Monday, October 20, 2008
Timeless Literature October 20, 2008
In a previous class, Dr. Gleason asked why do people continually read Shakespeare down through the ages. Classics are timeless because they continually apply to the struggles the common man faces. That is obvious in the play Othello because of our discussion in class. Today we still deal with the subject of race. The point of view has changed over the years to now where the African Americans and other minorities have a voice. However, we still have prejudices of mixed racial families. Romeo and Juliet is also another example. If it did not apply, Leonardo DiCaprio could not have played a major role. The gang life is not very familiar to all of us, but the parent’s wishes vs. teenagers wants still create problems today. If we can still talk about the text in class and find a very specific example (Romeo, Othello), then it is part of timeless literature.
Monday, October 13, 2008
Blocking Power October 13, 2008
Today when I was figuring out the blocking for my playgroup there is always the question of who holds the power. In Hamlet, Queen Gertrude (Glenn Close) backs herself up against the bed. She positioned herself in the weaker position. In Romeo and Juliet, Romeo (Leonardo DiCaprio) places himself in a week position when he is first confronted by Mercutio. In the adaptation of Othello, there are many main characters, so there is always a power struggle. In the first scene, Othello (Jai) is standing behind a desk. This is very close to being a throne of power in the play. Iago (Mike) and Cassio (Sara) stand behind the desk at attention to show respect. Desdemona/Santiago is on the side of the desk because she has to work with both the rookies and the captain. In the last scene, Mike and I are behind the “desk of power” trying to obtain Jai and Carmen’s sense of power and comfort. However we fail and are arrested and put to shame.
A View of Literature
1. What stage or stages of reading development was I at before the beginning of this
semester?
In my high school years, I would say that I looked at reading mainly through the text-other text view. Throughout my freshman and senior year, several of my English classes covered several mythologies. These mythologies included Roman, Greek, and Egyptian. We compared these three to each other as well as other texts. The Roman and Greek are very similar, but there are similarities to other religious literature. One text-other text example is the paper I wrote comparing several religious accounts of a great flood. The paper started with the two well known examples from Greek literature and the Judeo-Christian Bible. I noted that the timelines were different for both. In the Greek timeline myth, the population of the Earth happened after a nine day flood. According to the Bible, the flood happened after the population of the Earth. The flood also lasted forty days, according to the book of Genesis. The Greeks used stones to explain the repopulation of the Earth and the Bible does not give a clear example. Then I moved to explain similar flood stories from Babylonian, Chinese, and Aztec literature. These are different example of literature across time and space that I compared in several English classes.
In my early college years, I developed an interest in fiction writing. I wanted to adapt the complex twists in Shakespearean comedies to modern times. In reading Shakespeare for a modern adaptation, I had to think about the character’s dilemma and the modern comparison. For example in Much Ado About Nothing, having an affair is not as devastating today as it was in Elizabethan Protestant England. It was very hard to think about an equivalent for Hero’s situation. I had to put my modern Hero into a strong religious household to equate Hero’s shame at home. However, the view of women today would not equal to the shame given to Elizabethan woman felt by those outside her family. I believe that the reason Shakespeare, Austen, and Dickens are classics is because the emotions can be applied to current society.
2. What stage or stages of reading development am I at now?
I still maintain a text-other text view in my blogs. I blogged on Leonardo DiCaprio’s interpretation of Shakespeare’s Romeo. Shakespeare is known for his great use of language, but DiCaprio used “simple motions.” In the discussion of literature there must be an understanding of current social norms. In my last blog, I mentioned the fear of purgatory. This is relation to Hamlet’s famous “To be or not to be” soliloquy and this understanding of fear can help place the true situation of character. If a person does not place himself or herself in the times of that character the readers feelings and emotions may cloud the author’s true intent.
I also used several blogs to show a Text-World aspect. The best example was my first blog about the film Shakespeare in Love. There are several aspects that were shown to shape Shakespeare’s life. The first things I mentioned was the effect that Queen Elizabeth had on the arts. The political realm was in an uproar during Shakespeare’s time and had a great impact on his histories. The social norms were also mentioned in my blog. I was disappointed with the portrayal of differences in social classes, but there was a poignant difference in sexual roles. Then I made a point to talk about Shakespeares inspiration and stated that “Shakespeare's lover was not the only inspiration, but as well as the words heard everyday, fellow friends, and political dreams.” That is true of all of us that our situations and sphere of people influence and help us become who we are and who we may be.
3. How do I think I can move to the net sage of reading development?
There are three things that I can do to improve to include more text-world view. I need to be more aware of current events. I currently do not have a television, so I cannot watch the news. I also read the newspaper very sparingly. However, I still do not believe watching the just one news channel is enough because of a possible slanted view. As far as the newspaper, I need to read more than just the financial page and include articles related to the effects of society.
