The room is dark with the white clothing of Othello and Desdemona appearing bright in the scene. The actions of the actors mirrored what I pictured as the scene was taking place. There were some interesting choice of setting colors and patterns.
First, the bed in which the murder took place was red. Red, in our current society, symbolizes blood and love. On Thursday, we discussed the fact of the white sheet with blood means the marriage is legitimate. By the whole bed being red, the marriage and the love between Othello and Desdemona was real. Also, the red blankets foreshadows death happening. In fact, an audience member may think Othello will kill Desdemona by his sword on his side. Even though Desdemona did not die from a sword, her death was tragic for the audience and Othello.
Second, the curtains around the bed. When depicting the bed in class, our group believed the bed was going to be a four-post bed with a curtain surrounding it. However, the curtains are far from the bed and the audience does not see how they are hanging. By the curtain being further away, it does not create a dramatic effect to Desdemona's maid finding her body. The curtains I feel should have played a more important role in the scene.
Overall, the acting of this version was similar to what I was picturing. However, there were a few props that I believe where different in my reading. But that is the price you play when reading a book and than watching a movie: your image of the scene is different.
Sunday, February 22, 2009
Thursday, February 19, 2009
Location, Location!
Throughout this your course, we are examining the importance of place as it relates to the characters. In Othello, Venice and Cyprus are the two cities that set our scene. Venice is our opening scene, and later we discover that this is where Othello will go to stripped of his title. As Venice is a beautiful setting, here is where Othello is accused of wrong-doing. First, his marriage of Desdemona that her father is very unpleasant with and at the end of his murderous strike. Overall, Venice is fitting for Othello to receive his punishment for killing his wife as she is from there.
As the book, does not give much history of Venice and Cyprus, the location of certain events is important. The bedroom transforms everyone life. Initially, the bedroom is a loving place where Othello tells his wife to go back to bed. Eventually, the bedroom is no longer for lovers but for adultery. This occurs as the false relationship between Desdemona and Cassio. In the bedroom, the lost handkerchief is find as the only physical proof of their relationship. Now, when Othello rushes Desdemona back to bed it is in a form of punishment. The bedroom builds as a terrible place to be for Desdemona. In the final Act, the bedroom is the place where Othello smoothers his wife. The bedroom suppose to be a place of escape and a place of your own, but Othello does not allow Desdemona to live and be free.
As the book, does not give much history of Venice and Cyprus, the location of certain events is important. The bedroom transforms everyone life. Initially, the bedroom is a loving place where Othello tells his wife to go back to bed. Eventually, the bedroom is no longer for lovers but for adultery. This occurs as the false relationship between Desdemona and Cassio. In the bedroom, the lost handkerchief is find as the only physical proof of their relationship. Now, when Othello rushes Desdemona back to bed it is in a form of punishment. The bedroom builds as a terrible place to be for Desdemona. In the final Act, the bedroom is the place where Othello smoothers his wife. The bedroom suppose to be a place of escape and a place of your own, but Othello does not allow Desdemona to live and be free.
Monday, February 9, 2009
Girl, Interrupted
During Thursday's class, an important question was posed about whether "The Yellow Wallpaper" was relevant today's world. At that time, I had NO indication that we as society would put an individual into isolation causing them to go insane. (At least that is what Gilman suggested in her writing about isolation.) After class, I realized that maybe something similar to "The Yellow Wallpaper" happens everyday, especially since we were going to watch a recent movie.
After watching Girl, Interrupted, I could see how easily a young lady gets trapped and starts believing she is crazy. I am twenty years old, and I consult my mother for any choice I make. I know that I must take responsibility for my actions and I can sign my life away, but can I really sign myself into a mental institution? Our main character, Susanna, signed on the dotted line without her mother's approval, but did she really know what she was getting herself into? The doctor did say that her mother encouraged it, but I feel like she should have fought more with the doctor. But would you have the guts to go against your doctor's orders?
In the 2000s, could someone become trapped in a mental institution? I really hope not, but then is "The Yellow Wallpaper" out of date? No. Everyday teenagers and twenty years old check into drug and alcohol rehab. Do they really have a problem or are some being forced by their doctors? Please note: if you need help rehab is the right choice. But when does alcoholism become alcoholism? If you are twenty-one or older and you have a couple drinks a night, are you consider an alcoholic? If you choose not to attend college and pursue other dreams and maybe have a couple of drinks now and than, are you an alcoholic? All of this sounds so familiar to Susanna's situation.
She had a mental breakdown, which many of us have during exam week. Does that mean you have to check into rehab? Of course not.
As a side note, please read everything you sign because your signature bonds you to that document.
After watching Girl, Interrupted, I could see how easily a young lady gets trapped and starts believing she is crazy. I am twenty years old, and I consult my mother for any choice I make. I know that I must take responsibility for my actions and I can sign my life away, but can I really sign myself into a mental institution? Our main character, Susanna, signed on the dotted line without her mother's approval, but did she really know what she was getting herself into? The doctor did say that her mother encouraged it, but I feel like she should have fought more with the doctor. But would you have the guts to go against your doctor's orders?
In the 2000s, could someone become trapped in a mental institution? I really hope not, but then is "The Yellow Wallpaper" out of date? No. Everyday teenagers and twenty years old check into drug and alcohol rehab. Do they really have a problem or are some being forced by their doctors? Please note: if you need help rehab is the right choice. But when does alcoholism become alcoholism? If you are twenty-one or older and you have a couple drinks a night, are you consider an alcoholic? If you choose not to attend college and pursue other dreams and maybe have a couple of drinks now and than, are you an alcoholic? All of this sounds so familiar to Susanna's situation.
She had a mental breakdown, which many of us have during exam week. Does that mean you have to check into rehab? Of course not.
As a side note, please read everything you sign because your signature bonds you to that document.
Wednesday, February 4, 2009
Cheating Husband?
During class, it was clearly established that no one really enjoyed the narrator's husband. He used his doctor title to be an authority figure over the narrator. John gave me this feeling from the very beginning that something was not quite right. John is the one that forced her to move to this summer home because she admits that "ordinary people" do not have grand places like they were staying. Was John trying to make up something? Is this like a guy sending a flowers for no reasons and you grew with suspicions?
Also, John forces her to take the upstairs room and is not allowed to live downstairs. This may because he wants to have the downstairs to himself at night. This all just theory, but there is a gut feeling that I get about him.
The last evidence about John having another lover is the fact that he will "stay in town over night, and won't be out until this evening." John has all these cases that need special care late at night, but is he that into his work. Maybe it is the time of my life that I am concerned that the narrator is being cheated on, but you must trust your gut sometimes on guys.
I am sure that most of the ladies in my class have experienced or know of something being cheated on. You start to develop this worriness and feeling of doubtfulness in your special someone. I feel if John was in our current society, he would be considered a cheater.
Also, John forces her to take the upstairs room and is not allowed to live downstairs. This may because he wants to have the downstairs to himself at night. This all just theory, but there is a gut feeling that I get about him.
The last evidence about John having another lover is the fact that he will "stay in town over night, and won't be out until this evening." John has all these cases that need special care late at night, but is he that into his work. Maybe it is the time of my life that I am concerned that the narrator is being cheated on, but you must trust your gut sometimes on guys.
I am sure that most of the ladies in my class have experienced or know of something being cheated on. You start to develop this worriness and feeling of doubtfulness in your special someone. I feel if John was in our current society, he would be considered a cheater.
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