Thursday, January 27, 2011
Othello - Movie Clip Comments
Before we started Othello, we had to read a little about reading a play and understanding the differences between whole one writes a play and when one writes a story. Today in class, there was a major point that was brought to my attention when we watched a movie clip. I was very confused with the scene in the beginning of Act IV, but when I watched the movie clip I understood it. I then went back and looked at the actual writing of the play and I realized how closely i needed to pay attention when reading because these plays were not ultimately wrote to be read, they were wrote to be acted out. I didn't realize how the conversation between Cassio and Iago could've worked out with Othello watching so closely. I knew that at some point Bianca's name had to be brought up. When I watched the movie I realized how Iago changed his volume and tone with Cassio when actually saying the names of Desdemona and Bianca and it all made sense from there. So many aspects can happen at one time with an audience watching a play, but when reading a play, the reader has to dissect every part in order to fully understand the text and the situation.
Othello - Suspense
4. In this story, a great amount of suspense is created by the plot. By the end of Act IV, the audience is on the edge of their seat wondering how the story is going to end up with just one more act left. Shakespeare creates this suspense by giving one character the ability to harm so many lives. Iago has intertwined the lives of the main characters and has created a huge ball of fury by the end of Act IV. Also, but this time, the audience realizes that the story has to be a tragedy. The also know that with tragedy comes death and nobody has died yet. They are so eager to know who is going to die and how it is all going to play out in the end. This suspense is created because it is completely dramatic. Besides Iago, only the audience realizes what is truly going on. The audience knows that the ball of fury is about to burst, but the characters in the play besides Iago are either in utter confusion or anger. There seems to be proof for their anger, but little do the characters know that the whole situation is a complete lie by the deceitful Iago.
Othello - Characters
3. I believe that the protagonist in this story is Othello and the antagonist is Iago. This is because Othello is characterized as the main character, hero, and leader. Iago on the other hand is the antagonist because he is opposed to Othello and works against him and almost everyone else in the play. Two people I see as foil characters is Iago and Cassio. First, I see them as foils in the way they treat women. Cassio respects women while Iago could care less about how women are treated. Also, even though Cassio is made out to be a drunkard, I believe that there is enough evidence to show how good of a man he is. Iago is deceiving and the complete opposite of a reliable man. I believe that the minor characters in the story are there to help Iago out with his plan. He uses every single one of them to put together a puzzle of poison.I do believe the minor characters such as the Duke, Montano, and Lodovico are like the glue that holds all the main events of the story together.
Thursday, January 20, 2011
Othello
Personally, I wasn't extremely excited when I heard that we had to read something by Shakespeare. I have read a couple of his other works and I have just always been slightly intimidated by the way he writes. It is challenging for me to understand. After starting Othello, I think that I became less frightened. I am not sure why, but I think that I can understand his writing a little better now. I can't comprehend every little piece, but I believe that I can grasp the gist of the story. One thing that I did pick up on was the difference between the two Iago's. When is is trying to impress someone or be formal with them, Shakespeare made him speak poettically. Otherwise, when Iago is talking to Roderigo informally, Iago speaks in prose. This just further emphasizes how Iago is being two completely different people.
Othello
5. This play presents the themes of Jealousy, Pre-Judgement, Hatred, Racial issues, and Gender roles. I believe that these themes have a great dramatic effect on the experience. The conflicts in the play are wrapped around all of these issues. In Act I of the play, the issue of Othello's and Desdemona's marriage touches on almost all of these themes. Brabantio, Desdemona's father, prejudges Othello because of his race and claims his daughter as his own property because she "isn't" married. Well, he doesn't believe so. Then once he begins to believe it, he says. "It is too true an evil. Gone she is. And what’s to come of my despisèd time, Is naught but bitterness. Now, Roderigo,Where didst thou see her?—Oh, unhappy girl!—With the Moor, say’st thou?—Who would be a father?— ( I.i.158-162 )." Brabantio doesn't even want to claim her as a daughter anymore. This was definitely a harsh time. At the time of the play, people might have percieved race and gender this way, but now, the world today sees these issues from a different view. Lastly, I do not find this play to be didactic at all. I would lean more to the view that is has an insufficientpresentation of important concerns.
