Seeing William Shakespeare’s Twelfth Night in person really brought the story alive for me. Among the many aspects of the performance that I liked, I have chosen three in particular.
The emotions of the characters are one of the first things I noticed about watching Twelfth Night instead of reading it. Reading the play, one could kind of get a sense of the emotions a character might have only if his words made his demeanor completely clear. However, subtle, yet important, facial expressions and emotions can be lost–specifically the reactions from the characters listening to the speaker.
The second thing that stood out in the play was the props and scenery. While reading the play, one must imagine most props except for very obvious direction cues like “draw sword.” Some of the props used surprised me, and sometimes made scenes I had already read make more sense. One of my favorite inclusions was Orsino’s bathtub that he was brought out in. I am guessing it was the Director’s choice to use that, and it worked perfectly with the Duke’s haughty character and Viola’s meekness as she proceeds to scrub Orsino’s feet. The scenery, although limited, gave the story some context. It also made much of the interactions between the characters make sense, as they moved throughout the stage.
The last thing I enjoyed was the proximity of the audience to the stage in this particular production. I remember when I toured the Globe Theatre in London, the guide explained how close many members of the standing audience would be to the stage, and how the audience sort of became a part of the scenery. In the production at the Mesa Arts Center, the room was quite small and nobody was more than ten feet or so away. This made it easier to hear, see, and truly feel like you were part of what was happening on stage. We were so close in fact, that we could all too often see the spit spew from Sir Toby’s mouth.
This was the first Shakespearean play I have seen as a person who can understand it, and I am really glad I attended–I found it much more enjoyable than I originally thought I would.
Sunday, December 5, 2010
Monday, November 15, 2010
What is real?
What is the true meaning of the word “real,” and what are the word’s connotations? My first road bump in my search came across in my initial decision on a word. I had chosen reality at first, but had it suggested that I include real in my search as well. To me, that would completely defeat the purpose of a one-word search. However, after long and arduous hours of contemplation (I am not kidding), I have decided on the word “real.” The word “real” encompasses a far greater range of definitions and ideas than reality, and I can still include reality and other real-derived words in my essay. I chose the word real because I’m interested in the intangible, the human experience, and philosophy. Who or what defines what real is to one person or another, and what effects does that have?
Off the top of my head, the word “real” to me simply means anything that exists. To understand that definition, we have to also understand what the word “exist” could me? Something that exists I would say means anything that consists of matter. On the other hand, who is to say that everything that people think isn’t real? Is the Internet real? Are ghosts real? Am I real? It’s quite hard to clearly define what ‘real” is, and that’s why I’m interested in learning more about it.
Of course, there are a plethora of alternative definitions of “real”; not artificial; utter; real number; and so on. Nonetheless, I think the main focus of my search will focus on the original definition I mentioned above. (269)
Off the top of my head, the word “real” to me simply means anything that exists. To understand that definition, we have to also understand what the word “exist” could me? Something that exists I would say means anything that consists of matter. On the other hand, who is to say that everything that people think isn’t real? Is the Internet real? Are ghosts real? Am I real? It’s quite hard to clearly define what ‘real” is, and that’s why I’m interested in learning more about it.
Of course, there are a plethora of alternative definitions of “real”; not artificial; utter; real number; and so on. Nonetheless, I think the main focus of my search will focus on the original definition I mentioned above. (269)
Sunday, October 31, 2010
Wait! Did he just say what I think he said?
Lines 236-239
“Allas! a foul thing is it, by my feith,
To seye this word, and fouler is the dede,
Whan man so drinketh of the whyte and rede,
That of his throte he maketh his privee,
Thurgh thilke cursed superfluitee.”
By saying (in my own words) that man turns his mouth into a toilet by drinking so much white and red wine does the Pardoner mean that the actual wine is so “unholy” that it metaphorical turns your mouth into a toilet? Or does he mean that by drinking so much wine you are likely to throw up, turning your mouth into a receptacle for the “stuff” that would have most likely gone into the toilet?
