Course Reflection

    * 1. Gain Shakespeare Literacy

      Demonstrate mastery over fundamental information about Shakespeare’s works, life, and legacy

I feel like my grasp over the Shakespearean realm as both increase in breadth through my studies of the comedies that we studied this semester, and also a greater understanding of where William got his material before. I had no idea before that he was the Walt Disney of his time taking popular tales and then fleshing them out until it becomes something of it's own. It made me more inquisitive of the the histories that he wrote. I learned that, at the direction of Queen Elizabeth, Shakespeare would villainize the members of the opposing family, like Richard III. I Feel like the things I already knew were also accentuated in this class, keeping my previous studies on Shakespeare keen and sharp.

   * 2. Analyze Shakespeare Critically

      Interpret Shakespeare’s works critically in their written form, in performance (stage or screen) and in digitally mediated transformations. 

 

In my analysis of any of Shakespeare's work I feel like I have been able to dig into the text in a way that made me question the culture of the time. It also led to a greater understanding of the male psyche. It was great to do the First Folio work on my own even though  I wasn't able to share much of it with my class mates. I will admit I watched more Shakespearean performances in this one semester than I have in a while, whether that be film or play. It was great to understand how the acting plays along with the script. I also love how some directors make the plays their own just through their theme, like WWII in Love's Labours Lost. Forcing myself to blog about the different plays made me actually vocalize and pause to think about social, historical, and mental issues. It was a great way to prove myself socially.

      

  

  * 3. Engage Shakespeare Creatively

    

In my creative work I did many in class presentations of readings and also memorized and dramatized monologues. It was great to see how the plays I was rereading mostly could be interpreted differently than I had when I had done them in my acting career. I especially enjoyed working on Meleager with Rebecca and Cameron. I loved the fact that we got the chance to be like Shakespeare making something out of seemingly nothing. There were many other projects I had always wanted to do for this class that I never was able to get around to strictly because of time constraints, but I'm glad I was able to teach fight choreography theory and Shakespearean acting theory to my fellow class mates for the projects I was able to do.

      

    * 4. Share Shakespeare Meaningfully

    

I loved bringing my friends to the performances at BYU. We were able to have many good discussions based of Love's Labours Lost. It actually led to a deeper analysis of both of our lives and how we were approaching the thing that we must do rather than the things that we want to do. I was meticulous about writing on my blog when we were reading plays or when we were preparing Meleager for construction, but my sharing didn't stop there. I frequently would post on Facebook about the tantalizing experiences that we were having in class. It was cool to get responses from others about how they thought Shakespeare should be interpreted. It was also a great opportunity for me to share my love of shakespeare with many of those around me who don't think Shakespeare is cool. Obviously those people haven't read Julius Caesar or Henry IV parts 1, &2, and then Henry V.

   * 5. Gain Digital Literacy

      Students use their study of Shakespeare as a way of understanding and developing fluency in 21st century learning skills and computer-mediated modes of communication. Those skills are grouped under the following categories.

      

 

I had never before thought of reading a play while listening to it. Then again I haven't really studied a play if i wasn't preparing to perform it. I learned about valuable resources for both good audio plays and absolutely terrible ones. I give props to the people that made the freeware versions available. 

 

I had never before written a blog. I'm not usually online except for when I'm doing research for my fight choreography needs. It was cool for me to be a part of what seemed to be a living organism that I could contribute to. The feeling was even better when the whole class started working on the wiki together. It took me till nearly the end of the semester, but I feel like I am capable of being able to start a blog for my fight choreography company. It's always been something I had considered doing.

 

I liked the ability for anyone I wanted to just go read my blog. I feel like I could share this blog with any of my acting friends and they would wonder in amazement. I can't wait to see what just the other class thinks!

i response to that last one....

So I realized that a reflective blog post is different than what I just did. unfortunately I'll have to look at that tomorrow before coming to class. I'll be sure to be more in depth and give details. In essence, I'll be reflective.