Othello
2. The play Othello would be classified as a tragedy. I only know this because it is what I have heard from peers because I haven't read all 5 acts yet. After the Act I, I knew that it wasn't a comedy or farce because it wasn't light-hearted and humorous to any extent. Lastly, I put a line through melodrama because the plot wasn't extremely dramatic and over the top. Plus, the author is Shakespeare, so I assumed it would probably be a tragedy anyways. In the beginning of the story, Iago's 2-faced qualities gave me the hint that this story is destine to turn out to be tragic. I believe that Iago being a villain proves one of the aspects of a tragedy. First, Iago speaks of taking advantage of Othello to Roderigo,"O sir, content you. I follow him to serve my turn upon him (I.i.41-42)." Then at the end of Act I, Iago tells Roderigo to sell all of his belongings and the speaks to himself, "Thus do I ever make my fool my purse (I.iii. 364)." Personally, I don't believe that it is really important for an audience to be aware of the classification of the play. I think that half way through the first act, it should be quite evident that it is a play of jealousy, hatred, and pre-judgement. Only tragedies come from these types of plots.
Wednesday, December 15, 2010
Adaptation Blog - "How I Met My Husband"
Plot
I chose this short story to be adapted into a feature-length film because when I was reading it, I felt like I was watching a movie in my mind. Alice Munro did a fantastic job with her descriptions and details because I could literally see all that was happening just by reading the story. I thought the plot was very creative with the surprise ending and all, but there are still two things that I would change. First, I would change the beginning of the story in the movie. I would start out showing Edie with her family at home. Older Edie, who tells the story, references to how and why she ended up at the Peebles' house, but I would want to start the movie off with her in her actual home and then show what all happened for her to end up with the Peebles. This would give the viewer a better understanding of where Edie is from. I know that when I was reading the short story, I was very curious about the type of environment that Edie was from. The short story mentioned it briefly, but I would like to expand on it. Also, the other change I would make would be to the end of the story. I love the ending, but again I would just like to expand Edie's life with the mailman. There was about a paragraph about Edie and her actual husband, but I would like there to be just a little bit more about the two of them. This would assure the viewer that Edie actually ended up "happily ever after."
Point of View
I really liked the point of view in the short story because it was Edie telling this story when she was much older. Sometimes the reader will become biased from this point of view because they only see things from Edie's point of view, but I do not think this was the case in this short story. In a movie made from this short story, I think that I would keep the same point of view. I like when a movie is a character's vivid flashback. I saw this done in the movie I saw, Stand by Me, which was adapted from the short story, "The Body." I really liked how it was done. I would have Edie shown as an older woman with her husband and family at their home, then have something trigger her to think and go into a flashback, which would be the story. If the moive was like this, then the ending could be her snapping back into her life at the moment where it would show what had become of Edie and the mailman. Edie's voice could help explain things throughtout the flashback, but I do not think that having this point of view in a movie would hurt the viewer's perception of the whole story.
Characterization
In the short story, I really liked the characters and their personalities. If it was adapted into a movie, I wouldn't really want to change the personalities of the characters, I would just want the viewer to see the characters more. If the viewer would see some of the characters more often in more scenes, I believe they would get a better feel for who they truly are. First, I know Mr. and Mrs. Peebles are never home to show how they are always busy and away from their children, but I would like themn to make a little bit more of an appearance in the movie. This was the viewer could understand them more. Also, I understand that Alice Munro wanted the story to be focused on Edie and Chris for the most part, but the reader didn't get to see Edie with the children much at all. I think that seeing Edie with the Peebles' children would characterize Edie better and show the reader what kind of family Edie was truly dealing with. Lastly, I would want to see Loretta Bird more often. She does appear in the short story a lot, but if this was adapted into a movie, I would want to see Loretta Bird at her house maybe once or twice to actually get a feel for the life she lives. If all of these characters were shown more, then the viewer would be able to characterize them all a little bit more easily.
Setting
I would definitely keep the setting the same if this story were made into a film. Like I said before, I would include the setting of Edie's actual home first, then move to the setting of the open country and the Peebles' home. This movement would help the viewer understand how durastically Edie's life was changing. She now had luxuries like washing machines that she didn't have before at her own home. Also, by showing places such as Loretta Bird's house, the viewer can compare and contrast these environments. I would definitely keep the time period the same in the short story as in the flash back, but when the movie starts and ends, the time period would be more modern to show the change in time.
