INTRODUCTION
Even though in todays society people disregard things as irrelevant as soon as it’s 5 minutes old, Shakespeare has some how been able to keep up with the 21 century. His themes are what keep his stories modern as a majority of the population has loved, hated and been jealous. Despite language barriers people have been able to put them into many of our favourite movies even though it isn’t obvious to most of the viewers. I’ve decided to sit down and write this blog post today so I can show you how shakespeare is still connected with us and his plays relevance to our modern society.
SHAKESPEARE IN MODERN SETTINGS:
To our societies knowledge Shakespeare has written 35 plays in total during his career. Even though he may have written and performed these plays roughly 400 years ago, he is still popular among film producers. Whilst a large amount of us don’t go and see live shakespearian theatre, it doesn’t mean he’s not relevant, whether you love or loather him his plays are the foundation of many of yours and mine favourite films.
Thanks to great Directors like Baz Luhrmann Shakespeare’s plays have been adapted to modern times. With Baz’s modern re telling of Romeo and Juliet being a box office hit audiences have been able to enjoy Shakespeare from the comfort of their homes or local movie theatre. Not only did Baz adapt it to modern settings like a made up City of Verona much like U.S.A’s Miami, but also adjusted props like guns instead of the older weapons like swords and replacing the mode of transport to be modern cars instead of a horse and carriage. The film also used the actors to create a broader audience by using Hollywood Heartthrob Leonardo Di Caprio to appeal to the younger audiences as well as allowing it to grow with the new generations as he is still a big part of Hollywood drama’s. Baz’s adaptation of Romeo and Juliet is highly praised and a part of keeping Shakespeare alive and relevant in today’s society.
Not only was Romeo and Juliet adapted to surroundings and props of the modern world, Baz also managed to work with the text and bought it down to a easier level of understanding whilst also keeping it as classic Shakespeare. Even though in some points the language lost my interest and I got confused, it would be fair to say most people that have ever watched Shakespeare in the 21 century or 400 years ago would have felt this way. Thankfully Baz was able to bring it back to modern society through character relevance and his great setting adaptations.
"My only love sprung from my only hate! Too early seen unknown, & known too late! Prodigious birth of love it is to me, that I must love a loathed."
SHAKESPEARE IN MODERN STORY TELLING
Shakespeare and his writing left a big impact on the world and todays modern writers. Even though many people don’t know some of yours and mines favourite films have been based on Shakespeare’s greatest plays. With Shakespeare’s main themes (love, hate and jealousy) being so versatile directors have been able to mould and manipulate them into box office hits.
A personal favourite of mine and thousands of other peoples, The Lion King came from one of Shakespeare’s play. The Lion King was inspired by Shakespeare’s Hamlet, Walt disney was able to put a childish mask on the main themes of Responsibility and Revenge. The Lion King when closely examined shares much more than just themes with Hamlet
Even though in todays society people disregard things as irrelevant as soon as it’s 5 minutes old, Shakespeare has some how been able to keep up with the 21 century. His themes are what keep his stories modern as a majority of the population has loved, hated and been jealous. Despite language barriers people have been able to put them into many of our favourite movies even though it isn’t obvious to most of the viewers. I’ve decided to sit down and write this blog post today so I can show you how shakespeare is still connected with us and his plays relevance to our modern society.
SHAKESPEARE IN MODERN SETTINGS:
To our societies knowledge Shakespeare has written 35 plays in total during his career. Even though he may have written and performed these plays roughly 400 years ago, he is still popular among film producers. Whilst a large amount of us don’t go and see live shakespearian theatre, it doesn’t mean he’s not relevant, whether you love or loather him his plays are the foundation of many of yours and mine favourite films.
Thanks to great Directors like Baz Luhrmann Shakespeare’s plays have been adapted to modern times. With Baz’s modern re telling of Romeo and Juliet being a box office hit audiences have been able to enjoy Shakespeare from the comfort of their homes or local movie theatre. Not only did Baz adapt it to modern settings like a made up City of Verona much like U.S.A’s Miami, but also adjusted props like guns instead of the older weapons like swords and replacing the mode of transport to be modern cars instead of a horse and carriage. The film also used the actors to create a broader audience by using Hollywood Heartthrob Leonardo Di Caprio to appeal to the younger audiences as well as allowing it to grow with the new generations as he is still a big part of Hollywood drama’s. Baz’s adaptation of Romeo and Juliet is highly praised and a part of keeping Shakespeare alive and relevant in today’s society.
Not only was Romeo and Juliet adapted to surroundings and props of the modern world, Baz also managed to work with the text and bought it down to a easier level of understanding whilst also keeping it as classic Shakespeare. Even though in some points the language lost my interest and I got confused, it would be fair to say most people that have ever watched Shakespeare in the 21 century or 400 years ago would have felt this way. Thankfully Baz was able to bring it back to modern society through character relevance and his great setting adaptations.
"My only love sprung from my only hate! Too early seen unknown, & known too late! Prodigious birth of love it is to me, that I must love a loathed."
SHAKESPEARE IN MODERN STORY TELLING
Shakespeare and his writing left a big impact on the world and todays modern writers. Even though many people don’t know some of yours and mines favourite films have been based on Shakespeare’s greatest plays. With Shakespeare’s main themes (love, hate and jealousy) being so versatile directors have been able to mould and manipulate them into box office hits.
A personal favourite of mine and thousands of other peoples, The Lion King came from one of Shakespeare’s play. The Lion King was inspired by Shakespeare’s Hamlet, Walt disney was able to put a childish mask on the main themes of Responsibility and Revenge. The Lion King when closely examined shares much more than just themes with Hamlet
Shakespeare’s themes have also been portrayed in other films as well such as:
Thanks to these film adaptations Shakespeare’s plays have been brought to life in many different ways that are appealing to audiences due to modern approaches but also enjoyable from character choices as well as settings and overall concept. In some movies that have been adapted from the plays, the overall meaning has been lost due to over modernisation, but without them today’s society would be asking Shakespeare Who ?
