Modern Shakespeare, Wednesday, Periods 1 & 2

[glacial_queen]

Karla's class took place in an ordinary classroom, though she'd taken a leaf from Lady Ghanima's book and had all the desks cleared out, replacing them with cushions and over-sized beanbags, as well as a few padded chairs. They were going to be watching movies this session and Karla saw no reason why everybody shouldn't be comfortable. When the class entered, they'd see her lounging across a small loveseat, waiting for them to find a spot they wanted to claim as their own.

"Ambition," she said when everyone was settled. "Pride. Love, lust, and hatred. Anger. Fear. A question of what truly is the measure of a man. A truly staggering number of puns and dick jokes. I fell in love with Shakespeare when I was a student here," in no small part due to Ender Wiggin "and it was his depiction of human nature that did it. What is the best course to take for a son who finds that his mother has married his uncle--who is also his father's murderer? How much blame can be attributed to a man who kills his king, but is urged into the deed by others? What is a suitable punishment for a man who believed lies and gossip to the point where he repudiates his bride? Or, in another play, kills her? William Shakespeare wrote a great many plays across a great many genres, but in the end, they all come back to one central theme: people's motivations. By writing about people, truly recognizable people, Shakespeare plays have survived multiple centuries--a real feat in this short-lived world--and are still popular and relevant today. Had you gone to a normal high school, you likely would have read several of his plays before graduation. In this class, we'll be watching movies."

She straightened in her seat, feet finally hitting the floor. "Not just any movies; modern retellings of his classic plays. Many old classics are filmed and then immediately shown on the Black and White Period Piece Old Lady Boring Movie Channel, or whatever it's called," Karla dismissed the question with a wave of her hand "--of interest only to people who liked the original work. But Shakespeare's plays are constantly being updated, modernized, and retold, thus reaching out to new audiences all the time. And the reason for that is because his characters and his plots work regardless of what time period they're set in. They're problems and issues that people still face today, if in slightly altered forms: fears of infidelity, questions of one's legacy, ambition and advancement, falling in love, interpersonal problems. prejudice."

No one had promised this was going to be a light and cheerful class, kids. Even if it was a summer workshop. "So, first, introductions. It's a tradition that spans back to my time here, too. I am Karla, graduate of the class of 2013, though it's been about six years in my world since I graduated, rather than three." Really, that long? Mother Night! "When I'm not teaching here, I'm the Queen of the Territory of Glacia." She also served in the First Circle of the Dark Court, but there didn't seem to be any Kaeleerans in the room this year, so she left that off. "Today, for your introductions, name and class, favorite Shakespeare play and why if you have one--no worries if you don't--and tell me what you think this Shakespeare quote means: The worst is not, So long as we can say, 'This is the worst.' Or, if you'd prefer something slightly less macabre, try God has given you one face, and you make yourself another."

And with that, she was pointing at a student. "And you are?"

Comments

Sign In (05/11)

[glacial_queen]

The play's the thing, so--with extra drama!

Re: Sign In (05/11)

[studyingfear]

Rufus Shinra

Listen to the Lecture

[glacial_queen]

Take a seat and listen.

Re: Listen to the Lecture

[era_two_triangle]

It was beginning to become increasingly clear to Peridot as the lecture continued...

...

... That humans didn't make any sense at all. Her expression might have reflected that, somewhat.

Re: Listen to the Lecture

[crimson_sister]

Lucille sat down on a bean bag. It was a strange piece of furniture and impossible to sit elegantly on. For this reason she was a bit distracted during the lecture.

Re: Listen to the Lecture

[intotheout]

Tip settled herself into a big fluffy beanbag, sitting up attentively despite the chair's lack of back support. By the end of the class she'd be sprawled in any number of odd positions across it. But at the top of the lecture, her body was still trying to be in "school" mode.

She was pretty proud of herself for being able to identify most of the plays Karla was taking her examples from. Though she had some trouble with the gossip and rumors ones, until she remembered Much Ado. All the other examples had been tragedies! It wasn't her fault.

Re: Listen to the Lecture

[wildandbrave]

Cosette settled into a bean bag chair to listen. Summer workshop or not, she was still taking ample notes; her reasons for doing so might be somewhat thwarted now, but she'd do it anyway.

Re: Listen to the Lecture

[notamascot]

Kaylin was ridiculously happy to have Karla back again. Which mostly manifested in her being quiet, shy, and smiling more than usual, even when she had no idea what was going on.

Introductions

[glacial_queen]

Name, class, favorite Shakespeare play and why (if you have one), and explain either The worst is not, So long as we can say, 'This is the worst.' or God has given you one face, and you make yourself another.

Or both, if the spirit really moves you!

Re: Introductions

[era_two_triangle]

"I am Peridot, Facet-2F5L Cut-5XG." Yeah, that was a mouthful. No, she wasn't about to stop introducing herself that way until she started realizing that nobody was going to remember all of that anyway. "I don't know what a Shakespeare is, but I assume the first quote has something to do with human mortality and some sort of flawed if optimistic notion that it can't get worse than 'dead.'"

Bucket of sunshine, this one was.

Re: Introductions

[studyingfear]

"Rufus Shinra, freshman," he said shortly, once it was his turn. He leaned back in his padded chair as he continued with, "I have no experience with Shakespeare, but the first quote seems as if it is pointing out the fact that, if you have time to complain about your situation, then it's not as bad as it could be."

Which Rufus thought was reasonable.

He had a few opinions on the second quote as well, but as he wasn't certain about whether or not the 'god' mentioned in it was a literal god of this world or a metaphorical one, he chose not to. Religion was a touchy thing.

Re: Introductions

[imisscookiecat.livejournal.com]

"I'm Steven, Steven Universe," he introduced, all excited. His second class ever!