Theme
The theme of the short story would coincide with that of the film. The film would also include the themes of everything happens for a reason, when one door closes, another opens, and the journey is more important than the destination. All of these themes are important to the whole meaning of the story. This is a story of suspense and situational irony. This irony is why the everything happens for a reason theme is presented. If Edie would have never met Chris then she would never have waited for the mail. Then, if she would've never waited for the mail, she would have never MET her husband. These themes are timeless and universal, and I would find no reason to change them because they need to be taught to everyone.
I chose this short story to be adapted into a feature-length film because when I was reading it, I felt like I was watching a movie in my mind. Alice Munro did a fantastic job with her descriptions and details because I could literally see all that was happening just by reading the story. I thought the plot was very creative with the surprise ending and all, but there are still two things that I would change. First, I would change the beginning of the story in the movie. I would start out showing Edie with her family at home. Older Edie, who tells the story, references to how and why she ended up at the Peebles' house, but I would want to start the movie off with her in her actual home and then show what all happened for her to end up with the Peebles. This would give the viewer a better understanding of where Edie is from. I know that when I was reading the short story, I was very curious about the type of environment that Edie was from. The short story mentioned it briefly, but I would like to expand on it. Also, the other change I would make would be to the end of the story. I love the ending, but again I would just like to expand Edie's life with the mailman. There was about a paragraph about Edie and her actual husband, but I would like there to be just a little bit more about the two of them. This would assure the viewer that Edie actually ended up "happily ever after."
Point of View
I really liked the point of view in the short story because it was Edie telling this story when she was much older. Sometimes the reader will become biased from this point of view because they only see things from Edie's point of view, but I do not think this was the case in this short story. In a movie made from this short story, I think that I would keep the same point of view. I like when a movie is a character's vivid flashback. I saw this done in the movie I saw, Stand by Me, which was adapted from the short story, "The Body." I really liked how it was done. I would have Edie shown as an older woman with her husband and family at their home, then have something trigger her to think and go into a flashback, which would be the story. If the moive was like this, then the ending could be her snapping back into her life at the moment where it would show what had become of Edie and the mailman. Edie's voice could help explain things throughtout the flashback, but I do not think that having this point of view in a movie would hurt the viewer's perception of the whole story.
Characterization
In the short story, I really liked the characters and their personalities. If it was adapted into a movie, I wouldn't really want to change the personalities of the characters, I would just want the viewer to see the characters more. If the viewer would see some of the characters more often in more scenes, I believe they would get a better feel for who they truly are. First, I know Mr. and Mrs. Peebles are never home to show how they are always busy and away from their children, but I would like themn to make a little bit more of an appearance in the movie. This was the viewer could understand them more. Also, I understand that Alice Munro wanted the story to be focused on Edie and Chris for the most part, but the reader didn't get to see Edie with the children much at all. I think that seeing Edie with the Peebles' children would characterize Edie better and show the reader what kind of family Edie was truly dealing with. Lastly, I would want to see Loretta Bird more often. She does appear in the short story a lot, but if this was adapted into a movie, I would want to see Loretta Bird at her house maybe once or twice to actually get a feel for the life she lives. If all of these characters were shown more, then the viewer would be able to characterize them all a little bit more easily.
Setting
I would definitely keep the setting the same if this story were made into a film. Like I said before, I would include the setting of Edie's actual home first, then move to the setting of the open country and the Peebles' home. This movement would help the viewer understand how durastically Edie's life was changing. She now had luxuries like washing machines that she didn't have before at her own home. Also, by showing places such as Loretta Bird's house, the viewer can compare and contrast these environments. I would definitely keep the time period the same in the short story as in the flash back, but when the movie starts and ends, the time period would be more modern to show the change in time.
Theme
The theme of the short story would coincide with that of the film. The film would also include the themes of everything happens for a reason, when one door closes, another opens, and the journey is more important than the destination. All of these themes are important to the whole meaning of the story. This is a story of suspense and situational irony. This irony is why the everything happens for a reason theme is presented. If Edie would have never met Chris then she would never have waited for the mail. Then, if she would've never waited for the mail, she would have never MET her husband. These themes are timeless and universal, and I would find no reason to change them because they need to be taught to everyone.
