In this blog, I will try to draw a general study of the Klondike Gold Rush, mostly through the analysis of Jack London’s novels and their adaptation. Since many adaptations of The Call of the Wild and White Fang have been made, I have to choose and focus on some of them. After watching quickly the movies I could find, I’ve decided to focus on The Call of the Wild made in 1976 (I still hesitate with the adaptation of 2000), and White Fang made in 1991.
I would also like to use The Gold Rush of Charlie Chaplin, in order to see what bring the theme of comedy in this general study. The idea is to compare the two atmospheres conveyed by these movies.
Here are the ideas that came to my mind when I read The Call of the Wild, and when I first search for general information about that event :
- comparison between the California Gold Rush (1848-1852) and the Klondike Gold Rush (1896-1899)
(I may not make a post on that particular subject but refer to it throughout my study in order to stress or qualify the specificities of the Klondike Gold Rush)
- the life of Jack London in the Klondike / the type of person that tried the adventure of the Gold Rush
- ·the gears of the gold-digger
(The equipment used, the supplies usually needed, the different technique for digging the gold. The type of transportation, the evolution of this technique (if there is any) since the California Gold Rush. It will be interesting to see if the movies are historically correct and if theses gears are important features in the movies.)
- the economy that build itself around the Gold Rush
- the major difficulties encountered by the gold-digger
- the route taken by the gold-digger (geographically correct ?)
- the relationship with the wild
- importance of the dogs during the Gold Rush
(I will edit this post to be a bit more specific later.)
