare to the novel because there were a few important scenes in the book that were not included in the movie and a very important character also was not included in the movie which is Mrs. Turner. Mrs. Turner’s racist opinions played a big role in the novel which in a way to away from the message the movie was trying to portray. One important scene in the novel that was not in the film would be the scene after the hurricane and Tea Cake didn’t work for white men to pick up dead bodies from the ground; this relates to class because Tea Cake was poor. Another scene that was not included would be the court scene; the jury included all white men which relates to race because the ruling would not have been in her favor which would have been important to include in the film. Tea Cake was also described as a man with dark skin and in the movie he is of a lighter complexion this also adds to the movie not comparing to the novel.
I do agree that the film version does not compare to the novel. There were very significant scene that they left out. For example the mule scene where joe and his group of guy friends were beating up the mule and Janie felt bad for the mule. The film should not have left this scene out the movie because it played a crucial part. Leaving out many important details made the movie unwatchable if you would’ve had read the book because you look forward or seeing that scene
ReplyDeleteShanice Kidd
ReplyDelete11/1/17
period 1
I feel like the movie did own up to the standards of the novel and missing the key details to show the overall message of their eyes are watching god.Some key details I noticed that they didn't include were Janie having braids,Mrs and Mr Turner, and the character who played tea cake in the Movie.I feel like the braids weren't that much of a significance but it was something that I was not only expecting her to have,but make her look different from the rest. Tea Cake skin color I thought was one of the most important part because it showed racism and how It shows a big insecurity in the black community when it comes to your skin color. Finally Mr and Mrs Turner played a big part due to the relationship that janie and tea Cake had making the message not only on class but how she perceived relationships as a whole from Tea Cake.
I agree that the film does not compare to the novel. The only reason the film does not compare to the novel is because it leaves out some of the key controversial details. For example, they left out the character Mrs. Turner. The character Mrs. Turner's being removed also removed Hurston's message on race. Mrs. Turner would make comments showing how society praised Caucasian features more than African Americans and had a higher respect from people who derived from the white race. Taking out this character dulled the major intent Hurston had when she was writing this.
ReplyDeleteCyantae Young
ReplyDeleteperiod 1
11/1/17
I feel like the movie did own up to the standards of the novel and missing the key details to show the overall message of their eyes are watching god.Some key details I noticed that they didn't include were Janie having braids,Mrs and Mr Turner, and the character who played tea cake in the Movie.I feel like the braids weren't that much of a significance but it was something that I was not only expecting her to have,but make her look different from the rest. Tea Cake skin color I thought was one of the most important part because it showed racism and how It shows a big insecurity in the black community when it comes to your skin color. Finally Mr and Mrs Turner played a big part due to the relationship that janie and tea Cake had making the message not only on class but how she perceived relationships as a whole from Tea Cake.
Cyantae Young
ReplyDeletePeriod 1
11/1/17
The thing that surprised me most about the movie was the have a voice. In the trail she didn't talk but maybe since It was in the movie.Fact that the trial scene was not in the movie.To me the significance left out of the movie it means that she had a voice the whole time.The trial scene was that it was showing that Janie went against gender roles and did what she believed.
I agree that the movie does an inadequate job with portraying the novel. In the book, it mentions the Ms.Turner, and her racism towards black people, even though she is black herself. In the movie however, she was not mentioned at all, which leaves out a symbolic piece of the story. Another scene the movie failed to acknowledged was the court scene after Janie shot Teacake. This also leaves out a symbolic scene about race. In conclusion, the movie was a poor remake of the original book.
ReplyDeleteStarr Little
ReplyDeleteI agree that this film did not compare to the novel. It left out important scenes and characters, and it did not help the authors point on race. Such as the court room scene when Janie was on stand for tea cakes death and how she had an all white man jury, and the character Mrs. Turner. The character Mrs. Turner made allot of racist slurs towards blacks and praised Janie for not being as colored as the others(blacks) and how society would praise the white man more. The film makers taking out this character did not help portray the message the author was trying to make on race.
Omar Harcum
ReplyDeleteThe film did not do a great job on showing race relations. Because of this, this film only featured black superiority. I agree on how the film was not heavily based on the way of animals and race and the missed relationships with certain characters in the book was facing at the time. This book did not show white superiority toward black superiority. The main message of the film then the book was to inform us how black women was being used in bad ways.