Monday, December 6, 2010
Film Blog - "Stand By Me"
Plot
The plot in the movie is almost exactly the same with a couple of minor exceptions. The movies still starts with talk of a dead body that they are going to see which intrigues the viewer to keep watching. The movies does follow the story very closely though. There were a couple differences between “The Body” and “Stand by Me” too. In “The Body”, I felt like Gordie and Denny (his deceased brother) did not have a close relationship, but their relationship in “Stand by Me” was completely different. Their close relationship was emphasized by a few scenes that did not appear in the short story. The movie showed Denny sticking up for his brother and caring about him when their parents did not. Denny was interested in Gordie's life by saying at the dinner table, "So Gordie, how are your writings going?" Their parents would have never been this interested in Gordie's life. Also, Denny gave Gordie his New York Yankees hat which he wears throughout the movie. For me, this relationship completely took a 180 degree turn from the short story to the movie. Also, the store clerk in the movie did not try to rip off Gordie like he did in the movie. Lastly, in the book, Gordie is the one who pushes Teddy off of the railroad tracks and Chris is the character who pulls out the gun to scare off their older brothers’ gang. In the movie this is flipped around. I think this was done to show that Gordie is the one with the intellectual ability to act when it really counts.
Point of View
The movie is still in the format of one of Gordie LaChance’s flashbacks. Also, Gordie still narrates throughout the movie, but not quite as much. This way the viewer sees the story as a whole and they don’t get into Gordie’s head as much. This also means that not as much background information is given about the boys and their families, especially Gordie’s family. The viewer can’t connect as well with the characters and Gordie in the movie because there are not as many descriptions of the boys’ feelings as there were in the book. The movie also cuts out the whole story of Stud City. I am guessing that if they were to have put this in the movie it would have been rated R for other things rather than language. I think it was a good idea to not put this story in the movie, but the viewer does not get to understand the writing abilities and imagination of this twelve year-old. The viewer will not understand this passion nearly as much as the reader of “The Body” would.
Characterization
Since Gordie does not narrate nearly as much in the movie, indirect narration is the most common way to characterize the characters in “Stand by Me.” Gordie still tells of Teddy and his father’s relationship, but besides that Gordie does not give a lot of direct characterization as he does in the short story. The boy’s characters are revealed throughout their journey. When the boys are walking along the railroad, they split up into two groups, Gordie/Chris and Teddy/Vern. Here we see the mature vs. the immature. Chris and Gordie have an intellectual conversation of moving onto junior high and Chris lectures Gordie on pursuing his love for writing and actually making something of himself and not being “dragged down by his friends.” It is clear that Chris thinks his destiny is already written and he is going to end up like his unaccomplished brother and family. Then, we see the group of boys acting their age (Vern and Teddy). They are having an important conversation about if “Mighty Mouse could beat up Superman.” Also, when the boys camp out, they have one boy stay up on look out after they hear noises. The way the boys act all alone in the woods says a lot about them. Vern is scared and just at the slightest cricket. Teddy talks to himself to break the silence. I believe that this speaks to his loneliness. Chris is not really scared at all. Lastly, the scene of teddy standing up for his dad happens the same was in the movie as it does the short story. After this incident, Teddy cries. Chris and Gordie both cry at other points in the story too. I believe this speaks of their true age no matter how old they are trying to be. These tears also represent the struggles these boys are faced with at such a young age. All in all, the actions and situations these characters are put in bring out their characters fully.
Setting
The setting in the short story and the book is different. “The Body” takes place in 1960 in a town called Castle Rock in Maine. The movie, “Stand by Me,” takes place in 1959 in the same named city (Castle Rock) but in Oregon. This city of Castle Rock is very small in both the short story and the movie. Also, the lack of parental supervision is seen in both versions of this story. The parents of these children are not very involved in their lives and don’t really mind that their children are camping and missing for two days. I understand that the boys told lies to make it work, but if this is such a small, old town, one would think that the parents would see each other often and communicate. The boys are not really cared much about by their parents and everyone assumes they will just turn out like their “looney” parents and older siblings so the boys just fall into this trap. Maybe if the society would give these boys a chance, things would be different.
Theme
Like the short story, “The Body,” the movie is also based on the growing up of a group of boys. It is a “coming of age” movie that is all about the friendship of a gang of young twelve year-old boys. Although they are not perfect and engage in dangerous pursuits, at heart the boys are good kids and loyal friends. The story focuses on the struggles of the adolescent years. The boys grow up over the course of two days. They stick together through leaches, trains, intimidating dogs, and the older gang of boys (who they are expected to turn into). Just like in the short story, they take responsibility for themselves, get through their differences, fight their problems and develop into young men.