Learning Outcomes Analysis point by point

    * 1. Gain Shakespeare Literacy

      Demonstrate mastery over fundamental information about Shakespeare’s works, life, and legacy

      a. Breadth (knowledge of a range of Shakespeare’s works) I gained a great breadth when I read the comedies in our selection. I hadn't read Love's Labours Lost or Much Ado About Nothing before. I had already read all the other plays that we read in class.

      b. Depth (more thorough knowledge of a single work) I loved learning about King Lear more intensively. I had performed scenes from and dances about this play before, but I loved watching the degeneration of sociality in this play.

      c. Performance (stage and screen) I enjoyed watching Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead in movie format as well as Merchant of Venice and Love's Labours Lost on stage

      d. Legacy (history, scholarship, popular culture) We discussed a lot about this in class. I hope I brought a few nuggets of knowledge concerning the First Folio that everyone could appreciate.

   * 2. Analyze Shakespeare Critically

      Interpret Shakespeare’s works critically in their written form, in performance (stage or screen) and in digitally mediated transformations. This includes

      a. Textual analysis (theme, language, formal devices) I did this mostly in the analyzing of the texts as we read them, as can be seen in my blog posts.

      b. Contextual analysis (historical, contemporary, cultural) See blog posts concerning Man's attitude and many, many others

      c. Application of literary theories when we wrote our final project on Meleager, I was meticulous about adding iambic pentameter, punctuation and style. Unfortunately for time we had to edit out our best examples for the final project.

      d. Analysis of digital mediations we did many in class viewings of different Shakespearean video performances including some of my own off of facebook.

  

  * 3. Engage Shakespeare Creatively

      a. Performance (memorization, recitation, scene on stage or video) I did several readings in class, as well as monologue performances and also our final project was full of Shakespearean goodness.

      b. Individual creative work (literary imitation, art, music) check out my youtube channel. also I showed videos of dances and performances that I've done in the past for competitions.

      c. Collaborative creative project please see OUR PROJECT on the wiki

      

    * 4. Share Shakespeare Meaningfully

      This includes engaging in the following:

      a. Formal Writing. Develop and communicate your ideas about Shakespeare clearly in formal and researched writing and through a format and medium that puts your ideas into public circulation. All on the blog, plus some work I did on facebook that I didn't link to my blog

      b. Informal Writing. This mainly means through regular online writing Blog

      c. Connecting. Share one’s learning and creative work with others both in and outside of class. When I cast Meleager, there were only two of the 7 of us from class that were actually in the video. I shared with them what we had been doing and also the chance to be in the video. I'm glad that they joined too.

      I also loved to tell people about my Shakespeare class. It was one of the most exciting classes I've ever had in college. My parents always heard a fair deal about it, as did my coworkers. I would also post statuses on Facebook concerning my thoughts on projects and certain characters in plays.

   * 5. Gain Digital Literacy

      Students use their study of Shakespeare as a way of understanding and developing fluency in 21st century learning skills and computer-mediated modes of communication. Those skills are grouped under the following categories.

      a. Consume - Effective and independent selecting, searching, researching, I always would listen to the plays as I read them. It made it more enjoyable for me because I wasn't the one imagining voices in my head for the different characters. I also enjoyed when I switched from the LibriVox recordings to the BYU Audio Plays. They are much better in quality and also have characters played by the right genders. (LibriVox FAIL!!!) There was also a lot of research that went into each of my posts. I would look up what I could online to make my posts meaningful and not just blurbs from my head.

      b. Create - Producing content that demonstrates learning and which can be shared for others to profit from. All on the blog or wiki

      c. Connect - Engage with other learners within and outside of the class to develop thinking and share more formal work. My group up in Salt Lake would frequently meet together on Monday afternoons to make sure that we were all on the same page and also that everyone was making progress with their portions of the group projects. We also would comment on each others' blogs to help one another get better quality out of their original ideas. I also helped out connect other actors from BYU Provo to the other groups so that they had professionals to help them with their performance requirements.

