Reflection on Blogging

My experience with blogging was delightful, considering it's my first time writing in this particular fashion or style. I welcomed and enjoyed the challenges which came. It's similar to how critics and journalist write. I would consider continuing to write blogs on my own time (but who will then read it?). Being that I enjoy writing, I saw the exercises as practice. It's easy for any writer to have writer's block but if you're giving a theme or subject to write on, the hard part is already done. I wasn't too thrill in reading other classmates' work as I was with writing my own. I didn't know what to respond at times and I didn't want to offend anyone with any comment of mine. There were definitely many great pieces which were written of the course of the twelve weeks. One of my favorite assignments was having to write on who I thought portrayed Othello best on the clips you shared with us. I really enjoyed the creative options you offered us, they were fun to write. Well I will recommend anyone who enjoys writing to try blogging. Thanks Prof. X for introducing me to another avenue of writing and for your input on my pieces. Take care. M

Macbeth 4&5: Lady Macbeth Sleep Walking

After viewing Jane Lepotaire, Judi Dench, and Shirley Verrett, all play Lady Macbeth in the scene in which she sleep walks, I would have to say that Judi's performance was by far the best.

When I first saw Jane walk on stage, she didn't look like she was sleep walking. She walked up a flight of stairs holding a candle holder without any stumbling. When she got to the top she gently placed the holder on the ground without fumbling it. Now who really is going to believe that she is sleep walking? She looked more like a person gone mad, someone who lost their sanity. Her performance lacked emotion and realism.

When I saw Judi walk out, again I had a problem with the actor holding a candle holder and nothing wrong happening (like her dropping it). Needless to say, when she started speaking I was captivated. I was moved by her characters grief and pain which Judi did such a great job of expressing it. It seemed genuine and believable.

Shirley on the other hand forgot that she was in a tragedy and not a musical. Someone ought to remind of it. I didn't like her performance as much as I did Judi's.

"Acting The Horror"

Hmmm...How would I stage Macbeth's hallucination of a dagger in 2.1, when he kills Duncan? If I had to, it wouldn't be a stage production. I'd like to imagine it on film. More visual effects can be added to the scene.

For starters, I wouldn't have the actor playing Macbeth say his lines to the camera (which is how is done on stage and most film adaptations) but instead I would have a prerecording of the actor reading his lines playing as the scene takes place so as to make it seem as if we can hear what he is thinking. It's better this way because it seems realistic plus in real life if Macbeth said out loud everything he in the soliloquy, he might wake up Duncan or his guards.

Sound effects and scoring is important and I will only do it to heighten the emotions of a scene. As Macbeth is approaching Duncan's room and sees an imaginary dagger, I would have soft eerie music (produced by acoustic instruments) playing in the background. As the scene progresses, so will the music until the climax of the scene is reached (when Macbeth kills Duncan). The sound effects would be heard when Macbeth mentions of witchcraft celebrating, a wolf howling, and a ghost silently pacing. Each effect will be heard in unison and then finally hearing Macbeth dagger penetrating Duncan's flesh.

Towards the end of the soliloquy since we don't read about Macbeth actually killing Duncan, I would like to portray it by focusing on their shadows. I would have the camera set in front of Macbeth standing beside Duncan's bed (with a burning candle set on a table beside Duncan's bed opposite of Macbeth) and as the last words of the soliloquy are heard, the camera slowly moves away from the bed (on Macbeth's side), only showing Macbeth's shadow Standing over the shadow of Duncan on his bed and Macbeth thrusting his dagger in Duncan, but never seeing him pull it out (because at this point as the camera is moving away, the shot fades to black).

The lighting which is also key in my portrayal will be dim (being that it takes place at night). For certain, my version wouldn't be shot in HD only because I would want it to have a raw feel to it.

Finally, when Macbeth enters Duncan's room and begins to hallucinate I would shoot close ups of his eyes and what he sees before him. The shots would be done at a quick pace and I would have the room change colors and would mess with the focus of the camera to get viewers an idea of how screwed up Macbeth feels at this moment.