The second idea is to include “harder” classics in my repertoire of books. People have a definition of what is complex to them, but Tolstoy is my example of a “harder classic.” Tolstoy touches on the economic and social concerns of Russian society through a complex history. This could be relevant today, but I have not tried to broach the long and daunting novel.
A third ides is to read “professional” opinions. Most professors and teachers have seen more than I and by reading their ideas I can travel beyond my current means. Reading effectively can open doors that the economy, safety, and social norms have closed. These are a few ideas that will take effort on my part, but the rewards would be greater. The more I know the more I can help the people around me.
semester?
In my high school years, I would say that I looked at reading mainly through the text-other text view. Throughout my freshman and senior year, several of my English classes covered several mythologies. These mythologies included Roman, Greek, and Egyptian. We compared these three to each other as well as other texts. The Roman and Greek are very similar, but there are similarities to other religious literature. One text-other text example is the paper I wrote comparing several religious accounts of a great flood. The paper started with the two well known examples from Greek literature and the Judeo-Christian Bible. I noted that the timelines were different for both. In the Greek timeline myth, the population of the Earth happened after a nine day flood. According to the Bible, the flood happened after the population of the Earth. The flood also lasted forty days, according to the book of Genesis. The Greeks used stones to explain the repopulation of the Earth and the Bible does not give a clear example. Then I moved to explain similar flood stories from Babylonian, Chinese, and Aztec literature. These are different example of literature across time and space that I compared in several English classes.
In my early college years, I developed an interest in fiction writing. I wanted to adapt the complex twists in Shakespearean comedies to modern times. In reading Shakespeare for a modern adaptation, I had to think about the character’s dilemma and the modern comparison. For example in Much Ado About Nothing, having an affair is not as devastating today as it was in Elizabethan Protestant England. It was very hard to think about an equivalent for Hero’s situation. I had to put my modern Hero into a strong religious household to equate Hero’s shame at home. However, the view of women today would not equal to the shame given to Elizabethan woman felt by those outside her family. I believe that the reason Shakespeare, Austen, and Dickens are classics is because the emotions can be applied to current society.
2. What stage or stages of reading development am I at now?
I still maintain a text-other text view in my blogs. I blogged on Leonardo DiCaprio’s interpretation of Shakespeare’s Romeo. Shakespeare is known for his great use of language, but DiCaprio used “simple motions.” In the discussion of literature there must be an understanding of current social norms. In my last blog, I mentioned the fear of purgatory. This is relation to Hamlet’s famous “To be or not to be” soliloquy and this understanding of fear can help place the true situation of character. If a person does not place himself or herself in the times of that character the readers feelings and emotions may cloud the author’s true intent.
I also used several blogs to show a Text-World aspect. The best example was my first blog about the film Shakespeare in Love. There are several aspects that were shown to shape Shakespeare’s life. The first things I mentioned was the effect that Queen Elizabeth had on the arts. The political realm was in an uproar during Shakespeare’s time and had a great impact on his histories. The social norms were also mentioned in my blog. I was disappointed with the portrayal of differences in social classes, but there was a poignant difference in sexual roles. Then I made a point to talk about Shakespeares inspiration and stated that “Shakespeare's lover was not the only inspiration, but as well as the words heard everyday, fellow friends, and political dreams.” That is true of all of us that our situations and sphere of people influence and help us become who we are and who we may be.
3. How do I think I can move to the net sage of reading development?
There are three things that I can do to improve to include more text-world view. I need to be more aware of current events. I currently do not have a television, so I cannot watch the news. I also read the newspaper very sparingly. However, I still do not believe watching the just one news channel is enough because of a possible slanted view. As far as the newspaper, I need to read more than just the financial page and include articles related to the effects of society.
The second idea is to include “harder” classics in my repertoire of books. People have a definition of what is complex to them, but Tolstoy is my example of a “harder classic.” Tolstoy touches on the economic and social concerns of Russian society through a complex history. This could be relevant today, but I have not tried to broach the long and daunting novel.
A third ides is to read “professional” opinions. Most professors and teachers have seen more than I and by reading their ideas I can travel beyond my current means. Reading effectively can open doors that the economy, safety, and social norms have closed. These are a few ideas that will take effort on my part, but the rewards would be greater. The more I know the more I can help the people around me.
Tuesday, October 7, 2008
Stuck between a rock and hard place October 7, 2008
What is a dream? Sigmund Freud analyzed them to no end. Shakespeare has compared them to death. There are nightmares in dreaming, but for many it can be a peaceful experience. Dreams for many people have been a wonderful escape from reality. In Hamlet, he has to decide whether it is better to dream and in dreaming give into depression and die. Hamlet in the end realizes he cannot escape reality. Another true reality to Hamlet is the man code of honor where a man is a disgraced who does not go through the act of revenge. Hamlet would fear the wrath of purgatory and the anger of his father. The punishment of the father would not be as bad as being stuck in purgatory. Purgatory to a man in that position would be like going to sleep with no dreams at all. Even in hell, there would be a feeling of existence.
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