      I'm not sure if professor Burton would like us to provide specific examples of stuff that happened in class, cause if so, there's a lot that I did in class that I haven't mentioned here. I like to be involved. Personally, I think that's the one downside to having someone from the other class grade us, because there's no way to tell how involved they were with the whole process.

      Also just because there wasn't a whole lot of commenting doesn't mean that people didn't read your blog as I found out. It's the same thing with Facebook. people read, but they don't have anything to say.

FIGHT VIDEO!!!!!!!!!!!!

So it is finished! I hope you all enjoy it. It took many hours of editing and several different editions, but IT'S DONE!!!!!

I hope you enjoy it!

the Shoot

We started the day out pretty intensely.

I got a new actress to play Atalanta at 9:30 PM on Friday night.

I was awakened at 6 AM Saturday morning by a text from said girl saying that she was throwing up blood.

At 6:05 I called my little cousin who agreed to the part and to be at my house in under an hour.

At 6:20 I was asleep again, only to awakened back up at 6:35 by a text from Nic Betker, the man who plays Meleager and was in Forever Strong saying that he was at my house.

Between then and 8:10 everyone else shows up and we start cutting everyone's BYU INAPPROPRIATE  costumes. There was much cleavage on the men's part, and there was not one sleeve to be found.

We arrived on location at 8:30 and started to put freezing cold creek mud all over our bodies, screaming profanities as a college class went by teaching about all the different uses of the park. We became a new lesson for that class. ha ha

At one point one of my actors (a marine) broke my spear and did not tell me. He asked if he could run off and get something from his car. It took him over an hour to get back to location, wherein he went to the local Smith's and back with Cameron and Nic. He attempted to fix my $80 spear with a cutting board and black duct tape. It actually worked quite well.

We dressed up the spear in spare cloth from everyone's deceased shirt sleeves and it actually looks quite well :)

We started the actual filming around 9:30 and between then and 5:30 the following events happened.

Dogs did not stop coming into our filming location. It was ridiculous. I had to put Rebecca on Dog Guard Duty. In her doing so  we were able to maintain the integrity of many a shot

Blood was everywhere, but not as much as I would have liked. Although Nic and I were asked later on if we were okay by a couple of stoners.

Everyone had food and water. No one passed out from the heat or dehydration. Nobody went into shock after the shoot like I did after the first alley shoot I did that I showed you guys, although I guarantee that there  was much slumber! everyone was exhausted by the end of the day.

Injuries were taken including slivers, bruises, cuts, stabs, and sunburns. The best of all of them was when the marine tried to dodge Meleager's punch. Well.... he dodged his eye straight into his fist. The Marine went straight down to the ground. I'm going to put that into a blooper reel.

He was a good sport though. He did three takes after that and then we sent him home. I ended up playing his acting double later on, but you'll never know it :) heh heh heh the wonders of movie editing and angles!

Cameron unleashed his inner actor and ferocious beast. He really surprised me with how well he did. All the coaching and especially his practice paid off.

We had a great shoot and everyone was fairly well behaved. It was loads of fun for sure and I can't wait to show you guys the final product, but that probably won't happen until Saturday I'm guessing. I did learn a few things this time through though.

I need to be more attentive to camera angles according to the action. I can't assume that the camera man knows the best angles. I need to vocalize my vision to him better.

Along with that I need to ALWAYS tell the actors to adjust their action. Because I didn't I lost about half of our footage.

With film, there is almost always a way to edit around the rough edges, you just have to know what you're doing :)

With all that said I love you guys, especially the Meleager team for going along with such a crazy idea of a fight shoot in the mountains without shoes for most of the time. I had a lot of fun and the video is turning out really well so far!

Getting prepped for the fight shoot

Alright, so we've got the script thanks to Rebecca. She and I edited it yesterday, and it's good. But not quite as good as the video production is going to be! It's gonna be sweet.

as this is a blog I would like to vent some anxiety. In the last few days I found out that some of  the costumes and weapons I was going to be borrowing from my old high school are now unavailable to me because the school is shut down for spring break.

