Theory of Adaptation: Chapter 1

In Hutcheon's book A Theory of Adaptation, he references a pronouncement by T.S. Elliot on page two when he says, "...art is derived from other art; stories are born of other stories." Since American author Willa Cather has famously said there are only three or four stories and they keep repeating themselves as furiously as if they had never happened before, then it would follow, if she is correct, that adapting stories is a necessity. As Hutcheon points out, Shakespeare who we often view as the icon of British literature, freely adapted stories for his own purposes. Those stories were given new life and amazing longevity by The Bard. Thus the critics of current popular adaptations, may want to consider a broader historical context than the modern phenomenon of taking a popular novel and trying to spin gold out of it through a movie franchise. In fact, I would argue that the final two Harry Potter films add a distinctive value-added feature to the seventh novel, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows. 
Hutcheon also mentions an example of conflict between high art adaptations and low art knock-offs. He states that for many, turning Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet into a ballet or an opera is a noteworthy achievement, while adapting it into a film for a modern audience is a money grab. It would be interesting to ask: Upon what criteria are the "high brow" critics basing their judgment? Why is it more noble to turn a Shakespeare play into an art form that only a few wealthy people can go see versus bringing the classic love story to life on the big screen for millions to enjoy? 
Hutenon's conclusion, adapted from the work of Dawkins, illustrates the evolutionary durability of stories as they morph, grow, adapt, replicate, and change across the centuries and across cultures. I think it was filmmaker Frank Capra who said there are only three universal languages - mathematics, music, and film. In our time, the most vibrant adaptation of stories has developed in the milieu of visual images. Therefore, not only does a movie such as, The Fault In Our Stars, expand John Green's original piece of art into another format, it actually continues the evolution of his artistic vision and that of William Shakespeare and of countless unknown story tellers who noted the tendency of young love to be star crossed.