Cover LetterFor this project, I wanted to implement a topic that means a lot to me and one that I could relate to, therefore, I let interracial dating be the basis of my 21st century adaptation. Keeping this in mind, I took some time to analyze A Midsummer Night’s Dream and observe what theme I could connect with that current day topic. After doing to re-reading and with the help of Dr. Holt, I was able to connect the topic of interracial dating to the sociopolitical inequities seen in the text. Using the play Hamilton as my example, I began constructing my cast keeping in mind the diversity of the cast. I took the time to look through the Hamilton cast list and different movies and tv shows that I know have received high critic ratings. Each character’s race and ethnicity was purposefully and carefully chosen. Overall, I enjoyed the process of creating my cast because I got to connect a 15th century text I enjoy with today’s society and entertainment. Director's PitchWith my A Midsummer Night’s Dream movie adaptation, I look to take a Hamilton approach in terms of the cast. A big focus of the play is the tumultuous path that comes with pursuing love; by bringing in a cast of many different races and ethnicities, I plan to make a statement on current day topic of interracial dating using the text’s theme. With interracial dating being an issue that causes so much tension, I think using a text that still has influence today is a good way to address a topic that causes controversy and praise the work The Bard of Avon at the same time. My adaptation of A Midsummer Night’s Dream will take place during the Greek Empire in the 8th century; I made this choice to both keep the original text and put emphasis on the diversity of the cast. The costumes will reflect that time period by using traditional togas and traditional attire for a Greek citizen. The lighting and cosmetics will be as natural as possible; natural lighting and cosmetics help emphasis the humanity of the characters and make them more relatable. Cast ListEssayShakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream is a playwright that explores the abstract concept of love by merging the world of humans and fairies. The theme of love can be approached from many different angles. Often it is approached from a very sanguine point of view, yet Shakespeare’s comedy takes a more pessimistic approach. As the audience witnesses the drama that unfolds between the four lovers, Hermia, Lysander, Helena, and Demetrius, and the monarchs, Oberon, Titania, Hippolyta, and Theseus, the source and cause of chaos becomes more evident when the role of social disparities is taken into account. Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream showcases the adverse consequences of sociopolitical inequities on romantic relationships, circumstances that can be observed in the twenty-first century through the tensions and complexity of interracial dating. As the audience follows the drama and turmoil surmounted by the varying couples, the audience is able to observe how the sociopolitical status of the different characters affect their relationship and the relationship of others. Sociopolitical inequities play a large role in the dynami\c between the four monarchs and the effect that Oberon and Puck have on the relationships between the four lovers. As the audience witnesses the relationships between the four monarchs unfold, their sociopolitical status allows them to make certain choices without regard for the consequences they will have on each other. Because of the high status of each of the monarchs, they operate tactlessly. When Oberon had a romantic relationship Hippolyta and Titania with Theseus, it resulted in a cataclysmic quandary between Titania and Oberon. The quandary between the two fairy rulers stemmed greatly from their inconsideration for the consequences of their actions and each other’s feelings. By having such a high social status, they shape a mentality where they only analyze the benefit of their own actions rather than both the benefits and ramifications. The sociopolitical inequities also play a prominent role in the disarray that occurs in the relationships between the four lovers. Although the lovers are all on the same sociopolitical level, it’s the disparities between Oberon and the lovers that causes the adverse consequences on their relationships. Even though the lovers end up in happy relationships, Oberon’s elevated status gives him the ability to meddle within their love lives without suffering the repercussions of his actions. Oberon’s dominance as a monarch allows him to have more prerogative than that of the four lovers; his impunity grants him greater access to the intricacies of their relationships which is what causes the chaos to ensue between them. Although it is immediately clear that Oberon is the root cause of the drama between the lovers and the chaos between him and Titania, the sociopolitical inequities within the play have to be taken into account when considering the “why” of their actions. In today’s society, interracial relationships have been a constant topic of tension when it has been discussed primarely due to the inequities between different ethnicities and races. Because A Midsummer Night’s Dream is a text that examines complex topics such as sociopolitical inequities, it acts as the perfect base to touch on an issue that holds so much sensitivity. Shakespeare’s comedy is one that is meant to cause readers to take a deeper look at the meaning behind the story, therefore, in a 21st-century adaptation adding on a layer that is relevant in today’s society allows the play to be relevant beyond the 16th century. A Midsummer Night’s Dream is a text that touches on many different topics, but when considering how it can be considered a bard text, this one of the numerous themes that align it with the definition of a bard. Shakespeare’s ability to use the complex topic of love and intertwine with a topic relevant to the sociopolitical status quo displays his clout as a literary creator. SourcesColtart, Sam. "The 40 Sexiest, Most Beautiful & Talents Latina Actresses." IMDb, 18 Apr. 2013, www.imdb.com/list/ls051633078/. Accessed 5 Dec. 2019.
"Hamilton: Cast & Creative ." Broadway.com, www.broadway.com/shows/hamilton-broadway/cast/. Accessed 11 Dec. 2019. Shakespeare, William, et al. A Midsummer Night's Dream. Simon & Schuster paperback edition. ed., New York, Washington Square Press, 2016.
0 Comments
|
AuthorJanessa Davis |