Final Project

I apologize for the lack of blogging that has occurred recently. I have been sick for the past week, and though it isn't really a good excuse, I couldn't really think at all or focus.

But for the final project, I have thought and thought and thought and it's been challenging coming up with a set idea that I like more than others.

I like the short film/documentary idea a lot. I think that it would be able to incorporate, generally, everyone's talents and hobbies.

I really liked the idea of doing something from someone else's view.  I enjoy hearing someone else's view of an event that has happened to both of us, because it's always different. Sure, some elements are the same, but because people think differently, there's always a little variance in the storytelling. 

Hopefully as time goes on, or after class today and discussion, my thoughts will be a little more focused. But until then, this is all I got.

Shakespeare and Biology

For my Biology Class, I had to create a classification system for whatever I wanted. And the first thing that popped into my head was Shakespeare plays. So for this assignment, I generally classified the plays into the four categories we have talked about this semester: Tragedy, History, Romance, and Comedy.

It's a pretty simple paper since we had to make it understandable and it couldn't be longer than a page. And also, just in general, Biology and I do not go together. But here it is, either way, for your viewing.

My classification system would be separating Shakespearean plays into their own respectful categories. The categories can be interpreted differently, but I have decided to use these: Tragedy, Romance, Comedy, and History. By separating the plays into the categories, it makes it easier for people to know the basic plot or what to expect before they read the play.

The first main category would be Tragedy. In Shakespearean plays, this means that almost all of the main characters die at the end of the play. There would be sub-levels. For example, one would be plays-within-a-play, wherein Hamlet would fall under. Another example would be a love story, which is where Romeo and Juliet would be placed.

The next category would be Romance. In Shakespearean times, this did not mean love, it meant more along the lines of supernatural or magical. One play that would fall under this category would be the Tempest.

The next category would be Comedy. In most cases, these plays are more like love stories than the Romance category. There would be also be play-within-a-play sublevel, where plays like A Midsummer Night’s Dream and The Taming of the Shrew would be placed. The Merchant of Venice would be in a different sub-level where there is a different theme asides from love, like Justice/Mercy.

The last category would be History. These are plays that are based on historical events that occurred in England. The sublevels would be split into the family line or person that it is about. For example, Henry IV-VI would be one level and Richard II-III would be another level.

Is it really as bad as it seems?

The Taming of the Shrew...not the biggest fan. 
A big problem that I had with it was idea of controlling women. 
Now I know it's a comedy, and I'm sure it was amusing back then. And during the time period, arranged marriages and all that jazz were acceptable, but I can't quite accept that and look past it. 


So I looked a little online to see articles that have been written on theme of feminism in the play, and there were some interesting ideas that made me think better of the play.


Arguments have risen stating that "his behavior is a mirror to hers, simply reflecting back her own demeanor so that, in turn, she understands how she’s treated others."(http://www2.cedarcrest.edu/academic/eng/lfletcher/shrew/efurstnau.htm)
 This thought made me think better of Petruchio and his behavior towards Katherina. Katherina isn't really that pleasant of a person, and so Petruchio's behavior is more acceptable if I think of it as him just showing Katherina how she acts and how unpleasant it really is. 
Another idea in the article linked above states again that it was acceptable during the time period. Men wrote the play, men acted out the play, and were just generally more dominant. And because of that, it's easier to understand the point of view that people these days might seem as sexist.


Another thing that made me think better of the play was that it got me thinking about how I treat people. Katherina is rude and inconsiderate of those around her in the beginning before she is "tamed." But it got me thinking, why is she like that? In the play, her father, Baptista, doesn't think too highly of Katherina.He wants her to be happy but doesn't pay too much attention to her views and how she feels. 
And that got me thinking that maybe she is a shrew because she feels like her father cares more for Bianca than actually her. And attitude is everything, so maybe instead of choosing to be optimistic, she chose to see the negative.
And eventually at the end of the play, with her long speech about how she is grateful for her husband and the opportunity to serve him and help him, she is happier and more content with life.

