"Genesis" by Eduardo Galeano. A Creative Translation

Abstract

Many beloved movies, paintings and pieces of music are the product of intersemiotic translation. However, the method behind the creation of these works is often overlooked. This paper takes an in-depth look into the process translating three written myths into the medium collage. Eduardo Galeano’s work Genesis, a fragmented compilation of myths, comes together to from an alternate view of American history. The innate structure of these myths combined with their descriptive elements makes them prime candidates for this translation. This paper begins by addressing the reasoning behind the way elements have been translated as well as the techniques used to translate them. Next, the decision to translate these written myths into collage is justified. Through this thorough examination, the abusive nature of intermedia translation becomes apparent, and begs the question: How far can a translator go before crossing the line between translation and a new creation?