Costumes, not a problem. Walmart to the rescue right.

The weapons? oh dear, now that's another story. Where the heck do you find Spears and swords a few days before a film shoot?


The South Towne Mall, that's where.

Guys I just bought an $80 replica, battle ready spear from the movie "300".

yeah... I just bought that spear for our fight video, along with another cool knife.

I always use top notch things for my fight videos and I consider my weapons an investment in future choreography gigs so no worries if you didn't just spend $120 on your project for this class.

My only anxiety now is that the spear is still heavy and super sharp and it can do some damage to the body if used improperly. But don't worry, I know exactly what I'm doing! I'm taking a grinder to take off the sharp point so that if it does hit some one it's not going to puncture the skin :) I've done this a million times with other knives that I use in my shows. I just need to get out my jitters about the fact that I actually bought a spear.

Who does that?

Anyway, so all of the people in the movie are going to be meeting at my house on Thursday night from 5-8 PM so I can teach them their lines and their choreography. It's going to be sick!

Meleager story line justification/analysis

So Cameron and Rebecca showed me the error in my blogging ways.  My blogger was about 2 years old. I now can put videos directly into my blog, like what I've wanted to do this entire time.... sad that it's at the end of the semester. Forgive me if there are still some technical errors I'm still getting used to it all.

So Rebecca and I sat down on Monday and analyzed two Shakespearean assassinations that would lend to our story. We analyzed Julius Caesar's death and also the death of Hector in Troilus and Cressida. These are the notes on structure/ and or human behavior with murder that we saw in these scenes

Julius Caesar

1) Uncertainty/ fear of being found out by murderers
2) suspiciously high praise to the man they are going to kill
3) Sealing the deal (aka the "stabbity death") [ha ha name that reference]
4) Instant pronouncement of the deceased's death to the public
5) Reaffirming one another and a strong command to stand together

Hector
A) Hector is without armor
B) Achilles strikes Hector down mercilessly
C) Achilles swears vengeance on Troy

So while thinking about our story we decided to take these elements and combine both of them into our story of a scene in act 4 of Meleager, but with one key difference. We wanted to play the dipole with a few of the attributes of these scenes to make it more authentic, cause Shakespeare would never write the same fight scene twice!



So here's our story so far. Rebecca is writing out specific dialogue to match the story line. every time you see a letter or number in parentheses, look to the notes on the other two plays to see how they coincide :)

ACT 4
Meleager gives the Calydonian Boar skin to Atalanta as a prize for striking the beast first.

In the passing of the skin, her disguise is revealed.

(1) Plexippus and Toxues (Meleager's brother and uncle) fear being sentenced to death for not telling the officials of the hunt about Atalanta being a girl. Punishment for both would be being thrown off a cliff. So they plan to kill her for the council to get out of being punished.

Meleager stands up to them because of his adulterous love for Atalanta

(2) Iphicles and Eurypylus start praising Meleager for being such a noble man while inching over towards Atalanta, whom they take hostage.

Atalanta drives an arrow shaft into the leg of Eurypylus and pushes away Iphicles. Iphicles starts running as soon as Euriponditis pursues him. Exeunt both men.

Plexippus and Toxeus go after Atalanta again and they knock her out to prevent her from causing more damage. (A) Meleager is trying to stop them the entire time while completely unarmed. (B)After trying to talk them out of murdering her while she's unconscious  he Kills both Plex and Tox. (reverse B, 3, &4) Meleager gives mercy to Eurypylus and lets him go after swearing him to a pact never to reveal the identity of Atalanta as the stranger who entered the competition.

Meleager then follows after Euriponditis

____________________________________________

Next scene

Iphicles enters and hides from Euriponditis who enters very quickly after.

Iphicles swears that he won't tell a soul about Atalanta, but Euri doesn't believe him.

Battle ensues

(3) Iphicles falls

enter Meleager

Euri worries about the word getting out that he killed Iphicles since a lot of people suspect that Euri is in love with Iphicles's wife, Chloe.