Damn...I wish I could do a shooting of this scene! M

"There's a divinity that shapes our ends"

"In his heart a man plans his course but the Lord determines his steps"-proverbs of Solomon
Proverbs 16:9
"I hated all the things I had toiled for under the sun, because I most leave them to the one who comes after me, /...someone who has not worked for it."-words of Solomon
Ecc.2:18, 21

It's difficult to say whether Hamlet's fate was shaped by a "divinity" but there are moments in the play that may lead one to think or argue that is was. For starters, the fact that his father's ghost appears to him, to tell him what had happened in hopes for his him to avenge his death is one factor which leans towards the idea of a "divinity" attempting to shape his fate. There is also the time Hamlet returns from England alive (when in fact Claudius arranged with the King of England to have him killed) to then die by Laertes poisoned sword in the last scene of the play, is another factor which one can argue about regarding his destiny being orchestrated. Later on there was the moment in which Hamlet spoke with a gravedigger who was tossing skulls out of a grave in order to make room for Ophelia's corpse. It was then that Hamlet holds up a skull and realizes how worthless humans really are. This understanding helped him to face life but most of all, death, without any fear. In reading about this, it can be said that perhaps a "divinity" was preparing him for his death which was soon to happen. Finally at the end of the play when everyone is found dead (Claudius, Gertrude, and Hamlet) young Fortinbras (who has been trying to recapture the land his father forfeited to Hamlet Sr.) is crowned the new King of Denmark without having to battle for it. After looking at the evidence shown throughout the play, I would agree that God did determine Hamlet's course.

I personally believe that God determines where my life will end up. Sure he gives us options to choose from but his choices co inside with his plan. For example, let's say you work as a host for a restaurant and there are four sections of tables in it (each having five). Each section is overseen by a server and each one wants to make money. What do you do? You try your best to seat each section evenly. Problem is, people are going to sit where they want to be not necessarily where you want them to. So, what do you do then? You give people the option to sit where they would like to but your options are restricted to the section you're trying to fill up. You see what I mean? You give people options only to make them think they have the freedom to choose but little do they know that in the grand scheme of things, it's only to suit your purpose. That brings me to this:

"The Lord works out everything for his own ends-even the wicked for a day of disaster"-proverbs of Solomon, Proverbs 16:4

Hamlet said, "There's a divinity that shapes our ends, /Rough-hew them how we will," which may or may not represent a development in his character but if you recall the events which occur later on after saying this, you would think it probably did. Throughout the play I clearly see a development in Hamlet's character from his encounter with his father's ghost to his conversation with a gravedigger. I see Hamlet as a play of one's man journey to reunite with his father and a father who longed to be with his son. In the process of the play, Hamlet learns about the value of man's life on earth, and God. That is probably why the play is entitled "Hamlet." M

Polonius writes a report on Hamlet

As senior officer in the state of Denmark, it is my duty to write a report on my encounter with Lord Hamlet. My views are based on the event which took place in the castle, the day I alerted the King about his madness. What I found interesting was that there was a method or a pattern of some sort to young Hamlet's madness. If ever I asked him a question he would answer me oddly. For example, when I told him that I wasn't an "fishmonger" (because he thought I was) he told me that he wished I was "such an honest a man." What does being honest have anything to do with being a fishmonger? Whether I was one or not, it shouldn't determine my honesty or dishonesty. I think that by simply denying that I am a fishmonger is honest enough. He then talked about maggots and how the sun can produce them in dead dogs because their flesh is good enough to deserve kisses from it and in the same sentence he finished by asking me if I had a daughter. After I told him that I did, he urged me not to let her walk in the sun. And before I could make of what he was saying, he mentioned that conception is a blessing and that I should be careful of my daughter because she can conceive. What a bizarre thing of Lord Hamlet to say to a father, not just to me. How can you go from speaking of maggots to talking about conception. Unless, it was his way of letting me know what he thinks about life and death. Conception being viewed as life and maggots relating to death. Perhaps he is trying to say that life is better than death because in it when your're dead (as within dead dogs lying in view of the sun) maggots are produced in the body. It's a good theory to ponder on but what should I make of all of this. I noticed a manuscript in his left hand, when i asked him what he was reading he simply said, "words, words, words" as if not wanting to be bothered about what he may had been reading. If I asked him what was the matter with the subject he was reading, he would answer, "between whom?" After I told him what I was referring to, he began to explain a little bit about the slanders in his story. As he explained, I got the impression as if he was describing me. Very odd of him to say those things but I paid close attention in hopes of understanding. Suddenly he told me that I could grow as old as him if only I could walk backwards as a crab. That's when I knew that there was a genius to his madness. How upsetting this will seem for both the King and Queen to know but it is nessesary for them to know...if sir Hamlet is to be helped.

