The Engaging Shakespeare event on Friday was a great success. I enjoyed seeing the other groups presenting and talking about their final projects. I was surprised how keen I was to know more about their motives behind certain choices they made and ideas they came up with. During the question and answer sessions, it seemed like the rest of the class shared a similar interest as it was us that asked a lot of the questions.
For me, my improved knowledge and interest in Shakespeare became apparent on Friday night as I could distinctly see my own investment in the conversation compared to some of the others in the audience who were otherwise not as informed on the subjects.
I was also really impressed with our work and felt that the most obviously when we were watching our documentary. I only say that cause I didn't expect people to laugh so much. I guess after seeing it so many times while editing, you forget that there were a lot of funny moments. It seemed like the audience was impressed and appreciated it.
Learning outcomes:
1. Gain Shakespeare Literacy
2. Analyze Shakespeare Critically
3. Engage Shakespeare Creatively
4. Share Shakespeare Meaningfully
In creating the documentary, we realized that a lot of practical skills were going into our final project. So while we might have been filming others engage and learn about Shakespeare, our project did not require us to be so involved in Shakespeare's text. Because of this, we tried to think of ways that we could be critically engaged in Shakespeare. One way we thought of doing this was looking at the story arc of Shakespeare plays. Though it may seem like an obvious creative choice, we did consciously decide to make the documentary like how a play would play out in chronological order. The beginning saw footage of them just talking about their final and reading through lines in the classroom. We then shifted gears into the rehearsal space which was slowly introduced to the point where they were semi in costume and really using the performance space rather than just sitting and lounging around in it. TO make a full complete 'performance' of the documentary with the end being wrapped up by the final performance -and not wanting to spoil the performance for the actors and the audience on Friday night, we finished on an image of the lights being projected on stage. This lent the documentary to be like a pre-cursor to seeing the performance and did not spoil anything for the live audience.
I also looked at incorporating text clips into the doc so that we could see how Shakespeare related even to the act of storytelling in a documentary form. We chose not to include Shakespeare text in the final version we posted on the internet but played around with it. I think it didn't work simply because it was becoming very wordy as we were hearing Shakespearean text from the actors on screen and then adding more of it to read just seemed a little over-bearing. We wanted the screening to be enjoyable and easy-going and very accessible for those who were only being introduced to Shakespeare.
Creatively, we were constantly thinking of ways to tell the story. On set, I was always trying to frame things well and capture the whole scene as well as individuals and their up-close emotions. I think the end-product shows this -a story aided by close ups of telling-images and emotions from the actors. This blog post was part of discovering the different shots we wanted to get and what we could accomplish with those different shot. Editing wise, we tried out a lot of different little segments to put it that completely changed the feel of the story and how everything was depicted. Having full creative freedom in the editing room, allowed all of us to have our own input and decide together the best possible way to shape the story.
In pre-production we had to think of appropriate things to ask our subjects that would be best when editing and what would really bring out the most emotion from the actors. These are what we primarily came up which was added to along the way as we realized there were other important things we needed sound bites of while on set.
Along the way, we shared Shakespeare meaningfully by posting a couple preview videos (this one and this one) to the public. together, those two videos have over 100 views now I believe. It allowed others to see what we were doing in class and see the passion/anxiety etc felt by those performing it.
Monday, December 12, 2011
Loves Labours: A Documentary
Here is the final documentary Christa, Lauren and I created!
We picked our songs from the vimeo.com music library - one which was paid for and the other was free. As stated on the presentation night, we wanted to incorporate more than just the footage we captured of the group rehearsing and talking. Sooo that is why we incorporated the other footage we grabbed from youtube of other Shakespeare performances. Similarly with the screen captures of Avrill's blog posts.
One problem I think we ran into while editing, was finding good footage of a continuous scene that was a really poignant or telling moment in this process of rehearsing and putting on a short play. The music helps us smoothly transition from one cut to another as we see the different moments during rehearsal, however I would really have liked some crucial moment to have been depicted that was our inciting incident or climax. But this group hardly argued! Everything went so smoothly.
Overall, I am very please with the documentary and the mood it evokes. I think while we were shooting, we definitely felt the jovial nature of the group and how much fun it was for them to perform and form the relationships you see in the documentary.
OT: Our Town
This is part of some research I did for the documentary by watching a similar doc that follows a group of high school students performing for the first time. The other girls in our Shakespeare doc group also watched a commented on this film. It helps us visualize a little of how we wanted our piece to look like and the possibilities that were available for editing, visualization, character development etc.
OT: Our Town
First thing I noticed about OT: Our Town, was the style of the filming. Given that it was shot in 2001-2002, the quality is still somewhat poor and almost all of it hand held. The high school kids claim their town as ‘the ghetto’ and so the grainy and low quality look creates a grittier feel that compliments the on screen action.
With this sort of feel for the entirety of the film, I felt like the relationship between filmmaker and the subjects, was very personal and non-intrusive. When the filmmaker was filming the students in a round table –classroom setting, it felt like we were part of the discussion and everyone could- and was being natural in front of the camera. The camera was just a part of what was going on. It was acknowledged by the high school kids and put into the environment like another character.
I cared for these subjects because the story was told through the kids and not as much through any authoritarian figure. While the teachers were also interviewed, it was the kids that drove the plot forward. With the interviews Kennedy did, I was impressed with how much the kids revealed on camera. The relationships I think, were key between filmmaker and subject. It made for a more meaningful film because it was like the filmmaker was a friend to everyone rather than stranger watching.
A really good editing choice in my opinion, was the idea to have ‘Our Town’ the film version of the play, being interjected between shots of the kids rehearsing their own version. Juxtapositioning these two different performances added meaning to the changes that kids were making themselves to their play. It showed a stark difference in the passion that these kids were putting into their play and what is means to them to be residents of Compton, California.