(5) Meleager tells Euriponditis to man up and stand tall because Meleager will just blame the whole thing on Iphicles trying to steal the boar hide, and that Meleager killed him for stealing such a prized possession.






Yup, that's what we've got so far! It makes me wonder if we should have based it after all the confusion in Hamlet, or Macbeth though. I really like what we came up with though. It makes for some cool plot progression!

updates

So I've gotten in contact and hired(in other words they said they'd do it) a lot of people for our group project. some of the people included have the following on their resumes:

"Forever Strong" the movie



















"Father of the Bride" at the Hale Center Theater











"Macbeth" with Guerrilla West Theater Company

























"The Blooming" an indi film sent to the Sundance Film festival


and many, many more!

I still need two more guys, and the prospects are hopeful. I've already filmed some preliminary choreography which I hope to get on the wiki later today.

So that's what I've done. How's your guys' progress coming class?

Meleager prep

Hey sorry I haven't been as active this week with my posts. I just got in contact with one of the fight choreographers of the movie "Troy."


I set a up a meeting with him tomorrow and I've been doing a heck of a lot of research figuring out different fighting styles that would have been used by the ancient Greeks so I don't come unprepared.

I've also been doing some contacting local actors who are going to be a part of the Meleager fight that Rebecca and I are currently writing. I've got a few parts precast, all I need is 3 more guys and we'll be set.

So don't think that my lack of posts means a lack of progress, all it really means is a lack of evidential progress that will soon come to more epic fruition.

Love's Labours Lost

So I went to the show on Saturday and I found myself pleasantly surprised. The cast was amazing, except Biron. I didn't like Biron so much, his acting felt contrived. I really liked this guy though! and my date really liked "the dumb one" in the back ground.



I've actually done shows with both of these guys. They're really cool. First guy is Cameron Bench and the guy in the back is Sam Bostwick.

Cameron's character had more of a northern British accent, like David Tennent in Dr. Who. He was also a little more serious. It made his character grounded. I believed that that was what his character would do in those circumstances. I don't want to give too much away because I know most of you haven't seen it yet, or read the play all the way through.

Speaking of which, I hadn't read it all the way through before I saw it and the ending caught me completely off guard. It got me thinking about my own situation. I personally will be turning in my papers after the semester is over, and it makes me think that if I were dating someone, would both I and she wait 1-3 years to get back together. Would it make us stronger for it, or would we both part separate ways? Lots of questions were inspired by that performance.

gtg to a meeting with the Meleager group. I'll post more later.

Men's Psyche When in Love

I love picking out sections on this topic. It helps me when I people watch to get characterization ideas for plays.

BOYET
Why, all his behaviors did make their retire To the court of his eye, peeping thorough desire: His heart, like an agate, with your print impress'd, Proud with his form, in his eye pride express'd:

Have you ever seen that before. When a guy will get all proud with himself. He'll try to make himself look bigger than he is. He'll flex his muscles unnecessarily. He'll lean in closer than he needs to. It's funny to watch, my only question is, girls, does it work?





















His tongue, all impatient to speak and not see, Did stumble with haste in his eyesight to be;

I see guys stumble over their speech all the time. Especially when there's more than one guy competing for one girl's attention. They'll volunteer to do anything for them even if it's inconvenient to the man's schedule. As long as it prevents another man from getting time with her, that's a necessary evil.



















All senses to that sense did make their repair, To feel only looking on fairest of fair: Methought all his senses were lock'd in his eye, As jewels in crystal for some prince to buy; Who, tendering their own worth from where they were glass'd, Did point you to buy them, along as you pass'd: His face's own margent did quote such amazes That all eyes saw his eyes enchanted with gazes.

Most guys should be able to stop themselves from doing this. They'll start staring from afar and fantasize about being with the girl. I think that's romantic, and stupid. Men are supposed to be creatures of action. If you fantasize about being with the girl, then make it happen. No need to be glassy eyed when you can be admiring and talking right to her in her presence. Get yourself together! Have confidence! Heck, that's what Shakespeare was telling women in his first sonnet: that's they're more attractive when they have confidence. I'm sure it goes the other way around from the ladies perspective!