Hamlet, Act 1

In the first of many soliloquies found throughout Hamlet, it is interesting to see how it plays out on screen or stage by different actors.

After seeing the five versions of Hamlets soliloquy I have to say I enjoyed Mel Gibson's performance best. He not only involved emotion into Hamlets mood but also in what he said. I like the fact that he didn't look into the camera, giving the scene a sense of realism. I thought it was a good idea to have in go to the window and look out at the people as he spoke. Again, it gave the scene a sense of realism.

In regards to Kenneth "the Shakespeare guy" Branagh's portrayal sounded more like he was reciting a speech. Perhaps he was trying not to forget his lines. I like his physical presence but not so much his acting.

With Kevin Kline it was sort of the same thing, instead it seem like he was caught in a fog. I don't know what the producers were thinking but by having all that smoke on stage, it seemed to like I was watching "The happening."

On to Tony Richardson, I liked his performance even it was an old version. I like how he sat in front of the camera and just looked up as if speaking to God. And the fact that he is close to the camera helps for viewer to notice his emotions as he speaks. At one moment he even leans his head on his left fist as if pondering, then slightly hitting himself adding more pain to his performance.

The last performance and my least favorite is by Japan's very own Fujiwara Tatsuya. At first i couldn't tell what was going on. All I could see is people in a cage. After everyone leaves and he's left alone...that's when it got frightfully interesting. He began running around like a "mad" man then stopping to yell (not act). I feel as if the acting was over playing the role of Hamlet. If I didn't know that what I was seeing was a scene from Hamlet, I would have thought it was about a guy who had trouble defecating. He looked like he was constipated (Am sorry!). Needless to say the performance was S*****.

As I mentioned before, Mel Gibson's performance was superb and I highly recommend it. M

Emilia's diary

Day 6 of August, 1522-

I just left my lady's chamber...and to be frank, I am very upset with myself. I allowed my demanding husband to take what I cherished most-Desdemona's handkerchief! For once I felt as if the gods where smiling upon me. I could almost feel there presence when I found my lady's cloth laying on the ground. Upon til today the idea of stealing it from her crossed my mind on many occasions but I never dared go through with it. My love for Desdemona eclipse any selfish desire I may harbor in my heart. And even when Iago tried to get me to still it, I refused him time and time again. Oh, why couldn't I had hidden it from anyone to see. I wasn't going to keep it. I wonder if the gods might have thought that. Could that be why it's been taking out of my possession. If I have transgressed in my heart without realizing it, I pray the gods will forgive me.

Day 7 of August, 1522-

How I wished I knew what to do now. My lord seemed very perplexed at the sight of my lady's handkerchief. What must he think is going on with the gift he once gave Desdemona? I must ask my lord Iago why has Cassio now possessed what he took from me? Perhaps Othello thinks that my lady gave it to the Leutenaunt...oh that can't be! Why would she give Cassio what the moor has given her. My women would love to have in their possession that token of love, gift from the heart, a piece from heaven. I will speak with my lord to see why the leutenaunt had the lady's cloth in his hand. I can't tell anyone of this or else I will be under suspecion. I pray gods would strip me bare and expose my deeds. To the gods I shall pray for forgiveness.

At this point in the play, starting with the first journal entry, I believe Emilia is trying to forfill her duty as a wife, which is to be obedient to her husband. Iago asked for Desdemona's handkerchief and she let him take from her. In regards to her loyality towards Desdemona-there wasn't any. As much as she may have wanted her handkerchief, and as difficult as it may seem to not keep it (once found on the ground), she should have done right by her lady. When you look at the bigger picture, it's a piece of cloth versus her relationship with Desdemona...what's more important? Towards the end of the play Emilia redeems herself by standing up for Desdemona but by then she had already been killed.

Iago's Sexist Language

Through out scene 3 of act 1 in "Othello," Iago uses sexist terms to describe women, or label them. Before I begin explaining what his terms tell me about him, his attitude towards women, and feelings men direct towards women (lust, reverence, and love), I wanted to define his name because a lot can be learned from what it means.

Iago is of Spanish and welsh origin. It's a variant of James which means "he who supplants" or in other words: he who takes the place of another, as through force, scheming, strategy, or the like.

Why am I bringing up this point? I think that one of the biggest reasons why Iago is not fond of women or of other men being with one is simply because he is threatened with being overshadowed by one. If he does have a wife (which he does), it's only because he sees her as someone he can use to help him attain something (whatever that may be).