I do wish that most of the story-telling could have been more observational rather than based on the narration of interviews of the kids and the teacher. After doing some research on the film, it looks like the filmmaker is/was actually involved romantically with the teacher. This explains why perhaps the kids felt comfortable with Kennedy the filmmaker because I imagine he would have spent quite a lot of time with his subjects.I think a lot of the success of the film can be attributed to this: the relationship between subject and filmmaker. I could tell that he cared about these kids and if they succeeded or not. While I don't think that Kennedy was probably living or grew up in Compton or 'the getto', he definitely had something to say about accepting and loving the good and bad about our own town's.
OT: Our Town
First thing I noticed about OT: Our Town, was the style of the filming. Given that it was shot in 2001-2002, the quality is still somewhat poor and almost all of it hand held. The high school kids claim their town as ‘the ghetto’ and so the grainy and low quality look creates a grittier feel that compliments the on screen action.
With this sort of feel for the entirety of the film, I felt like the relationship between filmmaker and the subjects, was very personal and non-intrusive. When the filmmaker was filming the students in a round table –classroom setting, it felt like we were part of the discussion and everyone could- and was being natural in front of the camera. The camera was just a part of what was going on. It was acknowledged by the high school kids and put into the environment like another character.
I cared for these subjects because the story was told through the kids and not as much through any authoritarian figure. While the teachers were also interviewed, it was the kids that drove the plot forward. With the interviews Kennedy did, I was impressed with how much the kids revealed on camera. The relationships I think, were key between filmmaker and subject. It made for a more meaningful film because it was like the filmmaker was a friend to everyone rather than stranger watching.
A really good editing choice in my opinion, was the idea to have ‘Our Town’ the film version of the play, being interjected between shots of the kids rehearsing their own version. Juxtapositioning these two different performances added meaning to the changes that kids were making themselves to their play. It showed a stark difference in the passion that these kids were putting into their play and what is means to them to be residents of Compton, California.
I do wish that most of the story-telling could have been more observational rather than based on the narration of interviews of the kids and the teacher. After doing some research on the film, it looks like the filmmaker is/was actually involved romantically with the teacher. This explains why perhaps the kids felt comfortable with Kennedy the filmmaker because I imagine he would have spent quite a lot of time with his subjects.I think a lot of the success of the film can be attributed to this: the relationship between subject and filmmaker. I could tell that he cared about these kids and if they succeeded or not. While I don't think that Kennedy was probably living or grew up in Compton or 'the getto', he definitely had something to say about accepting and loving the good and bad about our own town's.
Wednesday, December 7, 2011
Monday, December 5, 2011
Tuesday, November 29, 2011
King Lear act 5, death death death.
Why should a dog, a horse, a rat, have life,
And thou no breath at all?
-Lear (seeing Cordelia's dead body)
And thou no breath at all?
-Lear (seeing Cordelia's dead body)
Why do the 'good' and virtuous characters also die? While I don't mind at all the Goneril and Regan die, it makes an interesting image to see Cordelia lying alongside them with another seemingly more pure character like Gloucester. I strangely don't feel thematically satisfied as I imagine all of them lying on the stage together. It's like in war, while we may see a side as 'the goodies' or 'the baddies', it's always more complicated than that. There is always onslaught and bloodshed on both sides and that is the nature of it. It get's messy and that is why we don't like war. The innocent die.
Thursday, November 17, 2011
Wednesday, November 16, 2011
Shot List
Tomorrow we're filming the acting group rehearse. These are some of the shots I want to make sure we get. If not tomorrow, then of course by the end of our production/filming period.
-Avril directing each group individually - wide, close ups
-Actors getting frustrated - close ups,
-Actors understanding, feeling like they are 'getting it' - medium
-Everyone rehearsing together- all actors in one shot - wide
-Interview with Avril
-Feet, hands, scripts, - all close ups
-Entering/exiting the rehearsal space - wide
** A VARIETY of close ups, mediums, wides, long, point of views?, establishing shots
-Avril directing each group individually - wide, close ups
-Actors getting frustrated - close ups,
-Actors understanding, feeling like they are 'getting it' - medium
-Everyone rehearsing together- all actors in one shot - wide
-Interview with Avril
-Feet, hands, scripts, - all close ups
-Entering/exiting the rehearsal space - wide
** A VARIETY of close ups, mediums, wides, long, point of views?, establishing shots
Goneril and Regan in Cinderella?
It hit me in class yesterday how alike Goneril and Regan
are in comparison with the two ugly step sisters in Cinderella.
are in comparison with the two ugly step sisters in Cinderella.
We have a Cinderella, pure and most loved sister (and I would say is usually depicted on stage as the prettiest of the sisters) compared against two other sisters that are seen as greedy, power hungry and conniving.
However connecting their likenesses, is maybe a little too superficial. I wonder if our Cinderella figure - Cordelia, is not as saint-like as she initially seems in juxtaposition with her sisters. Cordelia seems to be just as stubborn as her father. In a family relationship, or in any close relationship for that matter, we usually tend to get to know the things that will really annoy, hurt or please the other. Obviously, the King needed some form of affection from his daughters in his old age and Cordelia would not give it to him. In a similar act of self-justification and power, the King overrules her by abandoning her. Like stubborn father, like stubborn daughter.
Tuesday, November 8, 2011
Documentary Final
Who do we want to interview?
-director
-actors
-Prof. Gideon?
Preliminary interview Questions
–Filming Thursday 10th Nov, Tues 15th Nov in class
-Name, role/character, major, interests –how those can relate Shakespeare?
-Past experience/knowledge of Shakespeare
-What are you nervous about?
-What are you excited about in this production?
Avril
-Name, position,
-What is she actually doing? –refer to three separate relationships
-What does she want to achieve from this?
-Why does this mean anything to you to share these stories?
-What do you want to audience to get out of this?
Monday, November 7, 2011
King Lear, a cruel father.
No matter how angry my dad would ever get at me, I wonder whether he would ever even consider cursing me to not be able to have children. Is that not an extremely impactful and hurtful thing to say to anyone, let alone your own daughter? I can hardly think of any worse curse.
KING LEAR
It may be so, my lord.
