Final Project

http://divyavinodimaginerealityapenglish2016.blogspot.com/

Blog #26 -- Drama Project

Poster: Synopsis: Prep work: Tone Shift Chart Scene 1: Tone shift Chart Scene 2: Tone Shift Chart Scene 3: Story Boards: Script: Works Cited:

Blog #25 -- Hamlet AP Test Prep

Blog #24 -- Hamlet Act 4 Blog

Blog #23 -- Reviving Ophelia Ballads and Responding to Literary Criticism

Blog #22 -- Hamlet Act #3: Mis en Scene Analysis

Close Reading w/ answers on Paper:





Embedded video of scene with best use of mis en scene components:

While I do believe that this version of the soliloquy was a lot more literal and could have taken a subtler approach to addressing the issues of life and death, I also believe that it did a very good job expressing what it believed. The video used camera angles as it approached Hamlet's head when he was thinking and drew the audience closer into his mind. They it overlay his mind with the image of a turbulent sea showing his mind contemplating so much and going back and forth between the dilemma of whether "to be, or not to be". The sounds involved int he video mainly utilized music and the natural sounds of the sea. The build up of music, especially in the beginning, created the effect that something important was coming and the thoughts were not very quiet or steady but rather loud, rambunctious, and inconsistent. Both the music and the sounds of the waves expressed the state of Hamlet's mind as he contemplates the issue. The actions were also very important in this video. Olivier decides to speak in some places and then to only think in others. This shows a contrast between the two sections and allows for that tone shift to take place. He also pulls out his dagger at "by opposing end them" which is slightly ironic because he is to tackle the sea of troubles with simply a dagger. However, he ends up dropping the dagger into the sea. This shows how Hamlet has resolved the issue of whether "to be, or not to be". It shows that ultimately, the conscious mind will lead to inaction which is what is the result of his dagger not being able to act against the sea. Lastly, the end uses mis en scene components by taking a medium-shot of Hamlet as he walks away while looking around at his surroundings. By walking away from where he was, he is once again highlighting the aspect of inaction, but by finally taking a medium shot that is not seen anywhere else in this version of the soliloquy, this video argues that the environment will effect his decision and that ultimately he does not have that full control over his actions because he does have a conscious.

Next best videos:

I think Kenneth Branagh's version of Hamlet utilized the mis en scene components the second best of the three videos watched. I liked the fact that this video was much more subtle with the mis en scene components. With the camera angles, it used the idea of zeroing in on the reflection of Hamlet in the mirror. The camera angle in the beginning allowed the audience to see both sides of the debate as Hamlet goes back and forth while contemplating the issue. However, it ends up zeroing in on the mirror, on one side, as he comes to a resolution near the end. The actions are also very subtle but with the use of the walking, symbolizing him walking to his answer, and the use of the dagger, to help him act out the parts where he might want to take his own life in contrast to where he would not take any action at all, all helped create the mis en scene components. I personally did not think that the Ethan Hawke version did the best job of using mis en scene components. there are definitely aspects that did fit the tone of the piece. Some examples of this would be using the action aisle, using a violent clip of an action movie, and having Hamlet talk in some places and not talk in others. However, I felt there was little contrast between the different tone shifts, especially because there was little to no change in his expression and while the camera angles did change, it did not seem to explore his thoughts beyond the angles watching Hamlet explore the extent of the video store.

Blog #21 -- Hamlet Act 2: Revenge and Espionage

Hamlet comments on The Bourne Legacy:

"Will you give yourself to this program?"

"Yes."

In The Bourne Legacy, Aaron Cross is an agent of a secretive program called Treadstone. He realizes that the people running the program are corrupt and are trying to kill all of the agents of the special programs created, including the one that Jason Bourne was once a part of. Aaron Cross uses his skills to try and avenge the many lives lost, save himself, all the while avoiding being caught by the continuous agents looking for him.

Aaron Cross, much like myself, was made to believe that the program that he would take part of was safe and honest. 

Rather, it was rotten.

