What are your plans of applying Shakespeare to kids lives? I know you talked about how watching modern versions was one of your ideas, which I found was what I really liked in high school (particularly The Reduced Shakespeare Company) I'm not sure how to apply Romeo and Juliet to my life, what are your suggestions?
I think that the strongest part of your argument is the fact that Shakespeare and Hamlet was preformed during Nazi rule. This is strong to me because Hitler wouldn't allow anything non-German, so the fact that it was still allowed really makes me believe in your thesis and argument.
This was a way cool post that you used audience approval rating and the supporting characters to judge the 'jester level.' Although I am a bit disappointed because I think I liked How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days the Best. What also helps make a jester good (I think) is that the main characters seem complex themselves. In My Best Friend's Wedding Julia Roberts kind of goes back and forth through the movie, but in How To... Andie's character knows what she wants until closer to the end. This probably only makes sense in my head.
Sometimes I feel like we use Shakespeare is music pop culture to a point where it becomes cliche. I'm not trying to bag on Taylor Swift because I do like her music, but her song 'Love Story,' comes to mind when I read your post. It almost seems convenient to use Romeo and Juliet in a love song, because there doesn't need to be a character set up. Its kind of like casting the bad guys in a movie as Nazi, they are automatically bad with no explanation needed. That is why I say I feel now that using Shakespeare in songs is a cop out to creating new characters and meaning
I think that I would side with the fractured mirror representing Hamlet's fractured sanity, life, family. I feel like there could be more meanings, but I am always in favor of the simplest explanation especially one that the audience would pick up on while watching it for the first time.
I would be interested in a story about Ophelia because I feel like someone needs to make up a voice for that poor girl and let us know what in the world she was thinking! Maybe you could put a WICKED type spin on it, and she doesn't actually die, but pretends then starts a new life away from Denmark. I actually think that'd be a lot of fun
Your post makes me want to clap my hands and shout I do believe in fairies, I do, I do! I'm kidding, but even if Shakespeare's fairies are innocent, I don't think his audience would have seen characters such as Puck like that because he was so terrible. I wonder why the idea of fairies at that time was such a prevalent literary tool.
He is a good colonizer in regards to how we view him. Caliban does seem like a brat, but I couldn't help but think about two books as I read your post. Heart of Darkness and Things Fall Apart. These two books talk about the colonization of Africa, each with a different spin. Conrad shows us the dark nature of Africans and how they need to be taught Christian values. As an Anglo-Saxon audience we would agree, but Things Fall Apart shows up the flip perspective. So I guess what I'm saying, is Shakespeare could be putting colonization in a good light, because that is the light he sees it in.
Do jesters play a role in films that aren't romantic comedies? I guess in Batman, Bruce's butler guy (I can't remember his name) could be a jester maybe? He gives Bruce advice but he doesn't play a comical role or a stupid one either.
Which part did you play, and did you change your role? I think I would just get shy and say my lines straight and fast!
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