'Brave new world'-Digital Shakespeare Community

I loved the Tempest! I found it to be unique and fun to read. Having never read this play before it was an interesting experience. I love the character dynamics and the witty speakers. It was great.

Taking things a step further I came across this website/blog a few days ago that I thought I'd share with you:

www.bloggingshakespeare.com

This this place is awesome! This website/blog thing was instituted by the "Shakespeare Birthplace Trust" and it promotes getting into the conversation. We actually have an opportunity to promote our "conversation" to this blog and share our conversation with other scholars around the world. Pretty cool right? People even have the ability to blog for this digital Shakespeare community (Dr. Burton!).

I really enjoyed the search engine because it brought me to subject matter specirfically tailored to Shakespeare (duh right?). The search engine will take you to blogposts by contributors (each is highly educated and works for the Shakespeare Trust). It is fascinating to see what scholars have to say about Shakespeare and his works.

As I searched through the blog, specifically about "The Tempest," I came across this interesting post by Elizabeth Dollimore on the villain Caliban.

http://bloggingshakespeare.com/shakespeare%e2%80%99s-villains-condemning-caliban

It is intersting to see how other scholars interpret Shakespeare's works.

This picture is a "lovely" rendition of Caliban. Handsome right?

'Brave New World'-Referencing Shakespeare

Alright, quick little revelation for you guys. I realized that Shakespeare has been quoted so many times by a variety of different authors. Even in America we have references to Shakespeare that extend into our history. What I want to share is a quote from "Legend of Sleepy Hollow" by Washington Irving:

"They are given to all kinds of marvellous beliefs; are subject to trances and visions; and frequently see strange sights, and hear music and voices in the air."

Irving makes several references in his folkloric tale to plays by Shakespeare, including Hamlet. But, this little piece of writing was a clear allusion to "The Tempest." Obviously, he understood how influential Shakespeare had been to people since the Bard's lifetime. I thought it was fascinating! Where have you noticed references to Shakespeare recently?

'Your tale, sir, would cure deafness'-The Visual inspiration and Musicality of "The Tempest"

I'm absolutely loving "The Tempest" aren't you? I've never read it before, so this is a great experience for me. I love navigating the text and trying to piece together the plot as I go. And the fact that it isn't in our modern dialogue makes it all the more exciting don't you think? I mean don't you feel smart reading Shakespeare?! Even if you don't completely understand it, isn't it exciting to attempt to read text like this?

The reason for my blog title is quite simple. Something that I'm really interested in is history. And it just so happens that this play really piqued my interest. I wanted to understand it better. Specifically, I wanted to understand the history of creative adaptations that have been pursued by artists throughout the years. And boy did I find a lot! There were so many artists who created paintings and musical interpretations of Shakespeare's famous work. One painting that really struck me was:

 "O, the cry did knock against my very heart. Poor souls, they perish'd"- Miranda

Created by Frederick Goodall in 1888 this painting was part of a series of 21 paintings, entitled "Shakespeare's Heroines" exhibited by the London newspaper The Graphic. I love the attention to detail and the contrasting colors that Goodall employs in creating his imagery.







You can see most of the other paintings here: http://www.english.emory.edu/classes/Shakespeare_Illustrated/Graphic.html

I also investigated musical interpretations of Shakespeare's moving work. Initially, I was impressed by the fluidity and musicality of the text:

ARIEL

To every article.
I boarded the king's ship; now on the beak,
Now in the waist, the deck, in every cabin,
I flamed amazement: sometime I'ld divide,
And burn in many places; on the topmast,
The yards and bowsprit, would I flame distinctly,
Then meet and join. Jove's lightnings, the precursors
O' the dreadful thunder-claps, more momentary
And sight-outrunning were not; the fire and cracks
Of sulphurous roaring the most mighty Neptune
Seem to besiege and make his bold waves tremble,
Yea, his dread trident shake.

Can you hear the music in your mind when you read those words or is it just me?

I was curious to see how composers may have interpreted words into music. Did you know that Tchaikovsky wrote several pieces inspired by Shakespeare, including "Hamlet" "Romeo and Juliet" and "The Tempest?" I knew about "Romeo and Juliet" but I didn't know about "The Tempest." Apparently, it is not played frequently, which is a shame because it is beautiful. I loved what Gustavo Dudamel (Conductor of the L.A. Philharmonic) had to say about Tchaikovsky and Shakespeare:

And it wouldn't be fair to talk about how amazing Tchaikovsky's "The Tempest" is without giving you a small taste of what it actually sounds like!  I hope you enjoy!

Seriously isn't that and awesome boat in the video?!

Alright, I have a few questions for you to think about! Is there anything interesting that you've disovered about the history of the text? And, do you think that these composers and artists stay true to Shakespeare's words? Let me know what you think!

'Prodigious Birth'-A Great Quote

 

As I've started reading "The Tempest" I couldn't help but enjoy this little piece of text by Gonzalo in the first scene of Act I. I hope you enjoy it too.

GONZALO

I have great comfort from this fellow: methinks he
hath no drowning mark upon him; his complexion is
perfect gallows. Stand fast, good Fate, to his
hanging: make the rope of his destiny our cable,
for our own doth little advantage. If he be not
born to be hanged, our case is miserable