I think my second conclusion is far more thoughtful. However, because he is preaching about religion he probably means that wine directly corrupts whatever it touches.
Also, I understand the first four lines perfectly, but I only have a rough understanding of the last line. I know that “superfluitee” means overindulgence, which fits with the Pardoner’s whole gluttony theme here. But I’m not sure what “Thurgh thilke cursed” is supposed to mean.
“Allas! a foul thing is it, by my feith,
To seye this word, and fouler is the dede,
Whan man so drinketh of the whyte and rede,
That of his throte he maketh his privee,
Thurgh thilke cursed superfluitee.”
By saying (in my own words) that man turns his mouth into a toilet by drinking so much white and red wine does the Pardoner mean that the actual wine is so “unholy” that it metaphorical turns your mouth into a toilet? Or does he mean that by drinking so much wine you are likely to throw up, turning your mouth into a receptacle for the “stuff” that would have most likely gone into the toilet?
I think my second conclusion is far more thoughtful. However, because he is preaching about religion he probably means that wine directly corrupts whatever it touches.
Also, I understand the first four lines perfectly, but I only have a rough understanding of the last line. I know that “superfluitee” means overindulgence, which fits with the Pardoner’s whole gluttony theme here. But I’m not sure what “Thurgh thilke cursed” is supposed to mean.
Sunday, October 17, 2010
The Friar and the Parson
Instead of one character, I’ve chosen the two characters from The General Prologue of Geoffrey Chaucer’s Canterbury Tales to discuss. I found the comparison Chaucer made between the Friar and the Parson particularly interesting in their contradictory roles. The Friar, while supposedly making a living by begging, is greedy and corrupt. Friars take vows of poverty, chastity, and obedience; however our Friar, Huberd, doesn’t heed these vows:
“He was an esy man to yeve penaunce,
Ther as he wiste to have a good pitaunce.”
Our narrator lets us know that Huberd tends to give forgiveness easily so that he can gain more tips. Also, the narrator hints that the Friar wasn’t chaste because he was well liked with many “worthy women” in his town and kept pins to give to young and pleasing wives. It is also made clear that he was well known in many a pub, and conversed with female beggars and lepers.
On the other hand, the described Parson later in the prologue was poor despite the revenue he received for his duty in his parish. What he lacked in riches he made up for in good thoughts and work. He is described as diligent, patient and, in contrast, reluctant to invoke excommunication in order to receive payment. He would even give up some of his pay to help out his fellow parishioners. His sums up his methodology with the following metaphor:
“That if gold ruste what shal iren do?”
If the priest the people are suppose to trust is bad, why wouldn’t an uneducated man be bad as well?
The comparison between the corrupt Friar and the honest Parson is a perfect example of the kind of unorthodox roles the characters in the Canterbury Tales take on. (291)
“He was an esy man to yeve penaunce,
Ther as he wiste to have a good pitaunce.”
Our narrator lets us know that Huberd tends to give forgiveness easily so that he can gain more tips. Also, the narrator hints that the Friar wasn’t chaste because he was well liked with many “worthy women” in his town and kept pins to give to young and pleasing wives. It is also made clear that he was well known in many a pub, and conversed with female beggars and lepers.
On the other hand, the described Parson later in the prologue was poor despite the revenue he received for his duty in his parish. What he lacked in riches he made up for in good thoughts and work. He is described as diligent, patient and, in contrast, reluctant to invoke excommunication in order to receive payment. He would even give up some of his pay to help out his fellow parishioners. His sums up his methodology with the following metaphor:
“That if gold ruste what shal iren do?”
If the priest the people are suppose to trust is bad, why wouldn’t an uneducated man be bad as well?