Hear, nature, hear; dear goddess, hear!
Suspend thy purpose, if thou didst intend
To make this creature fruitful!
Into her womb convey sterility!
Dry up in her the organs of increase;
And from her derogate body never spring
A babe to honour her! If she must teem,
Create her child of spleen; that it may live,
And be a thwart disnatured torment to her!
Let it stamp wrinkles in her brow of youth;
With cadent tears fret channels in her cheeks;
Turn all her mother's pains and benefits
To laughter and contempt; that she may feel
How sharper than a serpent's tooth it is
To have a thankless child! Away, away!
It may be so, my lord.
Hear, nature, hear; dear goddess, hear!
Suspend thy purpose, if thou didst intend
To make this creature fruitful!
Into her womb convey sterility!
Dry up in her the organs of increase;
And from her derogate body never spring
A babe to honour her! If she must teem,
Create her child of spleen; that it may live,
And be a thwart disnatured torment to her!
Let it stamp wrinkles in her brow of youth;
With cadent tears fret channels in her cheeks;
Turn all her mother's pains and benefits
To laughter and contempt; that she may feel
How sharper than a serpent's tooth it is
To have a thankless child! Away, away!
This passage uses such harsh words and descriptions from a father to his daughter - about the very thing that most women might say is their greatness happiness and pleasure, the birth of their child. Lear does not even refer to his daughter as a human being but a 'creature'!
In this time and place, religion would have been much more closely connected to them as the church played a big role in their daily lives. The fact that Lear is directing this plea to the heavens, makes this speech a little more terrifying. They are not just idle words, the King wants the God's to punish his daughter and literally make her barren.
Thursday, November 3, 2011
Elexi Walker on her role as Katherine.
Elexi was kind enough to respond via facebook to some questions I sent her regarding Southwark playhouse's production of The Taming of the Shrew. Elexi played Katherine set in a bustly part of South London where she says "there is a mix of people from different countries, but particularly a large portion of the demographic are from, or descendants of the Carribean. Katherine, Bianca and Baptista's family were from Jamaica. Setting the play in a place like this served to bring the story into the modern age."
"We decided that Katherine was not the screaming banshee as she is often played in period set pieces, and note was taken of how little she speaks, and when she speaks, what she said. I think that this informed how intelligent people saw her... she would say what she thought, and never mind what anyone else thinks, and this was also demonstrated in how she dressed, and how it changed as time passed.
"I would say that the play does highlight how much of a man's world it is and that women are still seen as inferior, and how women are expected to do what men want... Katherine does all she can to fight against this, and in our production, the "starving" and "arguing" that she is subjected to by Petruchio is not a malicious thing, but because he actually likes Katherine on first sight, and falls in love with her by that part of the play, it is an attempt to end his feeling awkward as a result of her silent treatment, after being publicly humiliated after the wedding (the "she is my goods, my chattels..." speech.) He brings her a bacon sandwich just before the tailor brings the dress out. Sweet isn't he?
On the whole though, it was important to show that Katherine and Petruchio were equal, despite their difference in their respective "new money/old money" backgrounds. They are as clever as each other and we can see that in the banter that they have in the wooing scene... Katherine is stubborn and doesn't stand for s***, but is essentially bowled over by this arrogant, witty, handsome man, who is not afraid of her, and the growth of their relationship allows them to play and tease each other.... and dupe her dad out of loads of money... leaving the audience with the feeling that the final scene is the beginning of their story."
Final project proposal, A DOCUMENTARY.
If you hadn't caught on, I am a film major specializing in documentary and cinematography. My idea for a final project is to document the other group that is planning on presenting a Shakespeare play.
This mini-documentary would consist of the filming of rehearsals, interviewing and just capturing all aspects of the how the production is put together -learning lines, analyzing the text, staging and putting on the performance.
We would need someone filming with a DSLR, capturing sound, interviewing and then editing the piece together.
I think it could be really interesting because there are bound to be many great moments of frustration, excitement, surprise and hopefully some great performances (!).
I am reminded of a documentary which can be viewed on netflix called OT: Our Town where a group of high school kids who had never before done any drama, set out to modernize and present an old play entitled Our Town. It's really great if you want to have a look and get a feel for perhaps how it might look visually. The documentary will be very observational and will feel like the camera is merely an onlooker to the action.
Please! Build on this! suggestions? comments? Want to do it?
Wednesday, November 2, 2011
Southwark Playhouse and TTOTS.
Have been trying to get in contact with the girl who played Katherine in a modern-day revival of The Taming of The Shrew in London.
Not successful yet, but the adaptation looks really interesting. I've been playing a lot with the idea the Katherine holds a lot of qualities that are more accepted in today's average female. The play see's her bold nature, outspoken mouth and fiery temper as outrageous and unwantable qualities in a wife. However, I am guessing that in this modern adaptation and from the picture of it below, I think we are seeing more and more that Katherine may be more like a lot of women in today's busy, demanding and independent-seeking world.
Shakespeare and children with Andrew Walner
I have actually been talking to one of my old drama teachers in Australia. He helped me a lot with a Shakespeare monologue I was using for an audition to get into a performing arts school. And his help worked! I got in and spent a year at the Victorian College of the Arts before coming to BYU.
While on the phone, Andrew and I spoke mostly about the teaching of Shakespeare in primary schools (I think Americans call it primary school too? grade 1-6 is primary school), as that is what he does during the week. He also teaches at a community theatre program for children on Saturdays. My little sister used to go to it a few years ago too.
What I tried to offer to the conversation was my interpretation of how Shakespeare has effected me this semester alone. While the text is often difficult, there are so many resources that help to understand and interpret the meaning of such language. Andrew is a strong believer that even children at the age of 8 can read Shakespeare and it can be just as compelling and understandable as Harry Potter.
I shared with Andrew my experience of reading the Tempest and how it was difficult for me to enjoy reading The Tempest when a lot my classmates enjoyed it more-so over The Winter's Tale. However, after seeing it on stage over the weekend, my mind opened up to the magical elements and the relationship of characters. Seeing it on stage, everything became much clearer and less wordy for me. I mean Shakespeare was meant to be seen and not read right?