Towards the end of scene 3 of act 1 in "Othello," when Iago and Roderigo are alone having a discussion about being in love, Iago tells Rod, "I would change places with a baboon before I would drown myself for the love of a female bird" 1.3.330. Since Rod mentioned killing himself over Desdemona, Iago thought of him as being foolish if he dared kill himself because to him a woman is not worth giving your life up for. Later on he explains to Rod that Desdemona "is young and will change her mind" regarding her love for Othello. He also says that "when she is done with his body, she will see the mistake that she made. She must have variety..." implying that Desdemona is a whore and is only with Othello for sex and not love. In fact, Iago doesn't even believe that love exists, he tells Rod that whatever feelings he may have for Des "is a mere offshoot of lust."

Iago is a sexist in every aspect of the word. He believes women are lustful creatures that shouldn't be loved nor trusted. As for men, anyone giving his heart (or life, as in Rod's case) to a woman is a fool. Sure enough Iago doesn't want any woman getting in his way and warns other men to avoid them. If this is his stand against women, it makes me wonder if he's gay? You can never be too sure. M

Sonnet #7

Thou love me yes or no?...
Thou love me right or wrong?...
My love thee ought to know
like a singer knows a song.
My heart sings with joy.
Joy which overflows and never ceases.
Even if man threaten to destroy (my flesh)...
Love still increases!

"Let truth be told..."

Soon after Hero regained conscienceness, she was secretly led by Friar to a nunnery, where she awaited for her conspirators to be found out and brought to her father. While in the nunnery she shared in the fellowship of the nuns. She was treated as though she were a nun herself. Hero was all so grateful to be in the company of such caring women. None of the sisters knew why she was there at first. Until one evening, as they all sat around a table having dinner in the cathedrals dining hall, Hero after a few bits of her meal suddenly stopped and began to tear. The nuns around her wondered why she was crying as they comforted her. After a few minutes, while most of the sisters in the room remained quiet, Hero began to talk about the humiliating and hurtful experience she had, at what was suppose to be one of the best days of her life (her wedding):

"I can't believe God can allow such a thing to happen at the hands of the people I trust must!..."

The nuns near her looked at each other with puzzled, wondering would Hero could be referring to.

"About a week ago I was set to marry my beloved lord Claudio but we did not..." She closes her eyes in disappointment and after a few seconds of being silent a sister asks her why didn't she marry. At first it seemed difficult for Hero to answer the nun but eventually she did. It wasn't easy to have to recount what was said and done but she pushed herself to speak.

"I, I...I didn't marry because my beloved accused me of being impure with another man."

The nuns were taken back by what she said. Then Hero continued to explain herself so that the sisters wouldn't get the wrong idea as her father did.

"But it's not true. He claims to have seem me one night in my bedroom window with a scoundrel. I tried to explain to him how it isn't so but he didn't believe me. Neither did his friend, prince Pedro and my father. How much it broke my heart to hear my beloved make such accusations on a day in which the only words I would expect him to say to me are "I do." Besides what Claudio and Pedro might think of me, there was nothing more hurtful than hearing my father say, "Doesn't anyone have a dagger's point for me?" To know that my father wants to take his life away on my account was like a nightmare coming true."

The nuns were appalled by what they heard. One sister even began to cry silently to herself.

"All my life I have tried to honor my father but in one day all my good deeds and name has been taken away from under me. Up until that day, I wondered what married life would be like. I wondered how many children I would have with Claudio and what they would grow up to be. I was living in a fantasy and not reality has awoken me."

One nun asked her what she planned to do now with her life?

"Father Frair has a plan on how to clear my name. Thanks to him and a few others, my father now believes that I've been set up. So in the mean time he has asked me to stay hear until my 'true' accusers can be found and arrested. I know that God will raise me up to the height from which I've fallen from. As it says the in the good book, 'you reap what you sow.' I've honored my father in every way possible and God will soon honor me."

In hearing this the sisters all chants, "Amen!"