I can understand the frustration and anger that Cross faces as he realizes that there is close to nobody he can trust. It can be understood that those whom you do not trust, mere acquaintances, will use a "bait of falsehood...and indirections [to] find directions out" much like Polonius did when he sent two men to spy on Laertes (2.1.61-64) I myself felt that when "the good King and Queen have sent for [Guildenstern and Rosencrantz" to observe my actions without me knowing (2.2.272). Because of the espionage and the stress that comes from fulfilling a desire,  "the beauty of the world; the paragon of animals... [seemed to be only the] quintessence of dust" (2.2.298-300). From what I understand, Cross also displayed a similar understanding once he retreated from the world for his safety. At least Aaron had Dr. Marta Shearing... I feel as though I am losing Ophelia.

Why does Ophelia listen so well to her father? Does she not understand that if he is Jephthah, she is the "daughter that [he loves] passing well" but will sacrifice in order to fulfill his duty to the thing and find the truth about my madness (2.2.389-390). Polonius is much like the villainous Edward Norton who will take any measures necessary to fulfill his goal of terminating Cross in his desire to preserve the program's rotten characteristics.

While Cross generally does put up a strong front, I best related to him when his weaknesses were shown. I understood his desire to shrivel himself into a corner and disappear. While I yell out in agony about how I am "a rogue and peasant slave", Cross tends to revert his pain inward as he tries to hold himself together in order to fulfill his goal. Much like him, I have to put up a front and present myself as strong, because only then will I be able to carry out the tasks necessary to remove the evil that plagues the Kingdom (2.2.521). 

Because the espionage has resulted from each individual's unstoppable desire of fulfilling some goal, I believe that it is the fault of dishonest goal. An honest goal should inherently use honest means to obtain. However, in the case of the corrupt officials or my sly King Claudius, only dishonest goals exist. These are the goals that must eradicated for the secret intelligence agencies or Denmark to no longer be rotten.

Tweets:

1. @Guiltystern and @LiarliarCrantzonFire I guess your loyalty lies with my parents over me #It'stoolatetosaysorry 
2. Because of @Guiltystern and @LiarliarCrantzonFire, I can't trust anyone any longer. Everything is rotten. #beautyoftheworldisquintessenceofdust #rotten
3. @KingFraudius Staying strong so I can prove you wrong. #PokerFace #Stayin'Alive
4. @Bolognius I will go mad if you sacrifice @DamselfOfDenmark just to find out what is making me mad #inception #love #Jephthah
5. @Bolognius Using deception to find the truth about @FrenchForever #irony #He'sabigboy

Blog #20 -- Hamlet Act 1 Blog Assignment

Write an entry as if you were Hamlet, describing your feelings about your father's death, your mother's remarriage , and your new step-father.

Paragraphs:

Rude. Disgraceful. How dare she do such a thing to such an excellent man! "An unweeded garden...grows to seed, things rank and gross in nature" (1.2.135-137). Does she not realize that she has married a man so foul as compared to my God-like father? "Hyperion to satyr" (1.2.141) is the difference from the late King who rightfully ruled this kingdom to the snake who holds the throne now. 

"Something is rotten in the state of Denmark" (1.4.95). 

She has married too soon and something seems off about my uncle. I can see the beastly nature within him as he calls me his son even though " I am too much in the sun" (1.2.67), as he no longer mourns my father  when even "a beast that wants discourse of reason would have mourn'd longer" (1.2.150-151), as "the funeral bak'd-meats did coldly furnish forth the marriage tables" at his wedding to my mother" (1.2.179-180). My father's death, so serious a tragedy, is undermined by the insulting behavior of my mother and her new husband.

Tweets:

1. Need to get some weed block for @KingFraudius #weeds #rank #gross 

2. @KingFraudius Something smells a little fishy #rotten #Denmark #whatdidyoudo

3. @KingFraudius The son will come out tomorrow #sun #son #revenge #Daddy'sBoy

4. @QueenG You need to mourn louder, louder than a lion #beast #You'reGonnaHearMeMourn

5. @QueenG Food for wedding from @TheRealKing's funeral? Really? #WhyYouGottaBeSoRude