The Taming of the Shrew

So this play starts out with something that's not even what I expected. Turns out The Taming of the Shrew is a play within a play. Who knew? I didn't.

Well anyways, honestly, I'm not the hugest fan of the play. Mind you, the play is funny and way witty. But the characters, all rude. Like ridiculous. Petruchio, the character who "wins" the heart of Katharina, the shrew...I just don't like him. He's like "let me control Katherina so I can have her wealth." Now I know Katherina is rude also but all the guys are like, "get rid over so we can marry the younger sister, Bianca, because she is beautiful. And even though I don't know anything about her at all, it doesn't matter because she's a babe."
I disapprove, but maybe that's just me.

Midterm Assessment

How have I gained Shakespeare literacy?
I feel like I’ve done alright in this one. I know that I’ve seen a lot  of Shakespeare in popular culture and by reading and posting about all the plays, I’ve extended my knowledge of Shakespeare and the different ways he writes. (It sufficeth me to say, belated sunday post, mislike me not))   I also have watched Kenneth Branagh’s Henry V and the production of The Merchant of Venice. I’m excited to be able to dive into the one single work and focus on that.

How have I analyzed Shakespeare critically?
I think I have learned a lot in this section. I am able to look more deeply and see the multiple themes Shakespeare presents in his play.(“HENRY V” post; tempest post. “Hamlet”, “merchant of venice)) Reading the summary before each play also helped me understand the language more easily.
By looking at the summary of each play before hand, I was able to understand a lot more easily the language of shakespeare. I need to work more on the application of literary theories and analysis of digital mediations. Though I have seen film adaptations, I haven’t particularly blogged about or thoroughly analyzed it and compared it to the written work.

How have I engaged Shakespeare creatively?
        I have not done too well in this category. I have a few sonnets that I wrote a year ago, and I have looked over them, I have not posted them on my blog.... yet.
And I’ve thought about what to do for the individual creative work but have yet to establish something in stone. I would like write music for one of the unknown songs in Shakespeare, and interpret how it would sound now. But I have not started on that, and am not quite sure whether that’s the route I want to go.

How have I shared Shakespeare meaningfully?
I have not done too well in this, mostly because I haven’t consistently blogged. Since my blogging is 1-2 times a week. I do enjoy reading other people’s blogs, which has helped developed my thinking and ideas. I have talked to people outside class about Shakespeare, but not in depth. 

How have I gained digital literacy?
        I think that using a blog has helped a lot with learning. Not only from me posting, but from other people’s posts. I always do background information online before each play I read, which has helped me understand what I’m reading more clearly. I have not talked a lot to people outside of class too much about Shakespeare. I’ve mentioned the interesting things I learn in class, but it doesn’t really spark conversation.
    With blogging, I think I am in between Phase 1 and Phase 2. I try to think more deeply with Shakespeare, but to no avail. I have had trouble applying things I am interested in to Shakespeare, and then blogging about it. Consistently blogging is also something I haven’t done too well in.

B. Self-directed Learning

I am not too good at self-directed learning. It’s been a while since I’ve had a set schedule, and unfortunately, I’m struggling with my focus. However, I do know that I set time apart to read Shakespeare (an adequate amount of time) and I strive to read through each play at least twice, and if not the whole thing, at least a few acts again, particularly the acts that were my favorite or I couldn’t understand. I do not use the eBook because I can’t have the Kindle App. on my macbook, but I do own all of shakespeare’s work in one book. And I strive to mark that wherever I find a quote I particularly liked or when I do not understand something.
I have seen others be more consistent with their blogs and have applied it pretty well to their interests, which is something I strive to be able to do.