Andrew also told me how he once taught The Tempest to a group of 14 year olds in high school. Instead of keeping the names of Miranda, Caliban etc, they changed them all to names from Harry Potter so that they could more easily identify with the characters and 'act' out a couple scenes with Hermione in mind for Miranda and Albus Dumbledore as Prospero.
While on the phone, Andrew and I spoke mostly about the teaching of Shakespeare in primary schools (I think Americans call it primary school too? grade 1-6 is primary school), as that is what he does during the week. He also teaches at a community theatre program for children on Saturdays. My little sister used to go to it a few years ago too.
What I tried to offer to the conversation was my interpretation of how Shakespeare has effected me this semester alone. While the text is often difficult, there are so many resources that help to understand and interpret the meaning of such language. Andrew is a strong believer that even children at the age of 8 can read Shakespeare and it can be just as compelling and understandable as Harry Potter.
I shared with Andrew my experience of reading the Tempest and how it was difficult for me to enjoy reading The Tempest when a lot my classmates enjoyed it more-so over The Winter's Tale. However, after seeing it on stage over the weekend, my mind opened up to the magical elements and the relationship of characters. Seeing it on stage, everything became much clearer and less wordy for me. I mean Shakespeare was meant to be seen and not read right?
Andrew also told me how he once taught The Tempest to a group of 14 year olds in high school. Instead of keeping the names of Miranda, Caliban etc, they changed them all to names from Harry Potter so that they could more easily identify with the characters and 'act' out a couple scenes with Hermione in mind for Miranda and Albus Dumbledore as Prospero.
Monday, October 31, 2011
Ariel the puppet, Prospero the puppeteer.
My favourite costume in the production was saw of The Tempest by the Pioneer Theatre Company, was definitely Ariel's.
Like I mentioned earlier, I really enjoyed the steampunk elements of the costume that added some quirky mystery and fantasy to her character. But what I liked most was how it functioned in relation to her being like a puppet in the hands of Prospero.
At the natural joints of her body, elbow and knees, there were gold wrappings that were sort of like a hinge. I imagined her the whole time being like Pinocchio where the puppet can only move strings that are attached to knees and elbows and probably the head.
Julia Motyka who played Ariel, showed distinct movements like a puppet on strings but always moving first at those hinges. Almost like those barbies too that have arms the move at the elbows.
What a fantastic representation of how she is used by Prospero, her puppet master. He controls her in a fashion that will get him what he wants. The picture below is particularly poignant of that where we see him using magic to bind and tangle her up. So brilliant!
I also noticed where the set had rope riggings on the sides of the stage as part of the boat, Ariel would often be amongst them when performing magic to the characters in centre stage. It was so clear to me that she was being controlled by some greater force to perform such magical acts.
Like I mentioned earlier, I really enjoyed the steampunk elements of the costume that added some quirky mystery and fantasy to her character. But what I liked most was how it functioned in relation to her being like a puppet in the hands of Prospero.
At the natural joints of her body, elbow and knees, there were gold wrappings that were sort of like a hinge. I imagined her the whole time being like Pinocchio where the puppet can only move strings that are attached to knees and elbows and probably the head.
Julia Motyka who played Ariel, showed distinct movements like a puppet on strings but always moving first at those hinges. Almost like those barbies too that have arms the move at the elbows.
What a fantastic representation of how she is used by Prospero, her puppet master. He controls her in a fashion that will get him what he wants. The picture below is particularly poignant of that where we see him using magic to bind and tangle her up. So brilliant!
I also noticed where the set had rope riggings on the sides of the stage as part of the boat, Ariel would often be amongst them when performing magic to the characters in centre stage. It was so clear to me that she was being controlled by some greater force to perform such magical acts.
Sunday, October 30, 2011
steampunk steampunk steampunk!
Did you guys love it? The whole art set for The Tempest was definitely inspired by steampunk art.
Steampunk in relation to art, incorporates a lot of brass, iron, leather and wood. It often has a Victorian-gothic sort of feel and incorporates elements of fantasy, science fiction and contraptions that produce steam.
In the production we saw of The Tempest, I saw a lot of steampunk: the floating lanterns, the bike attached by strings, ariel's costuming and also Prospero's cape. These small little elements gave a cool feeling of being some sort of fantastical place. Notice all of the things I mentioned are of the magical world rather than things associated with Gonzalo, Alonso and the other shipwrecked men.
Steampunk in relation to art, incorporates a lot of brass, iron, leather and wood. It often has a Victorian-gothic sort of feel and incorporates elements of fantasy, science fiction and contraptions that produce steam.
I mean come on, look at all that brass, leather and gadget goodness.
a Machiavellian Prince.
Professor Gideon mentioned 'The Prince' by Machiavelli in class last week. I actually just read this in my history of theatre class.
What Machiavelli considers the perfect prince are qualities that are pretty morally questionable for us who do not have such responsibilities as someone in the royal court.
Here are some of the qualities of a successful Prince according to Machiavelli:
-He uses power, strength of character and knowledge to get what he wants.
-He makes the most of a situation -turning it into his favour.
-He rules by fear, not love.
I feel that Prospero fits the Machiavellian ideals of a prince. He has a lot of control of what happens to the plot and really uses his powers to better his own situation. I looked this topic up online and there seems to be some debate to this argument; that Prospero resembles the Machiavellian prince. For how much of a part Prospero plays in the events of the play, his control far outways anything else that might go against this argument. Prospero is a cunning man and who knows what he wants and how to get it. He uses Ariel to get this and of course his own magic.
What Machiavelli considers the perfect prince are qualities that are pretty morally questionable for us who do not have such responsibilities as someone in the royal court.
Here are some of the qualities of a successful Prince according to Machiavelli:
-He uses power, strength of character and knowledge to get what he wants.
-He makes the most of a situation -turning it into his favour.
