I referred to the title of the novel, a title lifted from a line of W.B. Yeats, as "a clever assemblage of words, none of which is unique to the novel, an assemblage which comes from another writer's work."
I was not referring to the novel itself, only to the title.
toyin
On 18 September 2011 17:47, John Ebohon <ebohon@dmu.ac.uk> wrote:
"It is simply a clever assemblage of words, none of which is unique to the novel, an assemblage which comes from another writer's work." This shows you have not read the novel, and if indeed you have, you obviously did not understand it. It is far robust and deeper than the simplistic vies you hold to it.OJ
From: naijaintellects@googlegroups.com on behalf of toyin adepojuSent: Sun 18/09/2011 14:01
To: naijaintellects@googlegroups.com
Cc: WoleSoyinkaSociety; usaafricadialogue; naijaobserver@yahoogroups.com
Subject: Re: [Naijaintellects] Stay away from Things Fall Apart, Achebe warns 50 CentRESPONSE TO THE POST BELOW
I identify with Achebe in not accepting the money and describing the offer as insulting. beceause the legacy of his book and his personal stature transcends any amount of money.I also expect Achebe can raise that amount of money offered, if he wished, through fund raising for a philanthropic cause.
As to the book's title, what's the big deal about it? It is simply a clever assemblage of words, none of which is unique to the novel, an assemblage which comes from another writer's work. Achebe's copyright on the book will expire anyway, and anybody can do anything with a similar title. In the light of that, what is the significance of this legal achievement? Is Achebe worried that his book will be eclipsed by the film? That people will mistake the film and his book?
Of course, that title is broad enough in meaning, containing nothing that links it to any particular story, for it to be applicable to any story with a similar theme. Yeats, whom Achebe got it from, used those lines for a different subject than Achebe, though not in a title, like Achebe did.
Ebohon describes well the originality of Achebe's use of the title,putting it beautifully:
"...originality does not necessarily mean an invention and... an existing body of knowledge or piece of equipment ...using it a totally different context qualifies as sufficient originality to be respected or protected"
but does that make the title itself original in an unequivocal manner? Is it not more accurate to state that the linguistic composition that makes up the title is not original, while recognising originality in Achebe's use of it as the title of his story?
Even then, what is the scope of that originality? Is it so original that there is a low chance of anyone else composing a similar order of words without knowledge of Yeats or Achebe ?
I dont think so.
There are lines of poetry that most people are not likely to think up without reference to those who have composed them first. This is not one of them.
I realise that companies patent similar expressions, though, which they use as identifying their brand.
thanks
toyin
On 18 September 2011 12:29, John Ebohon <ebohon@dmu.ac.uk> wrote:
Can you detach the title from the storey? The storey that recast the title given by Yeats is the originality. As a researcher, you should know that originality does not necessarily mean an invention and that an existing body of knowledge or piece of equipment and using it a totally different context qualifies as sufficient originality to be respected or protected. A book that has been translated into several global languages and a Nobel Prize, I would have thought, is sufficiently original. You may not appreciate the legal grounds but the professionals and consultants on the matter appreciated Professor Achebe's efforts as of sufficient originality to have approached him in the first place and to rejig the title upon his refusal to give consent. My only regret, if any, noting that Professor Achebe may have his reasons, is that he did not accept the US$1 million dollars, which he could have put towards a decent children hospital in his home town.OJ
From: naijaintellects@googlegroups.com on behalf of toyin adepoju
Sent: Sat 17/09/2011 16:46
To: WoleSoyinkaSociety; usaafricadialogue; nai; naijaobserver@yahoogroups.com
Subject: Re: [Naijaintellects] Stay away from Things Fall Apart, Achebe warns 50 CentI am not able to appreciate why Achebe should go to all this trouble.I also cant appreciate the legal grounds on which his claim stands.
1. Achebe himself got the title of his book from a line of W.B.Yeats poem "The Second Coming"
2. The phrase things fall apart is not of sufficient originality to qualify as a protected artistic expression.
toyin
---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Emmanuel U. Obi <bizon586@yahoo.com>
Date: 17 September 2011 01:33
Subject: [Naijaintellects] Stay away from Things Fall Apart, Achebe warns 50 Cent
To: naijaintellects@googlegroups.com, NaijaObserver@yahoogroups.com, asa-usa@yahoogroups.com
--
Stay away from Things Fall Apart, Achebe warns 50 Cent
Entertainment
Friday, September 16, 2011
Popular rapper 50 Cent may be a super star in the United States of America where he plies his trade in the music industry, but his stardom was not enough to sway one of Africa's greatest playwrights and superstar novelist, Nigerian born Chinua Achebe when he attempted to adapt the theme Things Fall Apart for his new movie.
The rapper's latest movie has been renamed ahead of its release, due to a conflict with Achebe's most famous work.
" Things Fall Apart," published by Achebe in 1958, is Nigeria's most famous English-language novel and it has sold more than ten million copies worldwide.
50 Cent and Achebe
advertisement
Unfortunately, 50 Cent was not aware of this.
He spent the better part of 2010 shooting a film of the same name based on the story of an American football player diagnosed with cancer.
"It's a project that I wrote, produced and financed myself," he explained last year. Directed by Mario Van Peebles, it premiered at the Miami film festival in March, this year, and is expected to be released soon.
Unfortunately for Fiddy, his film will not keep its original title. After being contacted by Achebe's legal team, 50 Cent allegedly offered $1m to hold on to the title.
Achebe, 80, took this as an insult. "The novel with the said title was initially produced in 1958 (that is 17 years before 50 Cent was born)," replied his lawyers, according to Naijan[1].
"It is listed as the most-read book in modern African literature, and won't be sold for even £1bn." The film has now been renamed to All "Things Fall Apart."
==============================================================
Emma Obi
"Truth Hurts"
"whatsoever thou resolvest to do,do it now. Defer not till the evening what the morning can accomplish"(Unto thee I grant the economy of life,1978).
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