The comparison between the corrupt Friar and the honest Parson is a perfect example of the kind of unorthodox roles the characters in the Canterbury Tales take on. (291)
Tuesday, September 21, 2010
The Mind of an Outlook
It cannot be! A boat? Out across the whale-road? We had no word of this from Hrothgar or the sentries! I must ready the reinforcements, and send a messenger to alert our dear king. In the meantime, what should I wear? I want to be ready for battle, but at the same time look presentable. Hmm… A pair of leather chaps should do, yes, and with my trusty chainmail. I’ll take my black steed and my spear with me as well. Ah! Here come the reinforcements–looking quite shabby if I do say–up at last. The boat is closer to shore, and preparing to moor. We will wait up here to see what they do first, that will be the safest plan. Let’s hope this drizzling rain ceases, I do hate fighting in the rain with a passion. I hope it will not come to that though. What could they be here for? We rarely get visitors unless they are diplomats from another tribe… and they tend to arrive in much smaller vessels. Well, here they are on shore now. They are unloading battle equipment and rations; could they be here to try to take on the great Dane tribe while we are weak from our struggles with Grendel? No, no, it can’t be… if they were here to fight they would be suited up for battle already. I’ll make my way down to the beach to inquire then, and have the men stagger at my back just in case. Remember to sit up tall, remember to look into the eyes of the leader, remember to keep your spear ready. Is that who I think it is? The famed Beowulf of Geatland, the man with the strength of a hundred. Why would he grace our shores? Well, it is time to address him and find out.
There, I’ve said all I could say… and these interlopers don’t seem angered, so that is good. Ah, Beowulf is stepping forward, is he ready to make his case?
Good lord! And how I thought of these brave men! They are risking their lives to help the Dane’s destroy Grendel. They must be brought to Herot at once, to make there motives apparent to Hrothgar and to be fed and lavished after their long journey. Keep your composure though, do not let on how much we truly need help… stay strong.
That should do, I’ll lead them to Herot while some of my men take care of their boat. How does Beowulf plan to take care of Grendel I wonder? Beowulf is no doubt, if the stories are true, a strong and courageous Geat. However, Grendel is not of this earth, and many of our finest men have met their untimely deaths against that horror. Also, what will Hrothgar make of the son of Ecgtheow? The blood feud still remains from when Ecgtheow killed Heatholaf. Is Beowulf intending to end the feud with this good deed? Ah, here we are. I should go back to my post and let the Geats continue on with my men.
Back to the tower I guess. Us Danes haven’t had such excitement and hope in a long time. I do hope Beowulf succeeds.
(537)
There, I’ve said all I could say… and these interlopers don’t seem angered, so that is good. Ah, Beowulf is stepping forward, is he ready to make his case?
Good lord! And how I thought of these brave men! They are risking their lives to help the Dane’s destroy Grendel. They must be brought to Herot at once, to make there motives apparent to Hrothgar and to be fed and lavished after their long journey. Keep your composure though, do not let on how much we truly need help… stay strong.
That should do, I’ll lead them to Herot while some of my men take care of their boat. How does Beowulf plan to take care of Grendel I wonder? Beowulf is no doubt, if the stories are true, a strong and courageous Geat. However, Grendel is not of this earth, and many of our finest men have met their untimely deaths against that horror. Also, what will Hrothgar make of the son of Ecgtheow? The blood feud still remains from when Ecgtheow killed Heatholaf. Is Beowulf intending to end the feud with this good deed? Ah, here we are. I should go back to my post and let the Geats continue on with my men.
Back to the tower I guess. Us Danes haven’t had such excitement and hope in a long time. I do hope Beowulf succeeds.
(537)
Monday, September 13, 2010
Beowulf Movies
The famous Old English heroic poem, Beowulf, has been made into countless films. However, Beowulf (1999), Beowulf & Grendel (2005), and Beowulf (2007) are some of the more recent and acclaimed of the Beowulf films.