I'll give you Aquitaine and all that is his, An you give him for my sake but one loving kiss.

I have nothing else to say on this other than this guy is the best wingman ever). :

Costard

oh, dear Costard, I feel so sorry for you. You didn't even last five minutes into the play and already you have to only eat Bran and water. blech, and I though Raisin Bran was bad enough to eat every day. I would imagine that there was no sugar in that bran though. I love the word play that Costard does with Ferdinand in order to get out of his punishment for being with a girl. It's brilliant.

FERDINAND
Ay, the best for the worst. But, sirrah, what say
you to this?

COSTARD
Sir, I confess the wench.

FERDINAND
Did you hear the proclamation?

COSTARD
I do confess much of the hearing it but little of
the marking of it.

FERDINAND
It was proclaimed a year's imprisonment, to be taken
with a wench.

COSTARD
I was taken with none, sir: I was taken with a damsel.

FERDINAND
Well, it was proclaimed 'damsel.'

COSTARD
This was no damsel, neither, sir; she was a virgin.

FERDINAND
It is so varied, too; for it was proclaimed 'virgin.'

COSTARD
If it were, I deny her virginity: I was taken with a maid.

FERDINAND
This maid will not serve your turn, sir.

COSTARD
This maid will serve my turn, sir.

FERDINAND
Sir, I will pronounce your sentence: you shall fast
a week with bran and water.

COSTARD
I had rather pray a month with mutton and porridge.

Fasting

"I can but say their protestation over;
So much, dear liege, I have already sworn,
That is, to live and study here three years.
But there are other strict observances;
As, not to see a woman in that term,Which I hope well is not enrolled there;
And one day in a week to touch no food
And but one meal on every day beside,
The which I hope is not enrolled there;
And then, to sleep but three hours in the night,
And not be seen to wink of all the day--When I was wont to think no harm all night
And make a dark night too of half the day--
Which I hope well is not enrolled there:
O, these are barren tasks, too hard to keep,
Not to see ladies, study, fast, not sleep!"

"I am resolved; 'tis but a three years' fast:"

Say what? ONLY three years!

He makes it sound like that's some small amount of time. I don't think I could give up the rest of the world for 3 years. I mean sure missionaries set themselves apart from the world for 2 years at a time, but they still talk to people and they still are active. Heck they even get P-days to do what they want, and 8 hours sleep. I'm trying to do school now and only getting 6 hours sleep and I'm still doing this.

Pankration: Authentic Ancient Greek Fighting Style

Since I was doing some research on how to make Meleager more real, and seeing as I love fight choreography, I decided to research Pankration. It's a form of martial arts that was practiced by the ancient Greeks that has been rediscovered and retaught to modern Greeks. My favorite part is where they kick the shield in half using a move called Gastrizein at 7:38. I still can't upload it straight to the page, so you'll have to link to it here

This is an ancient depiction of the shield cracking kick. Pretty legit huh? Anyway, another good reason for watching the video is that they give a good look at the kind of diet and exercise that Meleager would have had.

On top of that, you see a good selection for the kind of set we would want to build with the stone buildings and the olive trees that are all around. It also gives a better look at the kind of pottery/utensils that Meleager would have used. It's a great show, and when Cameron and I choreograph the deaths in Act 4 we'll refer a lot back to this style.

Yay for the History Channel!

Meleager Act I part II

After Atalanta leaves the table Euriponditis (yur-RIP-un-DITE-us) settles in her place. The innkeeper makes him check in his weapons at the bar, but Meleager snatches a spear before it is completely handed over. He appraises the weapon as being crafted by a master weapons maker and accuses Euri as a thief. Euri contests that he is the weapons maker himself. Meleager retorts that one so small and so poor would never have the skills or the money to be able to make such masterwork weapons.