-He rules by fear, not love.
I feel that Prospero fits the Machiavellian ideals of a prince. He has a lot of control of what happens to the plot and really uses his powers to better his own situation. I looked this topic up online and there seems to be some debate to this argument; that Prospero resembles the Machiavellian prince. For how much of a part Prospero plays in the events of the play, his control far outways anything else that might go against this argument. Prospero is a cunning man and who knows what he wants and how to get it. He uses Ariel to get this and of course his own magic.
Thursday, October 27, 2011
Wedding photography.
Below are a couple photos I have taken of couples. That's what I like to do in my spare time. Photography.
After initially sitting with the couple and figuring out how they interact together, with me, in front a lens and what they generally want from their photographs, I get a good feel for how and who they are.
When photographing weddings, everybody knows how beautiful the whole day can be and also how stressful it can get. Regardless though, the couple is madly in love and whole day is pretty magical.
Looking at Katherine's marriage to Petruchio, I wonder how a modern photographer might photograph them. At this point, Kate has been silenced by even the prospect of being married and not turning out to be an old maid, however she is not completely 'tamed'. Petruchio not only arrives late to his wedding but he is also wearing fool's clothes. Here are a couple dramatic representations on stage and in art of "the happy couple"
After initially sitting with the couple and figuring out how they interact together, with me, in front a lens and what they generally want from their photographs, I get a good feel for how and who they are.
When photographing weddings, everybody knows how beautiful the whole day can be and also how stressful it can get. Regardless though, the couple is madly in love and whole day is pretty magical.
Looking at Katherine's marriage to Petruchio, I wonder how a modern photographer might photograph them. At this point, Kate has been silenced by even the prospect of being married and not turning out to be an old maid, however she is not completely 'tamed'. Petruchio not only arrives late to his wedding but he is also wearing fool's clothes. Here are a couple dramatic representations on stage and in art of "the happy couple"
From a photographers point of view, I would shoot them probably in nature to soften the mood a little bit. With only buildings and sharp edges in the background, it might only illuminate the rigidity between them. I would also try and mask any awkward positions or lack of creativity from them (because they are not exactly swept up in love at this point), by using soft lighting and also tactfully positioning the camera so that we don't see any space between them or awkward poses.
Wednesday, October 26, 2011
transformations
I can't help but look at this text (as I always do) in some sort of feminist way. I'm sorry!
But because this is so evidently a comedy, I can't help but think that Shakespeare didn't really think that women should be so submissive to their husbands and the inequality so prevalent in a marriage.
In the banquet scene Lucentio and Hortensio banter on who has the most obedient wife. When we see that Katherine obeys her command promptly and then proceeds to tell everyone in the room more about a wife's submission to her husband, it is a stark contrast from the fiery outspoken Kate we read of at the start.
I am starting to believe that the literal taming of the shrew (Katherine), is not entirely a good thing. That thought to be continued...
Tuesday, October 18, 2011
Death by drowning.
I am a big lover of the beach and being in water. Living in Utah would be significantly better if there was a beach nearby. However I think of drowning as possibly one of the worst deaths. Some might disagree here, but drowning to me is in the very top of terrible ways to die that I can think of.
It caught me when Gonzalo says:
I found this picture that shows all the different deaths in England in one year. With so little deaths being drowning or 'accidental threats to breathing' as the picture puts it, why are we so concerned about drowning whenever we go to a beach or we see children in water? There are typically 3X the amount of deaths on the road or in transport accidents!
Still though, this opening to the play, with the threat of death near, adds an aspect of spectacle and fear. Inciting this early on, I would say that an audience would not really know what to expect for the rest of the play. Usually something so dramatic might be the climax of a play or film and the dramatic question is: Will they survive this storm?? But if this is only the first scene in The Tempest, then of course they will! No one dies in the first scene. It's an interesting element to add so early on to the play.
It caught me when Gonzalo says:
Now would I give a thousand furlongs of sea for an
acre of barren ground, long heath, brown furze, anything.
the wills above be done! But would I fain
die a dry death.
acre of barren ground, long heath, brown furze, anything.
the wills above be done! But would I fain
die a dry death.
I found this picture that shows all the different deaths in England in one year. With so little deaths being drowning or 'accidental threats to breathing' as the picture puts it, why are we so concerned about drowning whenever we go to a beach or we see children in water? There are typically 3X the amount of deaths on the road or in transport accidents!
Still though, this opening to the play, with the threat of death near, adds an aspect of spectacle and fear. Inciting this early on, I would say that an audience would not really know what to expect for the rest of the play. Usually something so dramatic might be the climax of a play or film and the dramatic question is: Will they survive this storm?? But if this is only the first scene in The Tempest, then of course they will! No one dies in the first scene. It's an interesting element to add so early on to the play.
Monday, October 17, 2011
Elizabeth Taylor? nah.
I thought she was an interesting pick because she is/was so well known for her beauty and sexuality. This part calls for neither and brought on a new element into the performance. She seemed to be more of a tease to her husband and cunning- like all along she knew exactly what she was doing to annoy him.
Her charm really came out in juxtaposition with other frightfully annoying female qualities that were all heightened and rather ugly. Overall though, I really think her beauty sort of betrayed the character that was written.
This Katherine played by Julia Styles, represents a different and more subtle kind of shrew however I think her demeanor and natural looks are more how the part should be played.
Styles has a very dry sense of humor and really only talks to entertain herself or put down others around her. In contrast to Elizabeth Taylor's performance where she is extremely attention grabbing and quite hysterical, Styles compliments a more modern shrew as discussed in my previous post.
Sunday, October 16, 2011
The modern woman as the shrew.
I'm looking at how Katherine -the shrew, really may not be such a shrew in our modern days.
Her most prominent characteristics are:
-witty
-quick tempered
-sharp tongue
-intelligent
-independent
-angry (unhappy?)