C. Collaborative and Social Learning
        I definitely appreciate Sarah and Kim’s blogs.I enjoy reading theirs posts and has helped me the most in development of my thoughts and perceptions of concepts. I appreciate their interpretation of Shakespeare and how thorough and consistent they are.
        I think that class time is being used effectively. I particularly like the group discussion, but I like it more in smaller groups so there more time to thoroughly discuss it. It also gives us the opportunity to understand better how a person interprets the plays in face-to-face time, instead of through blogging.
Through blogging, I strive to involve others with my learning. And with outside of class, I look for opportunities to talk about Shakespeare, but either I miss it or when I bring it up, the conversation doesn’t last too long.

D. Looking Ahead
I want to be able to write a good sonnet. One that follows the iambic pentameter but is also well-written. As stated earlier, I have written some before, but looking back they are less good. I would also like to memorize a soliloquy from one of the plays. And I am also thinking about writing music for a song.
I really enjoy film and would like to incorporate that into the collaborative project. Whether it’s re-enacting a play(s),  or showing general visual interpretations.

Belated Sunday Post

So I was thinking yesterday about how I could apply Shakespeare to my sunday routine. And so I decided to look on LDS.org to see how many times Shakespeare comes up in the search engine. The results equal 302. And in General Conference, Shakespeare is mentioned 53 times. I think that is pretty nifty.
Often, when I talk about people being quoted in General Conference, it's usually C.S. Lewis. But who knew that Shakespeare is fairly popular himself.

Then I looked to see how often Hamlet was mentioned. That answer is 13 times. Looking at the talks, the most quoted was the "To be or not to be" soliloquy. However that is closely followed by "This above all; to thine own self be true."
It's pretty cool to me seeing that the Prophets and Apostles also see the cool insights and goodness of Shakespeare. Especially Hamlet, since I like that play.

What other plays or playwrights do you think is oft quoted in Conference?
Or maybe just in church material in general?

The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly

I really enjoyed Hamlet. Of all the plays I've ever read by Shakespeare, I'm pretty sure it's my favorite. I think there is some really interesting character development that goes on in the play. I feel as if there are two sides to most of the main characters. You have the black and the white, the better side and the worse side.

Take for example, Hamlet. When he's talking to Horatio he speaks pretty plainly. He explains his plans, not in great detail, but he makes sense. But when he talks to the King, the Queen, Polonius, etc., he talks in riddles. He sounds mad. He is obviously struggling with the fact of his father, his uncle, and his mother and the whole "dysfuncational-ness" of his family, but really, of all of them, he's the most sane. He knows what he is doing and fully understands the consequence.

Then there's King Claudius. He murders his brother for "[his] crown, [his] own ambition, and [his] queen." And yet he feels remorse and guilt. Hamlet stumbles upon his praying, but won't kill him because he is praying. Claudius is trying to repent, but feels that he is just so caught up in his doings that he can't escape it. He can only move forward with his sin.

Polonius, I also think, has two different sides. Now as extreme as crazy/sane, or murderous/repentant, but I still think it's there. And I think the differences in him are more related to his station than anything. He honors his king and queen and will serve them. Even if it means spying on Hamlet and using his children to follow his orders. And yet he is a very loving father. He cares for Ophelia and Laertes and only wants the best for them. One of my favorite speeches in the play was given by Polonius to Laertes, before Laertes leaves. He's giving Laertes some fatherly advice, and I just think it's beautiful. "Give every man thy ear, but few thy voice/take each man's censure, but reserve thy judgment." This is good stuff. And then the very famous line, "This above all: to thine ownself be true." Golden. Love it.

On a bit of a different note, one of my favorite quotes from the play was when Hamlet was talking to Guildenstern about playing the recorders. He states, "Do you think I am/easier to be played on than a pipe? Call me what/instrument you will, though you can fret me, yet you/cannot play me." 

Shakespeare's writing, to me in this play, is just so good. This quote is just clever and witty, and yet is deep enough to get me thinking about how I treat others and what I expect out of them. Am I using them for my own benefit or gain? Am I treating them like I'm supposed to? Or am I just trying to play them and use them, despite me not knowing what is going on in their life?