Fanfic as adaptation: The Phantom of the Opera case

Abstract

This article discusses the theoretical borders that separate adaptations of literary texts (by professional writers) and the activities of fans, especially fanfictions of The Phantom of the Opera. The theoretical approach brings the notion of “transcreation” and authors from the field of fan studies. The results include the recognition of fanfictions as a type of literary adaptation, and the notion of The Phantom of the Opera as an archive or as “archontic literature”.