That list of qualities I see in Katherine, definitely portray the sort of modern day feminist that we see today who is independent, working and successful. Sort of the feminist view on females these days, where a woman can be smart and successful without the aid of man. Katherine seems to have some sort of anger on her shoulders that stops her from being happy and a more functional human being as everyone see's it however.
Even just in this excerpt from act 2, you can see her biting tongue and that she does not back down to men. When this was written, women were particularly susceptible to a man and would have been much more submissive as a social norm. Nowadays, I see women like this everywhere. I would even venture to say that I am like this myself. Not exactly snarky or rude all the time, but definitely not ashamed to say what I think in the presence of males.
Perhaps, to some extent, today's everyday girl, is comparable to Shakespeare's Shrew.
Her most prominent characteristics are:
-witty
-quick tempered
-sharp tongue
-intelligent
-independent
-angry (unhappy?)
That list of qualities I see in Katherine, definitely portray the sort of modern day feminist that we see today who is independent, working and successful. Sort of the feminist view on females these days, where a woman can be smart and successful without the aid of man. Katherine seems to have some sort of anger on her shoulders that stops her from being happy and a more functional human being as everyone see's it however.
Petruchio: Come, come, you wasp, i’faith you are too angry.
Katherine: If I be waspish, best beware my sting.
Petruchio: My remedy is then to pluck it out.
Katherine: Ay, if the fool could find where it lies.
Petruchio: Who knows not where a wasp does wear his sting? In his tail.
Katherine: In his tongue.
Petruchio: Whose tongue?
Katherine: Yours, if you talk of tales, and so farewell.
Petruchio: What, with my tongue in your tail?
Even just in this excerpt from act 2, you can see her biting tongue and that she does not back down to men. When this was written, women were particularly susceptible to a man and would have been much more submissive as a social norm. Nowadays, I see women like this everywhere. I would even venture to say that I am like this myself. Not exactly snarky or rude all the time, but definitely not ashamed to say what I think in the presence of males.
Perhaps, to some extent, today's everyday girl, is comparable to Shakespeare's Shrew.
Tuesday, October 11, 2011
Males funnier than females?
In Love's Labour's Lost, I was thinking about how much of a comedic role all the male characters play. Their language might be considered poetical and maybe farcical and I would venture to say that most of the female roles are not as comedic at all.
SO my question is are boys funnier than girls? Did Shakespeare think this when writing the play? But this is not just an issue of Shakespeare's time. Today, it is hotly debated about modern comedians and whether women really play a role in this environment.
..Not to mention the main characters in shows like
The Office or Arrested Development are also male. Even though Shakespeare was writing hundreds of years before us, I'm still not surprised that males have more comedic roles in his plays and particularly Love's Labour's Lost.
This video gives some more interesting insight. Just ignore the end...
SO my question is are boys funnier than girls? Did Shakespeare think this when writing the play? But this is not just an issue of Shakespeare's time. Today, it is hotly debated about modern comedians and whether women really play a role in this environment.
Off the top of my head I can list the following female comedians: 
Tina Fey
And male comedians: 
David Letterman
Conan O'Brien
Jay Leno
Jerry Sienfield
..Not to mention the main characters in shows like
The Office or Arrested Development are also male. Even though Shakespeare was writing hundreds of years before us, I'm still not surprised that males have more comedic roles in his plays and particularly Love's Labour's Lost.
This video gives some more interesting insight. Just ignore the end...
The Taming of the Shrew
First of all, I had to look up in a dictionary what a shrew is. Somehow I just never really new the exact meaning of the word.
Shrew: A woman with a violent, scolding, or nagging temperament; a scold.
And then I found out that it is also this heinously ugly mouse.
A woman being compared to a household pest? A little condescending me thinks.
Shrew: A woman with a violent, scolding, or nagging temperament; a scold.
And then I found out that it is also this heinously ugly mouse.
A woman being compared to a household pest? A little condescending me thinks.
Sunday, October 9, 2011
Missionaries and The Oath
I used to serve food at the MTC and found out that fresh little 19 year olds are pretty awkward after being set apart. Before they’re even out in the field. It’s like whenever I would hand them a plate of food and be conversational, they weren’t quite sure whether they should talk to me and be friendly back. I could see that it wasn’t the same with the male servers.
It just got me thinking- how the King and his lord’s vowing not talk to girls unless it is “necessity”, is similar to how LDS missionaries interact with girls. At first, it seems like the King and his lords are not allowed to be seen talking to women at all. Difficult. So, to be a little more practical but still placing precautions and restrictions, they allow contact with females if necessary.
Maybe girls can relate to this post more but regardless, the whole situation is pretty funny in home wards.
Maybe girls can relate to this post more but regardless, the whole situation is pretty funny in home wards.
Thursday, October 6, 2011
Hamlet and I.
Sorry for my blogging hiatus! I'm one of the students Prof. Gideon was talking about being the worst and needing to catch up. Nonetheless, let me make one last post on Hamlet and relate a similarity between himself and I.
Hamlet clearly, was pretty bad at making decisions. He waited until other forces made him make decisions and often they were delayed. Killing Claudius is the pending question of the whole play: will Hamlet kill Claudius? It takes him a long time to finally decide to do so after having numerous opportunities and even seeing his mother killed.
Like me, I have waited and waited to blog and then suddenly the day has gone by and I haven't done it. Even when I was deciding to come to BYU, I deferred for a year and then finally decided to come over to the States. Then when I went back to Australia for the summer, I couldn't decide on whether to come back again and all of a sudden the following Fall semester had gone by and I still hadn't got on the plane yet. Alas, I'm here now. In a country that snows 2 and half months before winter starts and I'm still deciding whether to keep my summer dresses in the front of my closet.
Hamlet and I don't like to make decisions.
Hamlet clearly, was pretty bad at making decisions. He waited until other forces made him make decisions and often they were delayed. Killing Claudius is the pending question of the whole play: will Hamlet kill Claudius? It takes him a long time to finally decide to do so after having numerous opportunities and even seeing his mother killed.