Beowulf (1999), directed by Graham Baker, has a science-fiction twist: the story is set in a post-apocalyptic future. While the movie stays mostly true to the original, strange plot twists abound throughout. For example, Hrothgar has an affair with Grendel’s mother there child is Grendel. The movie comes from the same producer as Mortal Kombat (a 1995 film and series of video games) and as a result has a lot of strange features that seem better fit for the Mortal Kombat movie or game. Techno music is used throughout to the disadvantage of the believability of the movie. Although the movie is set in the future the men still dress in armor and the environment still looks medieval; watching epic battles take place to techno music just throws the whole vibe off. The movie was poorly received, and critics like Danél Griffin have commented saying, “There are moments that, even in its liberties, it reveals a deep appreciation for the poem, and a profound understanding of its ideas. There are other moments, however, that seem so absurd and outlandish that we wonder if the writers, Mark Leahy and David Chappe, have even read the poem." If you want to see an example of the badness for yourself try (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1fqzdVSqQ3A) for Hrothgar's realization that Grendel is his child.
Beowulf & Grendel (2005), directed by Sturla Gunnarsson, is a beautiful movie, but a little too modern and off the beaten trail for many. The movie is shot on location in Iceland, and as a result provides breath-taking panoramic views and a perfect landscape for the tough environment of the epic. Beowulf is played by Gerard Butler, a British actor, who seems to have a knack for barbaric-manly roles likes the ones he played in the Attila miniseries, 300, and Gamer. The movie does deviate from the original poem as well, introducing three new characters : Grendel’s father, Grendel’s son, and the witch Selma. Another interesting part of the movie is the direct reference to Christianity’s superiority to pagan religions. As Grendel’s reign of terror continues, the people of the village turn away from their Norse gods, which seem to offer no help, to the Christian Jesus, who they are told forgives all and expects nothing. The movie has received mixed reviews, with Chuck Wilson of the L.A. Weekly stating: “[You can] feel the filmmakers yearning to have Beowulf and Grendel go all Rambo on each other. Instead, they keep pulling back for more Old English angst, as if they’re torn between commerce and winning the approval of their high school English teacher.” The cinematography and action scenes are often praised, while the dialogue and acting are criticized.
The 2007 version of Beowulf, directed by Robert Zemeckis, is the most recent and the most acclaimed of the group of three. Although this version looks like three-dimensional animation, it is actually a motion capture movie. In this type of movie, human movement (and sometimes things as subtle as facial expressions) is recorded and then translated to animate digital character models. These stunning visual effects, and the growing popularity (at the time) of watching movies in 3D led the remake to be highly praised for it’s graphical advances. The film also touted big-name actors like Angelina Jolie (as Grendel’s mother), Anthony Hopkins (as Hrothgar, and John Malkovich (as Unferth). The screenwriters, Neil Gaiman and Roger Avary, felt that Beowulf at points in the poem is an unreliable narrator, and that because of this felt they should offer their own interpretation in some parts of the movie. This stylistic choice has been both condemned and celebrated, but overall the movie has been a huge commercial success (grossing $196,149,662 worldwide) and an above average critical success (receiving a 60 out of 100 rating on Metacritic). (663)
Beowulf (1999), directed by Graham Baker, has a science-fiction twist: the story is set in a post-apocalyptic future. While the movie stays mostly true to the original, strange plot twists abound throughout. For example, Hrothgar has an affair with Grendel’s mother there child is Grendel. The movie comes from the same producer as Mortal Kombat (a 1995 film and series of video games) and as a result has a lot of strange features that seem better fit for the Mortal Kombat movie or game. Techno music is used throughout to the disadvantage of the believability of the movie. Although the movie is set in the future the men still dress in armor and the environment still looks medieval; watching epic battles take place to techno music just throws the whole vibe off. The movie was poorly received, and critics like Danél Griffin have commented saying, “There are moments that, even in its liberties, it reveals a deep appreciation for the poem, and a profound understanding of its ideas. There are other moments, however, that seem so absurd and outlandish that we wonder if the writers, Mark Leahy and David Chappe, have even read the poem." If you want to see an example of the badness for yourself try (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1fqzdVSqQ3A) for Hrothgar's realization that Grendel is his child.