Blog #19 -- Fishbowl Discussion Feedback

Kevin Liu: http://liukevinapenglishlit2016.blogspot.com/

Hi, Kevin! You had several insightful points during your fishbowl discussion on Friday. Something that I found particularly interesting was the idea that society's perception of a character can be powerful enough to destroy the character's identity. It was interesting to see how you connected it to "Orpheus" by discussing how society's perception of Eurydice as nothing more than Orpheus's shadow pushed her to the point where she would rather have her life taken away than have her voice suppressed by her husband. While I agree that,to a certain extent, society did destroy Eurydice's identity as a living person, I would argue that there society might have been the reason that she was able to develop her identity as well. While Eurydice ultimately dies by returning to the Underworld, the fact that she "chose" freedom over the suppression of her voice supports the fact that society pushed her to find her true identity. I think this concept can also be seen with Janie who, after society continuously tried to elevate her to a superior culture, chose to spend her time in the muck with Tea Cake. Because society "destroyed" her identity by pushing her to a breaking point, she found the strength to snap back and be more true to her identity. Overall, I think the concept of society destroying a culture is a very interesting and important part of a character finding his/her identity. Good job with your discussion and presentation!

Prajwal Hegde: http://hegdeprajwalapenglishlit2016.blogspot.com/
Hello, Prajwal! I really enjoyed some of the points you brought up during your fishbowl discussion. I liked how you discussed the idea that power has a lot to do with the background. Background playing a significant role in what a character will do with power was especially important when you discussed how Joe Starks always wanted a "big voice" which is why he abused his "big voice" when he got the power from becoming the mayor of Eatonville. One thing that I would like to add on to this discussion is how a character's intentions may affect what they use their power with. Backgrounds and intentions discuss very similar ideas but I think intentions come from the background and more closely relate with the way the power and voice are expressed. For example, while Joe was going to Eatonville to become power and successful (as he explained to Janie), Janie wanted to go to Eatonville in search for freedom and love. Their varying intentions ultimately lead to Joe abusing Janie because he wanted to tower over others which results in Janie leaving Eatonville with Tea Cake in search of love and freedom. Overall, I think the significance of a character's background and intentions is crucial to how they will progress and you articulated that point very well. Good job with the presentation and discussion!

Areli Orozco: http://orozcoibarraareliapenglish2015blogspot.com/ 
Hi, Areli! You did very well today on both the food memoir and the fishbowl discussion. One comment/question you made that I found very interesting was how Janie's journey may have been different if she was not surrounded by the African American culture. I know that after the discussion, the class addressed the fact that Janie grew up around white kids until her grandmother moved her. I think asking what would have happened had the plot been slightly different is important in figuring out the significance of a particular series of events. I think the significance of having Janie start her life in a white culture but live most of her life in a black culture is to contrast Janie's attitude and identity with those of the African American culture as well as, in a way, to empower her to stand up for herself. In the literary criticism that I read called "The Death of Janie Crawford: Tragedy and the American Dream in Their Eyes Were Watching God", Hattenhauer discusses how Janie tends to carry an attitude very similar to that of the "dominant culture". I think this attitude is the reason that Janie is able to leave Logan, leave Joe, kill Tea Cake, and gain support in the trial. Overall, I really liked how you were able to draw attention to certain parts by questioning what would happen if things happened a little differently. Good job on the project!


James Zhu: http://zhujamesapenglish2016.blogspot.com/ 

Hello, James! You did a very good job in the discussion and on the food memoir. One idea that you brought up that I found really interesting, was the idea that death can act as a catalyst for the process of self-actualization. I really liked how you brought up "Orpheus" and how it was Eurydice's death that led her to find her voice against male oppression. I also liked how you tied it to almost every stage of Janie's life and how it acted as a catalyst for her self-actualization. In Janie's marriage, death was a little hard to see because Logan didn't die. However, I wanted to add that during this time Nanny did die. This didn't result in an immediate shift in Janie's behavior but after Nanny's death, Janie did have a little more voice. Another aspect of death in this part of Janie's life is that she refers to her marriage to Logan as the death of her dream of finding love. Overall, very good job with during the discussion and the food memoir!

Blog #18 -- Food Memoir and Video

Memoir: Poster:

Video:

Blog #17 -- Food Memoir Preparation

Blog #16 -- Their Eyes Were Watching God Fishbowl Discussion Notes

3x3 and Open Question Prompts Close Reading and Tone Shift Charts Literary Criticism Close Reading Chart Synthesis Chart Three Questions MLA Works Cited