Like me, I have waited and waited to blog and then suddenly the day has gone by and I haven't done it. Even when I was deciding to come to BYU, I deferred for a year and then finally decided to come over to the States. Then when I went back to Australia for the summer, I couldn't decide on whether to come back again and all of a sudden the following Fall semester had gone by and I still hadn't got on the plane yet. Alas, I'm here now. In a country that snows 2 and half months before winter starts and I'm still deciding whether to keep my summer dresses in the front of my closet.
Hamlet and I don't like to make decisions.
Sunday, September 25, 2011
the performance. [colour]
Here is something that stuck out to me in the performance of A Winter's Tale at the Utah Shakespeare Festival; the use of colour in both costumes and sets.
The first time we see Hermione, she is wearing a long white robe- almost looking as if she is about to get married. White, a symbol of purity and cleanliness, suggests here that she is pure and innocent.
When she is in court being accused by her husband of infidelity, she is wearing a purple dress. While purple may only have the following meaning with LDS young women, it is still a valid analysis that the play director/costumer intended Hermione to represent integrity. In the young women's values, purple is the color for integrity. Interesting, that she is wearing purple while in court being accused falsely and thus still maintaining her integrity.
Added to Hermione's clothes is also Paulina who wears a dark purple jacket and skirt for much of the play. She is similarly a chaste and valiant woman (pulling out all my young womens vocab here) and strives to convince Leonte's of the queen's innocence and purity.
After the interval, we then saw Perdita wearing white. When mother and daughter are reunited in the final act, they both wear flowing white gowns- further suggesting the innocence of women and their pure hearts.
Finally, when Leonte's has been grief stricken for 16 years and has proved that he is a regretful, sorry and changed man, the background of the set is illuminated in purple. This was the first and only time it occurred in the play and perhaps resembles a sort of finality with Leontes. That he has come to terms with his sins and is ready to live a more righteous and integrity-filled life.
Symbolism!
The first time we see Hermione, she is wearing a long white robe- almost looking as if she is about to get married. White, a symbol of purity and cleanliness, suggests here that she is pure and innocent.
When she is in court being accused by her husband of infidelity, she is wearing a purple dress. While purple may only have the following meaning with LDS young women, it is still a valid analysis that the play director/costumer intended Hermione to represent integrity. In the young women's values, purple is the color for integrity. Interesting, that she is wearing purple while in court being accused falsely and thus still maintaining her integrity.
Added to Hermione's clothes is also Paulina who wears a dark purple jacket and skirt for much of the play. She is similarly a chaste and valiant woman (pulling out all my young womens vocab here) and strives to convince Leonte's of the queen's innocence and purity.
After the interval, we then saw Perdita wearing white. When mother and daughter are reunited in the final act, they both wear flowing white gowns- further suggesting the innocence of women and their pure hearts.
Finally, when Leonte's has been grief stricken for 16 years and has proved that he is a regretful, sorry and changed man, the background of the set is illuminated in purple. This was the first and only time it occurred in the play and perhaps resembles a sort of finality with Leontes. That he has come to terms with his sins and is ready to live a more righteous and integrity-filled life.
Symbolism!
Monday, September 19, 2011
Females.
Shakepeare's morals speak to me in Act 3 where everyone seems to be backing Queen Hermione over Leonte's. When perhaps this is a time when the King would have been feared and reverenced by his servants and men, it is interesting that even his best guards and other people around him, all plead with him to reconsider his judgment against his wife.
I am impressed with the amount of support that Shakespeare gave to the Queen. When this play was being written, no doubt womens rights were little. Being burned at the stake for all sorts of accusations like being a witch because she was singing or chanting something as she mixed spices and ingredients, women seemed to be only worthy of bearing children and doing a lot of dirty work around the house. In this scenario, although the king has the power to kill anyone who disagrees or argues with him, every single person around him is on the queen's side.
Another strong female character is that of Paulina. She defends the queen countless times and argues extensively with the King calling him "downright a fool". In 1773, a male critic Lewis Theobald, said of Paulina that she was "too gross and blunt". The very fact that critics of this time were not in favor of Paulina's character, suggests a familiar victimization of women.
On this feminist essay about Paulina, Elizabeth Brunner states: "Paulina fulfills a multitude of feminist expectations, both action-based and symbolic: she confronts the patriarch, she defends the sisterhood, she speaks for vulnerable children, she memorializes womanhood, she worships the great Goddess Nature, she preserves artistic beauty, she strives for gender reconciliation, and she finally restores balance in the community."
Go Shakespeare for giving us some strong female characters to love.
I am impressed with the amount of support that Shakespeare gave to the Queen. When this play was being written, no doubt womens rights were little. Being burned at the stake for all sorts of accusations like being a witch because she was singing or chanting something as she mixed spices and ingredients, women seemed to be only worthy of bearing children and doing a lot of dirty work around the house. In this scenario, although the king has the power to kill anyone who disagrees or argues with him, every single person around him is on the queen's side.
Another strong female character is that of Paulina. She defends the queen countless times and argues extensively with the King calling him "downright a fool". In 1773, a male critic Lewis Theobald, said of Paulina that she was "too gross and blunt". The very fact that critics of this time were not in favor of Paulina's character, suggests a familiar victimization of women.
On this feminist essay about Paulina, Elizabeth Brunner states: "Paulina fulfills a multitude of feminist expectations, both action-based and symbolic: she confronts the patriarch, she defends the sisterhood, she speaks for vulnerable children, she memorializes womanhood, she worships the great Goddess Nature, she preserves artistic beauty, she strives for gender reconciliation, and she finally restores balance in the community."
Go Shakespeare for giving us some strong female characters to love.
Jealousy
Not that I am any expert on love, but I have heard it said that jealousy can cause one to go insane. I think in the case of Leonte's abandoning his son to the forest, his rage is stemming from a deep-seeded jealousy of his wife being with another man, supposedly. If there was any instability in their relationship before Polixenes came, it would have been much easier for Leonte's to think he was seeing immorality and things happening behind his back because of pre-rooted suspicions of his wife. The play does not suggest any misbehavior before Polixene's arrived, and thus in my opinion, Shakespeare is making an statement on the effects of jealousy in our interpersonal relationships. Potentially damaging as jealousy can be to a relationship and even to just oneself, in this royal family, jealousy seems like it may be the end of their new born.