'To be honest, as this world goes, is to be one man picked out of ten thousand.”
SHAKESPEAREAN LANGUAGE
Many people as well as myself are surprised to how much Shakespeare has actually contributed to the English language. Even though you may not notice it everyday you are probably quoting Shakespeare. Scholars have found that Shakespeare roughly contributed around 1,700 words to the ever growing 25,000 word English Vocabulary.
Shakespearean conversations may be hard to listen to and you may walk away only understand a fraction of the conversation, but out of that fraction you would have understood the main them to it. Shakespeare’s themes is what keeps him relevant, despite the language barriers most of today’s quoting comes from 400 years ago and it all started with the man himself. Through is use of English he has rightfully earn’t himself the title of ‘master of words’.
Shakespeare’s Legacy has kept not only the film industry alive but also the writing industry through his themes and language which is the most used world wide than any other famous playwright. Without Shakespeare the whole entertainment industry (books and films) wouldn’t be able to expand the dramatisation of their characters, plots or themes. Imaging the world without Shakespeare’s language influences is impossible, his works will live on for thousands of years simply based on the impact on the english vocabulary.
"Love sought is good, but giv'n unsought is better"
FUN WITH SHAKESPEARE
Among the many things that Shakespeare already is we can now add Comedic to the list. Even though most of us know Shakespeare as a dramatic writer and into the love and lust of the drama world, he is also known for writing around 13 comedies such as : The Taming of the Shrew, Tempest and All’s Well that Ends Well. Not only did he write those comedies, he has also contributed to some of our modern day insults. Obviously we don’t say ‘Tempt not too much the hatred of my spirit, for I am sick when I do look on thee.’ or ‘I wonder that you will still be talking. Nobody marks you.’. These insults that Shakespeare created have now been moulded into 21 century language to become : ‘Do not test my patience because I already can’t stand to look at you’ and ‘ Why are you still talking no one is listening’. Everyone can relate to being blunt to try and get a point across, but I don’t believe anyone could be as blunt as Shakespeare was. Although a majority of his insults are out of date and todays society wouldn’t understand most of them, doesn’t mean people don’t. Most people study Shakespeare during school so during classes those who understand can use them to just joke around.
“Thou art like a toad; ugly and venomous.”
CONCLUSION
Hopefully my blog has gotten the point across without boring you. To conclude I would like to say that a man 400 years ago has some how stayed popular and relevant in a world where it’s all about having the new and forgetting the old. Shakespeare is the most relatable writer because his themes can be applied in every situation especially in a world were it revolves around love, from loving someone so much you now hate them or being jealous that you can’t have the one person that makes you truly happy. But the biggest contribution to keeping the great writer relevant is the entertainment industry and modern thinking to mask the fact that your really watching something that was created before your great great grandparents.
'To be honest, as this world goes, is to be one man picked out of ten thousand.”
SHAKESPEAREAN LANGUAGE
Many people as well as myself are surprised to how much Shakespeare has actually contributed to the English language. Even though you may not notice it everyday you are probably quoting Shakespeare. Scholars have found that Shakespeare roughly contributed around 1,700 words to the ever growing 25,000 word English Vocabulary.
Shakespearean conversations may be hard to listen to and you may walk away only understand a fraction of the conversation, but out of that fraction you would have understood the main them to it. Shakespeare’s themes is what keeps him relevant, despite the language barriers most of today’s quoting comes from 400 years ago and it all started with the man himself. Through is use of English he has rightfully earn’t himself the title of ‘master of words’.
Shakespeare’s Legacy has kept not only the film industry alive but also the writing industry through his themes and language which is the most used world wide than any other famous playwright. Without Shakespeare the whole entertainment industry (books and films) wouldn’t be able to expand the dramatisation of their characters, plots or themes. Imaging the world without Shakespeare’s language influences is impossible, his works will live on for thousands of years simply based on the impact on the english vocabulary.
"Love sought is good, but giv'n unsought is better"
FUN WITH SHAKESPEARE
Among the many things that Shakespeare already is we can now add Comedic to the list. Even though most of us know Shakespeare as a dramatic writer and into the love and lust of the drama world, he is also known for writing around 13 comedies such as : The Taming of the Shrew, Tempest and All’s Well that Ends Well. Not only did he write those comedies, he has also contributed to some of our modern day insults. Obviously we don’t say ‘Tempt not too much the hatred of my spirit, for I am sick when I do look on thee.’ or ‘I wonder that you will still be talking. Nobody marks you.’. These insults that Shakespeare created have now been moulded into 21 century language to become : ‘Do not test my patience because I already can’t stand to look at you’ and ‘ Why are you still talking no one is listening’. Everyone can relate to being blunt to try and get a point across, but I don’t believe anyone could be as blunt as Shakespeare was. Although a majority of his insults are out of date and todays society wouldn’t understand most of them, doesn’t mean people don’t. Most people study Shakespeare during school so during classes those who understand can use them to just joke around.
“Thou art like a toad; ugly and venomous.”
CONCLUSION
Hopefully my blog has gotten the point across without boring you. To conclude I would like to say that a man 400 years ago has some how stayed popular and relevant in a world where it’s all about having the new and forgetting the old. Shakespeare is the most relatable writer because his themes can be applied in every situation especially in a world were it revolves around love, from loving someone so much you now hate them or being jealous that you can’t have the one person that makes you truly happy. But the biggest contribution to keeping the great writer relevant is the entertainment industry and modern thinking to mask the fact that your really watching something that was created before your great great grandparents.