I disagree that the film matches the novel. I think that the film is actually better than the novel. Even though the film left out a character and a couple important scenes, I still think that the film is better because you can understand the movies without those parts. Reading a book, everything had to be more detailed because it’s a book and it’s harder to understand as to just watching what’s going on. The film is also more interesting than the book.
ReplyDeleteI do agree the movie did not compare with the novel in little ways. For example in the beginning of the movie was the only time you seen Nanny but throughout the book Nanny was apart of Janie life giving her advice helping her out. Of course In the book Nanny dies but we don’t know what happened to her in the movie. Another thing was there was no Mule scene , Zora Hurston wrote this novel to use figurative language to show how Janie was treated and how the mule was treated there was no mule in the movie. Also after Janie killed Tea Cake the movie just ended with a funeral Janie never went to trial. But I’m in the book Janie had everybody go against her while she was in court. The novel was alittle hard to read so I thought watching the movie would help me have a better understanding but I think that the movie and the novel should of been the exact same. Reading the book made it seem so interesting but watching the movie had different point of views and thoughts in your mind.
ReplyDeleteI agree that the film was not a good representation of the book because a lot of important scenes were excluded from the book. For example, the biggest scene of the book which was the court was not added in the film. That scene showed how Janie was waiting on decisions that were made by white men which meant the decision most likely wouldn’t be fair because of her race and class. It always showed power from Janie. Her part was portrayed through third person which showed that she didn’t need to speak when the men of the jury told her to. Apart of being a strong woman is knowing when and where to use your voice and that as something important to pay attention to and it wasn’t added to the film.
ReplyDeleteYes, I agree the film did not compare with the novel. There were a couple scenes that were left out the film but were seen as being significant in the novel. The mule scene was definitely not placed in the movie &’ that didn’t change much, it just missed a better representation of Janie that Hurston was trying to get to everyone. To me it only changed the “race” issue. Nobody really said anything about it at all throughout the entire movie, the message with gender, class relationship, &’ her just not having a voice was still evident throughout the film.
ReplyDeleteI believe that the film does not properly represent the book. This is due to the fact that the book uses figuritive language to address major topics such as race class and gender. Though in the movie it only concentrates on Janie's relashonshipswith men. Also the move takes out key character s that are important to the characters development. So yes the film did not agree with the novel
ReplyDeleteTerrell Wilkins
ReplyDeleteI agree that the film doesn't compare to the novel and leaves out important things that show the racial tensions and statuses in the book. The movie leaves out Ms.Turner who is important because she shows a hatred towards her own race and people that are darker then her. The movie also leaves out Janie's trial which shows a room full of white people in the court as Janie waits for her ruling. Leaving these out of the book take away the racial aspect that was being portrayed in the book.
This film does show as much as the book because in the book it’s says the dog beat tea cake in the head & in the movie the dog bit him in the arm that takes the excitement of the readers and the watchers. Also the whole ending was different in the book she went to court, in the movie she was floating on water watching god.
ReplyDeleteKanimba-
ReplyDeleteYes, I do think the film does not compare with the novel because the film does not show spiritual journey as a women it just shows her going from man to man. The mule scenes and Mrs. Turner was left out. Also in the book it talks about how whites are inferior to blacks and how Teacake had to bury dead bodies because white men forced him to and also how Janie had an all white jury but the film does not show these conflicts. There's not really an issue of race in the movie. Because of the key fact race is missing from the film it tells a slightly different story from the book. In my opinion Janie's voice was non existing in the film
I agree because Mrs Turner wasn’t included which took one of the main factors out of the movie which was race. Also the court scene was deleted which coincided with the race factor because it was an all whit jury
ReplyDeleteyes,the film do compare to the book in certain ways.why did the man tell janie to die.Somethings are missing like the court scene also the mule scene.
ReplyDeleteYes i do agree that the film doesn’t compare to the film. It was many scenes left out the film that was in the novel. Scenes that was left out the novel that was important was the mule scene, and the court scene. In the book these things represent something but in the film they either replaced It or left It out. For example them replacing the mule scene with her floating in the lake By them doing this It changes the perspective of the audience.