Beowulf & Grendel (2005), directed by Sturla Gunnarsson, is a beautiful movie, but a little too modern and off the beaten trail for many. The movie is shot on location in Iceland, and as a result provides breath-taking panoramic views and a perfect landscape for the tough environment of the epic. Beowulf is played by Gerard Butler, a British actor, who seems to have a knack for barbaric-manly roles likes the ones he played in the Attila miniseries, 300, and Gamer. The movie does deviate from the original poem as well, introducing three new characters : Grendel’s father, Grendel’s son, and the witch Selma. Another interesting part of the movie is the direct reference to Christianity’s superiority to pagan religions. As Grendel’s reign of terror continues, the people of the village turn away from their Norse gods, which seem to offer no help, to the Christian Jesus, who they are told forgives all and expects nothing. The movie has received mixed reviews, with Chuck Wilson of the L.A. Weekly stating: “[You can] feel the filmmakers yearning to have Beowulf and Grendel go all Rambo on each other. Instead, they keep pulling back for more Old English angst, as if they’re torn between commerce and winning the approval of their high school English teacher.” The cinematography and action scenes are often praised, while the dialogue and acting are criticized.
The 2007 version of Beowulf, directed by Robert Zemeckis, is the most recent and the most acclaimed of the group of three. Although this version looks like three-dimensional animation, it is actually a motion capture movie. In this type of movie, human movement (and sometimes things as subtle as facial expressions) is recorded and then translated to animate digital character models. These stunning visual effects, and the growing popularity (at the time) of watching movies in 3D led the remake to be highly praised for it’s graphical advances. The film also touted big-name actors like Angelina Jolie (as Grendel’s mother), Anthony Hopkins (as Hrothgar, and John Malkovich (as Unferth). The screenwriters, Neil Gaiman and Roger Avary, felt that Beowulf at points in the poem is an unreliable narrator, and that because of this felt they should offer their own interpretation in some parts of the movie. This stylistic choice has been both condemned and celebrated, but overall the movie has been a huge commercial success (grossing $196,149,662 worldwide) and an above average critical success (receiving a 60 out of 100 rating on Metacritic). (663)
Friday, August 27, 2010
Most Memorable Books
1. Ishmael, Daniel Quinn.
I remember my Dad strongly suggesting this book at the beginning of my freshman year, and my reluctance to begin it (because of the vague description and boring cover art). After slowly making my way through the novel I can confidently say it changed my outlook on topics like religion, origins, population, and evolution.
2. Brave New World, Aldous Huxley.
I thoroughly enjoyed this summer reading book, and it also changed the way I think about certain topics. The ideas about genetic engineering that may have sounded farfetched in 1932 aren’t too far away from actuality in 2010.
3. Eragon, Christopher Paolini.
Despite this being an obvious knockoff of every children’s science-fantasy book ever created, I remember devouring the trilogy one quiet summer in Maine. Christopher Paolini published the first novel when he was only 200, and from what I heard started writing it in High School. Reading a book so imagintive and written by someone so close to my age was interesting.
4. Ender’s Game, Orson Scott Card.
Although I probably read this a little bit before my time (I hopefully may continue the series in the future) I enjoyed it nonetheless. The young protagonist, the futuristic-space setting, and battle with space aliens all combined perfectly.
5. Dune, Frank Herbert.
Yet another science-fiction series I started, loved, and never continued. The story was on epic proportions, and both the political and action scenes were really well thought out.
6. Give A Boy A Gun, Todd Strasser.
A scary novel based on the Columbine shootings; I was on a “shootings” kick (as strange as that sounds) and this was the best of the many I read. Really got you think about the role violence plays in our society, and went along nicely with Michael Moore’s Bowling for Columbine.
