Adaptation of Scripted Television Formats: Factors and Mechanisms of Cultural Identity in a Global World

Abstract

Television content has traditionally been associated with the cultural identity of a given territory, although in an increasingly global world, this relationship is under debate. From a comparative qualitative analysis of the Spanish scripted television format (STF) series Los Misterios de Laura and its adaptations for the United States and Italy, this research identifies differences between these versions in terms of narrative approach, television conventions, production context, and the use of the cultural imaginary. The findings imply the existence of aesthetic and narrative mechanisms associated with the production of cultural identity in STF fiction. They also reveal the existence of a belief within television culture that some audiences have tastes and expectations that depend on their cultural proximity to the content. This research highlights the relevance of the cultural and televisual productive contexts of each country to understand their adaptation processes.