ReplyDeleteI totally agree that the movie does not relate to the book. In the movie there were a lot of missing scenes. For an example the scenes with Mrs. Turner were not shown in the film at all. The court scene wasn't in the movie either, when Janie goes to court for killing TeaCake. Race plays a big role in the movie and book as well. In the movie Janie was lighter than what she was in the movie. She was supposed to be a light enough to past to be white. TeaCake was also dark skin in the book and him and Janie was the same complexion in the movie which was caramel.
ReplyDeleteYes, Ido think that the film does not compare to the book because it's missing the key factors from the book like the mule scene and the court scene. Plus, the film showed no spiritual journey for women living in that time period.
ReplyDeleteI do believe that the movie is not as good as the novel. There were many scenes omitted that played important roles in the novel that would have made the movie just as amazing. For example the court scene, this scene was important because the jury was made up of all old white men, meaning Janie's fate layed dormant in their hands. This scene also shows that these men were more superior than Janie and this adds to the gender and race aspect of the movie. Therefore because this scene was omitted from the movie important aspects of gender and race were not displayed thus, decreasing the movie's value.
ReplyDeleteSierra Bolen
ReplyDeleteMr. Dan
English 4
1 November 2017
I strongly agree that the film version does not compare to the novel because so many thing were taken out, scene were going so fast, and symbols that weren’t even in the book got added in and I don’t fully understand why. So key differences were the symbols and the symbols that got added in. For an example, there were no mules and this played a it role in the novel, and the lake which got added in. Another difference was the scene where Tea Cake took Janie’s money and came back with more money so that they could go to the Everglades, but in the movie, Tea Cake stoke her money and didn’t come back with any money. Another difference would be the women Mrs. Turner. She was not even featured in the in the movie at all. The last difference would be the courtroom scene right after Janie killed Tea Cake. In the movie it went from her killing him to her going home to Eatonville. In my opinion I think the differences change the political and social commentary because it did not express the difference between the class, nor the gender and race. Therefore, power and voice in political and social commentary was not the ultimate message Hurston was trying to make known.
-In the novel the text states that Tea Cake is brown skin but in the movie Tea Cake is portrayed to be lightskin.
ReplyDelete-In the novel during the dog scene, Tea Cake was bitten in the face. In the movie Tea Cake is bitten in the arm.
- The novel shows Janie's relationship with Tea Cake being a year and a half, due to the major focus on their love life, it seems it lasted much longer in the movie.
This comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteTierra Spencer
ReplyDeleteYes i agree that the novel is different from the book in many ways. For example Mrs. Turner didn’t show up in the movie. That part has a big impact on the book politically and socially and it should have been included. In the book it explains Mrs. Turner’s feelings towards Janie and teacake. She like Janie based on skin color. The book had to do with race and that should’ve been in the movie because it played a big part.
I do believe the movie is not as good as the novel. They have missed some key points from the novel. Things that showed their character actions that effected later scenes in the book. For example, they forget that in the novel, Tea cake was attacked by a dog in the face and not by the arm. They also left out that janie shot tea cake with his gun. This changed both aspects of their character and symbolic message
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ReplyDeleteI️ completely agree that the movie does not compare to the book at all. The movie left out key scenes that were importantly the story. In the book she was married to Logan for a little while before she left him, but in the book he only played about two minutes. Also after she killed Tea Cake there was supposed to be a a court hearing but they did not show that in the movie. The movie did put value on any of the parts that show gender and race such as the mule comparison. With this left out the movie it kind of leaves out the big overall message that Zora Neil Hurston is trying to convey.
I agree that because the movie cut out some of the scenes from the book it made a huge impact and too kind away from Hurston's overall message. In the movie Their Eyes Were Watching God the scenes about the mules were omissioned and because of that the movie was only based on Janie's relationship which turnt the movie into a romantic movie. If the director kept the scenes about the mules the movie would have showed how woman were treated and that it wasn't right.
ReplyDeleteThe omissions made in the movie alternates the original message of the book, about gaining a voice in a oppressive society that sees them as no more than mules, but in the movie they focus on the protagonist, Janie,and her feelings for being dependent on men which is showed as sometimes overwhelming and other times it frees her from her husbands.
ReplyDeleteI agree that the movie in ways was different from the book, but i still liked the movie a bit more. For example ms I was a bit disappointed that they didn't include that scene with ms turner, but it didnt impact me as much. The connection with the characters that were there had me engaged well enough to ignore that small portion even though there was barely any political or racial view. However I didnt get frustrated when they did not show thst court room scene. I understand why did most likely did that. To show Janie remaining silent when she needed to. I could go on about why the lake was there, but overall, the movie did its its part in representing Janie's love and free will.