Word Count: 302
I remember my Dad strongly suggesting this book at the beginning of my freshman year, and my reluctance to begin it (because of the vague description and boring cover art). After slowly making my way through the novel I can confidently say it changed my outlook on topics like religion, origins, population, and evolution.
2. Brave New World, Aldous Huxley.
I thoroughly enjoyed this summer reading book, and it also changed the way I think about certain topics. The ideas about genetic engineering that may have sounded farfetched in 1932 aren’t too far away from actuality in 2010.
3. Eragon, Christopher Paolini.
Despite this being an obvious knockoff of every children’s science-fantasy book ever created, I remember devouring the trilogy one quiet summer in Maine. Christopher Paolini published the first novel when he was only 200, and from what I heard started writing it in High School. Reading a book so imagintive and written by someone so close to my age was interesting.
4. Ender’s Game, Orson Scott Card.
Although I probably read this a little bit before my time (I hopefully may continue the series in the future) I enjoyed it nonetheless. The young protagonist, the futuristic-space setting, and battle with space aliens all combined perfectly.
5. Dune, Frank Herbert.
Yet another science-fiction series I started, loved, and never continued. The story was on epic proportions, and both the political and action scenes were really well thought out.
6. Give A Boy A Gun, Todd Strasser.
A scary novel based on the Columbine shootings; I was on a “shootings” kick (as strange as that sounds) and this was the best of the many I read. Really got you think about the role violence plays in our society, and went along nicely with Michael Moore’s Bowling for Columbine.
Word Count: 302
Tuesday, August 24, 2010
Summer Reading
For the Summer of 2010 I read both Brave New World by Aldous Huxley and A Tale of Two Cities by Charles Dickens for English and a shortened version of the novella (although probably already short) Carmen for French. I'm going to choose to talk about A Tale of Two Cities because I just finished it the other night and because I finished Brave New World the first few days of Summer. Charles Dickens famed book started out really slow and boring for me. The whole first half of the book seemed like a collection of short stories jumping back between Britan and France, and I had a hard time seeing how they related. I also had trouble getting use to reading older English filled with quite a few outdated words. Once I got into the second half of the book (a bit before Charles Darnay makes his trip to France) everything started to come together for me. I began to figure out how characters were related, how events were related, and guesstimate where the story would progress from there. What started as kind of a boring romance book about nothing turned into a thriller-mystery by the end. So in short I really enjoyed A Tale of Two Cities; at least for the superficial reasons. I'm sure that are much more hidden themes and ideas that I may not have picked up on in the first read that will probably make the bookmore interesting (if there weren't it wouldn't be a classic I suppose). From what I've heard, Charles Dicken's depiction of the 'mob-rule' feeling of the day was perfect, and I definitely felt the characters' fear of being overheard, watched, and possibily denounced. But what I found even more interesting than that was the way Dickens intertwines and reveals how characters are related past and present in ways you never thought possible. For example, who could have ever predicted that the son of the man (nephew of Marquis) that imprisoned Doctor Manette in the Bastille for eighteen years would later become a family friend and marry his daughter? Another example would be Sydney Carton's sacrifice to face the Guillotine in place of Charles Barnay (so he could escape). Although admittidely I saw it coming, it is still a surprising end. One thing I both valued and hated about the book was Dicken's over-description of almost everything. At some points it is beneficial because it allows you to accurately imagine the place or person on par with what he imagined. At the same time, one has to remember that British authors at that time were paid by the word, and they therefore had a personal interest to over-describe even the most banal thing. Do I really need to know exactly (down to every button and rip) what Ms. Pross' attire looked like while she was struggling with Madame Defarge? I think not.
P.S. I've been interested in reading The Road, but settled instead for the watching the movie this Summer. Some parts were a little freaky, but overall the movie was interesting and went along with collection of post-apoclyptic world movies that have been so popular lately.
Word Count: 527
Subscribe to:
Comments (Atom)