"I'm a freshman, and I guess my favorite Shakespeare is the one where those twins get up to all sorts of fun! Sorry, but I don't know which one that is."

He contemplated the last part for a bit. "The second quote means you aren't stuck with the role you think you have? I mean, you can always pretend to be something else enough that you have a different face? Not literally, though." Unless you were Amethyst and messing around with shapechanging.

Re: Introductions

[crimson_sister]

"My name is Lucille Sharpe, and I'm a senior," Lucille introduced herself. "I'm not sure I have a favourite Shakespeare play. Perhaps meta for Macbeth. As for the quotes... I believe the second one means that what you show yourself to be is not your true self."

Re: Introductions

[intotheout]

"I'm Gratuity Tucci," Tip said, waving one hand. "I'm a Freshman. I've never really thought about which one is my favorite, but I probably know Midsummer Night's Dream the best. Though there are a couple about girls crossdressing to get stuff done that sound pretty cool, too. As for the quotes, the first one's mostly just saying that there's always something worse." Your whole planet has been subjugated by a race of invading aliens with technology you can't possibly hope to combat? Well, don't worry, because the aliens they're afraid of are right around the corner, just waiting to eat your planet whole after enslaving most of you. "Always. And the second one just means that you make your own destiny. Which is good, because it means there's a possibility you'll be able to deal with all those worse things that can happen."

Re: Introductions

[wildandbrave]

"Cosette Fauchelevent, and I'm a senior." She seemed a little bit tired, but she managed a smile anyway. "I don't know that I can decide on my favorite when I haven't quite finished reading them all --" which was mostly because there were so many things to read -- "but I'm rather fond of A Midsummer Night's Dream."

She would be.

"As for the quotes . . . well, the first one reminds me of how my father's fond of saying that even if things seem terrible, they aren't utterly unendurable."

For some reason he always sounded very authoritative when he said it. AND SOMEDAY SHE WOULD FIGURE OUT WHY.

Re: Introductions

[notamascot]

"I'm Kaylin Neya and I have no idea who Shakespeare is." Yes, she asked to take the class solely because Karla was teaching it. It's not like she expected to get much out of non-Hawk classes anyway, so why not?

"I'm not sure I believe in the gods, but I think what the second thing is saying is that you make yourself who you are - different from the way you're born."

Or hopefully remake yourself in her case.

Re: Introductions

[hexentotchen.livejournal.com]

"Hanna Heller, senior, and I am aware of Shakespeare, but I have not read or seen any of his plays." Which was a shame, because she'd recognize the villains right off as people she'd known. "The first is that if you have a tongue to make that statement, and you still have your mind, then clearly things are not yet at their worst." Said thoughtfully, with a notable lack of grimness or humor. Just matter-of-fact. "The second, I think, is more complex... I do not know if it would be about your 'true' self, or just that one fashions a mask as protection, for what God may have truly made of you." Said much more shyly, examining her hands as if they were of great importance.

Re: Introductions

[justwantedfriends]

"I'm Kira, I'm a senior, and my favorite Shakespeare play is Romeo and Juliet... because it's the only one I'm familiar with," she said sheepishly. "I think the first quote means that as long as you're alive enough to complain, things aren't as bad as they could be."

Watch the Movie

[glacial_queen]

Introductions couldn't take all that long, especially with a double class. So as soon as the last introduction was made, Karla was hitting play on the DVD player. The opening note was probably enough for any student from a modern version of this Earth to know what movie they were watching today.

What many of them might not realize was that The Lion Monarch was actually a retelling of Amleth. See? Learning!

Re: Watch the Movie

[era_two_triangle]

Peridot didn't see the point of watching this crude, pre-recorded human entertainment. It was full of human whimsy and music, and seemed like a horrible waste of her time. What other sort of vapid nonsense did humans do in the name of entertainment?

... She was rooting for the hyenas.

Re: Watch the Movie

[studyingfear]

Once he got over the surprise at watching what seemed to be a movie for children, Rufus was rooting for meta for Scar.

Narratively, it was clear that Scar was going to lose almost from the start, but he still preferred him over the traumatized lion cub who was going to be a king one day anyway.

The love song had him rolling his eyes.

The ending was depressingly predictable.

Re: Watch the Movie

[imisscookiecat.livejournal.com]

Steven sat, utterly enraptured. He'd never seen this before, and it was even better than Dogcopter!

Discuss

[glacial_queen]

After the movie ended, Karla handed out copies of the plot summary of Amleth.

"So," she said, sitting back down. "Is this a good retelling of the play? Why or why not?"

Re: Discuss

[era_two_triangle]

Peridot was just going to stare at that plot summary for a few minutes. She had begun the basics of deciphering the written language that was used on the region of Earth that this island most seemed to represent, and once she had pinned down which symbols made what sound, she would likely take off with it like a house on fire and have the basics mastered within a few days. But for the time being, she was going to just stare in frustration at the sheet of words.

Maybe for the best. It saved the room a tirade about how meta for Simba should have died, the same way Amleth did, in order to better demonstrate the futility of pathetic organic struggle.

Talk to the Teacher

[glacial_queen]

Especially if you want to be a TA.

Re: Talk to the Teacher

[endsthegame]

"Double, double toil and trouble," Ender intoned, as he stepped into the classroom shortly after the lesson had ended.

Of course, the drama of his entry was largely ruined by the small child who wrestled out of his grip, bellowing Karla's name.

OOC

[glacial_queen]

Had to finish the OCD on my phone because the power went out. This is fun.

Did you know the lion king is old enough to drink in the states?

Re: OOC

[endsthegame]

Don't... don't say these things.