ReplyDeleteYes i believe the movie doesnt compare with the book but its some things that happened in the book that didnt happend in the movie such as the court scene.Also mr turner was in the book but wasnt in the movie. Ms turner race played a big role in the movie as a social commentary and that not being in the movie made the movie not a race topic.
ReplyDeleteMessiah Williams
ReplyDeleteI agree that the movie does not focus on some of the main points that the book does. For instance the mule was a big part to compare black women or people to the animal because they were still not set free in a way. Also the women that is black and always look down on black people and think white people are better. I think they should have added that because it showed a thin line between love and hate and was also the only time we heard about how black and white people interacted with each other. So I like the book better I think the movie could be much better from the scenes to the cast.
I feel like the movie took out some important parts from the book. For example Mrs.Turner wasn't in the book. That is important because she represented racial bias and without her being in the book took that away. Also TeaCake was light skin and not dark skin. Also the court case wasn't shown in the movie which was important since Janie's innocence would be based on if the whole white jurors believed her.
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
ReplyDeleteWhile watching their Eyes were watching God I can agree that the movie does not show the actual understanding of what women had to go through like it did in the book. In the book it showed a women's true pain and what it was like to be treated horrible by men. The book also revealed real feelings. The movie left out a major symbol which was the mule. The mule being left out also show that the mvoiw did not have as much symbolism as the book did. The directors change the real aspect of the movie true meaning takes away from the understanding of how awful women were treated.
ReplyDeleteI agree but I also disagree because because the author wrote the story she tells it how she wants it to be told whereas the director imitated and included what they felt made the story interesting. I noticed that in the movie Janie swims a lot when in the novel she never did, I don't even remember them mentioning a pond or river. To me I feel as though the director wanted to ignore those problems but not explicitly involving them.
ReplyDeleteIn their eyes were watching God i can say the book and the movie were very different. The director of the movie didnt go along with the book for example they did not mention the mule or Mrs.Turner which were key things to our understanding of the book and society. The person who made the movie just went straight to the point with Janies relationship and did not really go in depth with the real understanding.
ReplyDeleteI totally agree that the film version does not compare to the novel. Some of the differences I noticed was that the movie focused on more of the love story between tea cake and Janie. There was also way more to the novel such as metaphors and developmental psychology with Janie. On the other hand, the novel focused more on Janie and how her character developed from beginning to end. The book uses symbolism and metaphors, comparing the love to plants and nature. The positive thing about the movie is you get to see the characters expressions and emotion. Even though the two are sort of different, you still understand the theme of Hurston’s message, the novel just is more in depth.
ReplyDeleteI think the movie was way better than the book because, you can get a better feel of what the characters in the movie are doing/feeling. One omission that was in the book that wasn't in the movie was how race played a big role inside of the book. Another scene that was not included inside the film was the court scene film with Janie this scene was important because the jury was made up of all white men so the importance of it meant that her fate was chosen by white people who always had higher power than her and it changed the dynamic of the film. Even though the movie didn't include everything like the book you can still understand where Hurston was coming from.
ReplyDeleteI agree, the film version isnt 100% accurate to the book. There were some parts that were erased and some were new scenes we didnt read about.For example, in the book the dog bit tea cake in the face but in the movie it bit him in the arm. The fact that the two were so much different from eachother, changes the whole perspective of the novel and film.
ReplyDeleteI do agree with this person. The film does not necessarily illustrate the true aspects of the book. It shows Janie to be a coward but also a symbolism in the film. But in the book she is more so a coward. Therefore I do agree that the film was not based too much off the book.
ReplyDeleteWhile I think "There Eyes Were Watching God" is a well- made and put together professionally for a made-for-tv movie, I think this film has a few inaccuracies that holds it back because there was stuff changed/removed from the book like the absence of the n word probably because it was on national television, Tea Cakes reason why he took Janie's money, and the removal of Mrs.Turner. Also I think the movie should've focused more on the racial injustice and identity that it was in the book instead of romance and sexuality that was appealed to more of a female audience that can relate to that more than females. Overall, I think the movie was alright the way it was.
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