“Sex sells” has been a marketing mantra since the 1800s. The same strategy seems to be increasingly used to “sell” film and television to us.
In September, the teaser trailer was released for Emerald Fennell’s adaptation of Wuthering Heights. Like her previous film, Saltburn, the teaser has produced countless headlines and not insignificant outrage. The film itself is due for release next Valentine’s Day, but the jury is out on whether it will reveal much about love.
The original gothic novel focused on the freedom of childhood, revenge and repressed desire. The two leads unhealthy identification with each other is also key: “He’s more myself than I am”. The teaser trailer for the film looks more like a stylised bodice-ripper, and has been accused of being somewhat “Fifty Shades” of Bronte. Is this what modern audiences really want?
Why is modern storytelling so disappointing?
Recently, I started reading three new novels.One of them I came across on a table in Waterstones, a new …