Romeo and Juliet Were Too Young To Fall In Love, Anyway! - Lauren's 11 Meditation
Lauren Chiodo – meditation 11I dislike Shakespeare. This is not a secret. I know that it is practically taboo for someone who has any interest in the theater to dislike Shakespeare, but I do. I hate acting out his work, reading his work, and trying to understand his work. I even dislike watching his work being performed.
I always laugh when Romeo and Juliet die. I found Richard the Third to be funny as well, not an unnecessary bloodbath. Even Shakespeare’s most dire dramas are lost on me. I’m not sure what this says about me as a writer and actress, but it’s true.
Some people like to see adaptations of Shakespeare. I am not opposed to them, of course, but my favorite Shakespearian adaptations are the updated kind. I’m not talking about taking Shakespeare’s words and injecting them into a modern time, place, and with modern people. I’m talking about taking one of Shakespeare’s works and changing it to fit the time.
Some such adaptations that come to mind are Ten Things I Hate About You, a movie from 1999 that stars Julia Stiles and Heath Ledger; or She’s The Man, a more recent movie starring Amanda Bynes and Channing Tatum. TTIHAY is a loose adaptation of The Taming of the Shrew and She’s The Man is another loose adaptation of Twelfth Night. I enjoy these adaptations because they make Shakespeare’s work relatable. Watching Romeo and Juliet makes me glad that I was never as dumb as those kids. I know that most of Shakespeare’s works are meant to be dramatic, but I find them ridiculous. The way the people act and interact in his works is so completely different from how society works today. It’s almost unfathomable.
posted by Anonymous @ 3:12 PM
2 Comments:
I think I understand about your feelings towards Shakespeare, but I could be wrong. Do you mean that you dont like ALL of his work? Because I understand that. I tend to enjoy a play of his here or there. Random ones. But I do love the modern adaptations. Or perhaps you meant that you dont like the Shakespeare that is portrayed as a period piece? I dont like that either. The more modern adaptations keep me more entertained.
I don't think what you said is taboo mabye with English teachers but in most groups enjoying Shakespheare is taboo.As far as laughing at Romeo and Juliet's death perhaps it was abad production and that play actually has alot of comedy in it Romeo and Juliet's love is mocked all the time. Yes Shakespheare is in a diffrent place and time yet so is "Harry Potter" I always found it funny that they wanted to change the words scones to muffins in U.S. versions if we can learn what Quitdictch is or a Hobbit or life saver why not a rappier or a fantastick.
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