War of the Roses: Benedick's view of Beatrice

It is obvious as one reads along the first act of "Much Ado About Nothing" that Beatrice and Benedick are attracted to one another (even if it's in an awkward way) but neither one of them seems to want to admit it. In Act 1 scene 1 (when we see Benedick and Beatrice first interact) Benedick tells Beatrice that he is "loved by all women" but her. He then changes his pitch by saying that he'd wish he could change his "cold heart" because he doesn't really love anyone. It clear that he doesn't mean the latter part of what he said to Beatrice. Why else will he question why Beatrice doesn't love him when "all women" do? I think that the only thing that's getting in the way of them getting together is their ego.
Later on in the evening of Act 1, Benedick tells Don Pedro and Claudio how he wishes to remain a bachelor til old age because he doesn't trust women. It seems that his mother cheated on his father and that's why he rather not get involved with any woman but I don't think he believes that of Beatrice. The fact that she speaks to him so bluntly not caring if he's insulted by what she says, is an indication that he can trust her. He can trust that she is honest about what she tells him about himself, although there could be another side to this issue which I do not see at the moment. As I mentioned before, Ego is there number one enemy-not each other. As for Cupid, he should aim at there ego and not their hearts.

About Me: "Mi Vida" by San Martin de Bklyn

Hours before the 1974 Times Square New Year Eve's ball dropped and people began to cheer the start of a new year, I was born. I've lived in Brooklyn most of my life. I started out in Williamsburg, then East New York, and now in Cypress Hills. Although I did reside in Woodhaven, Queens for a short time. Growing up as adolescent, I was very much involved in Athletics. All year round I played a sport depending on what season it was. In the summer I played baseball and basketball. In the winter I'd play football. I wasn't much different from the boys in my neighborhood. Some of us even got into bodybuilding and boxing.
As I got older and started to attend college, I got more in tuned with the Arts. Throughout high school I listened to music, such as hip-hop and R&B but in college I learned about Rock and folk. My world as I knew it began to expand. I also got intrigued with film and literature. I watched numerous movies and wrote a whole lot (and still do). I hope to some day become a published writer or even a director (but this is a long shot). Don't be fooled...this is not why I'm in school for. I attend college now because I'm hoping to teach English in middle school (hopefully creative writing). Much has happened between high school and now but I rather not get into all of that. As far as what I'm like and what my interest are you can get some idea from what I've shared thus far. I will say that I am a person of integrity, at least I've been told. I always try to look for the good in people or things. And I do my best to have fun in whatever I'm doing. That's me ya!.....Mi Vida.

"A voice shouting in the wilderness..."

Times were hard for anyone living in London during the mid-late 1500s. William Shakespeare was one of many in London who witnessed the unfolding of the bubonic plague. Youths above all were the ones who were mostly affected. The life expectancy for any newborn child was less then thirty years of age. As for those already grown, they weren't expected to live past fifteen (particularly children residing in poorer parishes of London; children of aristocrates had only a slight advantage). This Goliath-like plague caught my attention because of how quickly and effectively it sieged England. I couldn't picture something like this ever accuring in the United States because of all of our recent medical break throughs and discoveries. But what if we (as a country) hadn't evolved in medical science...we too can easily fall victim of what the citizens of England experienced. I can't tell what might've been going through Shakespeares mind during this time but I can imagine that it affected his writing. And perhaps it motivated him to write more often than usual because death was knocking on the door.
As I continued to read along about "Shakespeare's World," what struck me as a surprise (just a little I suppose) was to know how divided the people were, especially at a time when they should be uniting to help one another. There were two distinct classes: the rich and the poor. Within the "empowered" group you had aristocrats (monarch, nobles, and knights). These men were educated and wealthy. The "Poor" on the other hand, had little to no social standing and claim to authority. It's not surprising to know that poor people were affected more by the plague then the rich. I remember how it was during the first week of the 9/11 bombings, people of all classes united to help its fellow man. Not because it was socially right but because it was morally correct. Behind our social standings or class rankings, we are all human first. That is something that we all share and can relate to (whether rich or poor). Unfortunately for the people of England this wasn't the case (as a result more died than could've been saved). I'm pretty sure Shakespeare saw this too and was inspired to write about it.
As I conclude, I'd like to focus on the treatment of women in Enland at this time. Women were restricted socially, economically, and in legal standing. Being rich or coming from a rich family didn't benefit any of them. The only woman who was spared such treatment was the Queen (because she ruled). Any woman who asserted her views too vigorously was thought of as being shrewish and labeled a "scold." Such women were punished along side "whores" by local authorities. I can't imagine women like Hilary Clinton or Oprah Winfrey lasting more than twelve hours in a society like this one. After reading about this, I began to notice how far women have come in having civil rights. This too I know Shakespeare wrote about as he shouted in the "wilderness."