This is what is so great about Shakespeare- he taps into raw human emotions that are as relevant now as they were then. Maybe not to the point of killing a child, but still.
This is what is so great about Shakespeare- he taps into raw human emotions that are as relevant now as they were then. Maybe not to the point of killing a child, but still.
Tuesday, September 13, 2011
A Winter's Tale
The relationship between Polixenes and Leontes would be interesting to study. We are given a little bit of information at first from the interaction between the two and we gather that they were good friends when they were younger. I wonder if when they went their separate ways to be King of Bohemia and Sicilia respectively, they only matured and grew up once they were away from each other. Now being back in the same place, both with wives and being King, they may indeed go back to their childish selves bceause that is the only way they remember acting around each other.
A short analysis like this might help explain why Leontes overreacts so much to Pelixenes having some sort of potential romance with Hermione. He may still be in this state of immaturity where jealousy is such a prominent part of friendships- especially in an odd number of friend groupings. I can distinctly relate this to my life where any attempted grouping of 3 girls, never went down well. Always one of us felt left out and would get bitter and jealous towards the others.
[I said most of this in our discussion today but it's still on my mind sorry!]
A short analysis like this might help explain why Leontes overreacts so much to Pelixenes having some sort of potential romance with Hermione. He may still be in this state of immaturity where jealousy is such a prominent part of friendships- especially in an odd number of friend groupings. I can distinctly relate this to my life where any attempted grouping of 3 girls, never went down well. Always one of us felt left out and would get bitter and jealous towards the others.
[I said most of this in our discussion today but it's still on my mind sorry!]
Monday, September 12, 2011
Commedia dell'arte and Hamlet.
Commedia dell'arte to recap, is an Italian form of theatre where the actors usually wear masks to identify themselves. Each character is made up from a group of stock characters that have the same name and personality characteristics in whatever play they are written into.
In Hamlet, Claudius could be seen as the Commedia dell'arte character Pantalone, who is usually a rich and retired, mean man. Pantalone often has a young wife which reminds me of the lust Claudius has shown for Gertrude. Hamlet might be glad to see this comparison as he believes Claudius to be extremely selfish and greedy for lusting after Gertrude.
Hamlet himself could be compared to Pulcinella who is known to be self centered. Hamlet has proven to be a self centred character who introverts a lot of his feelings and makes snide comments behind his breath. Instead of trying to grasp any sort of consideration of empathy for his mother and her decision to be with Claudius, he is very confrontational and dismissive of her actions. Pulcinella is either stupid pretending to be clever or clever pretending to be stupid. He has little care for life and loves to pick a fight and shed blood. This quite obviously, draws to mind when Hamlet kills Polonius believing that he is Claudius. His lack of concern or fear in realizing he has killed a somewhat innocent man, affirms that he may be going a little insane despite only 'pretending' to be insane.
These are only two of the characters taken from Hamlet and the stock Commedia dell'arte characters, but certainly more comparisons could me made. I like it.
In Hamlet, Claudius could be seen as the Commedia dell'arte character Pantalone, who is usually a rich and retired, mean man. Pantalone often has a young wife which reminds me of the lust Claudius has shown for Gertrude. Hamlet might be glad to see this comparison as he believes Claudius to be extremely selfish and greedy for lusting after Gertrude.
Hamlet himself could be compared to Pulcinella who is known to be self centered. Hamlet has proven to be a self centred character who introverts a lot of his feelings and makes snide comments behind his breath. Instead of trying to grasp any sort of consideration of empathy for his mother and her decision to be with Claudius, he is very confrontational and dismissive of her actions. Pulcinella is either stupid pretending to be clever or clever pretending to be stupid. He has little care for life and loves to pick a fight and shed blood. This quite obviously, draws to mind when Hamlet kills Polonius believing that he is Claudius. His lack of concern or fear in realizing he has killed a somewhat innocent man, affirms that he may be going a little insane despite only 'pretending' to be insane.
These are only two of the characters taken from Hamlet and the stock Commedia dell'arte characters, but certainly more comparisons could me made. I like it.
Thursday, September 8, 2011
So far, Shakespeare and I have a good relationship. I haven't torn my eyes out over analyzing his plays and haven't been bored to death. Once when I wanted to seem particularly cool and read Shakespeare for leisure, I took out our family's ancient old crusty book of Shakespeare that had maybe 20 of his plays inside. Wonderfully heavy, it definitely gave me an air of superiority at the dinner table with this massive book just chillin next to me.
If I was lucky I might have got through Romeo and Juliet in the hopes of finding a teenage boy just like Romeo but I don't recall that ever happening. [Both finishing the play or finding a suicidal lover]
I can recall quite a few Shakespeare films that I've seen but interestingly my favorite is probably Baz Luhrman's Romeo and Juliet. I am pretty biased considering Baz is from my home country and so I obviously pledge allegiance to Australian filmmakers, but, I was really impressed with how the language was used in a modern setting and the world that they created. I thought it was executed beautifully.
Basically, I already have quite a love for Shakespeare but just need to be much better acquainted with his legendary language and bring our relationship to a new level.
If I was lucky I might have got through Romeo and Juliet in the hopes of finding a teenage boy just like Romeo but I don't recall that ever happening. [Both finishing the play or finding a suicidal lover]
I can recall quite a few Shakespeare films that I've seen but interestingly my favorite is probably Baz Luhrman's Romeo and Juliet. I am pretty biased considering Baz is from my home country and so I obviously pledge allegiance to Australian filmmakers, but, I was really impressed with how the language was used in a modern setting and the world that they created. I thought it was executed beautifully.
Basically, I already have quite a love for Shakespeare but just need to be much better acquainted with his legendary language and bring our relationship to a new level.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)