The plot in the movie is almost exactly the same with a couple of minor exceptions. The movies still starts with talk of a dead body that they are going to see which intrigues the viewer to keep watching. The movies does follow the story very closely though. There were a couple differences between “The Body” and “Stand by Me” too. In “The Body”, I felt like Gordie and Denny (his deceased brother) did not have a close relationship, but their relationship in “Stand by Me” was completely different. Their close relationship was emphasized by a few scenes that did not appear in the short story. The movie showed Denny sticking up for his brother and caring about him when their parents did not. Denny was interested in Gordie's life by saying at the dinner table, "So Gordie, how are your writings going?" Their parents would have never been this interested in Gordie's life. Also, Denny gave Gordie his New York Yankees hat which he wears throughout the movie. For me, this relationship completely took a 180 degree turn from the short story to the movie. Also, the store clerk in the movie did not try to rip off Gordie like he did in the movie. Lastly, in the book, Gordie is the one who pushes Teddy off of the railroad tracks and Chris is the character who pulls out the gun to scare off their older brothers’ gang. In the movie this is flipped around. I think this was done to show that Gordie is the one with the intellectual ability to act when it really counts.
Point of View
The movie is still in the format of one of Gordie LaChance’s flashbacks. Also, Gordie still narrates throughout the movie, but not quite as much. This way the viewer sees the story as a whole and they don’t get into Gordie’s head as much. This also means that not as much background information is given about the boys and their families, especially Gordie’s family. The viewer can’t connect as well with the characters and Gordie in the movie because there are not as many descriptions of the boys’ feelings as there were in the book. The movie also cuts out the whole story of Stud City. I am guessing that if they were to have put this in the movie it would have been rated R for other things rather than language. I think it was a good idea to not put this story in the movie, but the viewer does not get to understand the writing abilities and imagination of this twelve year-old. The viewer will not understand this passion nearly as much as the reader of “The Body” would.
Characterization
Since Gordie does not narrate nearly as much in the movie, indirect narration is the most common way to characterize the characters in “Stand by Me.” Gordie still tells of Teddy and his father’s relationship, but besides that Gordie does not give a lot of direct characterization as he does in the short story. The boy’s characters are revealed throughout their journey. When the boys are walking along the railroad, they split up into two groups, Gordie/Chris and Teddy/Vern. Here we see the mature vs. the immature. Chris and Gordie have an intellectual conversation of moving onto junior high and Chris lectures Gordie on pursuing his love for writing and actually making something of himself and not being “dragged down by his friends.” It is clear that Chris thinks his destiny is already written and he is going to end up like his unaccomplished brother and family. Then, we see the group of boys acting their age (Vern and Teddy). They are having an important conversation about if “Mighty Mouse could beat up Superman.” Also, when the boys camp out, they have one boy stay up on look out after they hear noises. The way the boys act all alone in the woods says a lot about them. Vern is scared and just at the slightest cricket. Teddy talks to himself to break the silence. I believe that this speaks to his loneliness. Chris is not really scared at all. Lastly, the scene of teddy standing up for his dad happens the same was in the movie as it does the short story. After this incident, Teddy cries. Chris and Gordie both cry at other points in the story too. I believe this speaks of their true age no matter how old they are trying to be. These tears also represent the struggles these boys are faced with at such a young age. All in all, the actions and situations these characters are put in bring out their characters fully.
Setting
The setting in the short story and the book is different. “The Body” takes place in 1960 in a town called Castle Rock in Maine. The movie, “Stand by Me,” takes place in 1959 in the same named city (Castle Rock) but in Oregon. This city of Castle Rock is very small in both the short story and the movie. Also, the lack of parental supervision is seen in both versions of this story. The parents of these children are not very involved in their lives and don’t really mind that their children are camping and missing for two days. I understand that the boys told lies to make it work, but if this is such a small, old town, one would think that the parents would see each other often and communicate. The boys are not really cared much about by their parents and everyone assumes they will just turn out like their “looney” parents and older siblings so the boys just fall into this trap. Maybe if the society would give these boys a chance, things would be different.
Theme
Like the short story, “The Body,” the movie is also based on the growing up of a group of boys. It is a “coming of age” movie that is all about the friendship of a gang of young twelve year-old boys. Although they are not perfect and engage in dangerous pursuits, at heart the boys are good kids and loyal friends. The story focuses on the struggles of the adolescent years. The boys grow up over the course of two days. They stick together through leaches, trains, intimidating dogs, and the older gang of boys (who they are expected to turn into). Just like in the short story, they take responsibility for themselves, get through their differences, fight their problems and develop into young men.
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