These insults continue until Euriponditis is nearly thrown in prison for stealing, but a woman (Chloe) walks in through the door that can attest to the fact that he is a blacksmith of the weapons trade and also notes that he is a fine hunter as well.


Meleager takes note at this attribution and challenges Euriponditis to the Hunt for the White Stag that is to take place at the end of the week. Euri, with his pride wounded, sees this as an opportunity to regain his honor and also to shame Meleager who has flaunted his journeying with Jason in his face more than once in the last few minutes.

Meleager walks out the door to rest for the night.

Euriponditis talks to Chloe and starts to fall in love with her, only to realize at the end that she is a married woman (as told to him by the innkeeper after she leaver) and that Iphicles is her husband.

Meleager Act I

Meleager gets off the ship that just sailed with Jason and the Argonauts to find the Golden Fleece. Before making the day's journey back home he decides to rest on land for a night. He enters an inn in Calydon (the city that he's from) and sits down with an beastial/ woodsmanly, yet attractive woman named Atalanta. Meleager notes her rough exterior and gruff mannerisms but also points out in an aside to the audience that seeing a woman that can stick up for herself is refreshing.

Meleager (aside):

Had we met in other circumstances
I would think that we should hunt the same beasts,
Eat the same slop, and likewise the same muck
Water; But I cannot help to think that her
Form is pleasant to mine eye with such strange
Qualities that I cannot express the
Wonders of my heart. Were I able to
Be struck by Cupid, for a legitimate
Woodsman he will never be and therefore
Could never track me, I would answer 'Hail'
To him that had pierced this bull's eye of flesh.
I will engage her again

(and back to his normal script)

He enjoys teasing Atalanta while she tries to challenge him. Meleager sadly notes that she is a woman and would never be able to officially compete in a hunt, a foot race, or a wrestling match. Atalanta takes this as even more of a challenge to herself and settles to get into a hunt by any means and beat the ruggedly handsome warrior by any means necessary.

Stay tuned for part two!

Meleager Authenticity

So Rebecca, Cameron and I got together on Monday to hash out a basic story line for Meleager by Shakespeare. We came out of our meeting with a pretty good story plot. Not only is it intriguing, but the plot is built in a chiasm.

What's chiasmus?

It's a form of Hebrew poetry that was used in writing the Bible and also the Book of Mormon. It has a symmetrical story line that meets in the middle and then repeats itself in an inverse order with the most important things in the middle. oh and note also that when it starts the inverse repetition that it goes in a negative perspective. So if it said "eat cake" the first time, it would say "don't not eat cake" in the second.

Now what's that got to do with Shakespeare, Kent? This isn't a Book of Mormon class.You're right! It's not.

But good old Billy wrote his plays using chiasmus! One play I know for certain that he did was Cymbeline. If you look at the plot structure, and the characters in the scenes it's hard to miss! the characters only appear in a chiasmal order.

let me illustrate with an example

in a 5 act involving myself and Andrew and a few others from class, the play it would be organized like this

1................................. Kent, Andrew, Katie
2............................Kent, Cameron, Dr. Burton
3.......................Kent, Andrew, Katie, Rebecca
4............................Kent, Cameron, Dr. Burton
5.................................Kent, Andrew, Katie


Does that make sense?

Now go look at the plot points that Cameron posted again and see how we organized the major plot points to be in a chiasm. Remember the negatives on the second time around!

response to Anne

I think it's very possible that both of them loved each other very much. But I think the basis for that love was founded on the wrong ideals. I believe that they loved each other more for looks and position than who they were on the inside. A classic example of this that came to mind (and don't judge me) was that of the TV show GREEK.




It's a show about college life in fraternities and sororities. One of the major characters is named Evan Chambers.

He dates a girl in the third season because she's pretty and self confident, manipulating and quite honestly a Cleopatra. She dates him for his looks and his money (like millions in a trust fund).


Whereas they might actually like each others personality, and help when they can, you can't help but to feel a sense of uneasiness just looking at them. There's just not enough substance in their relationship, it's all about political (the Greek system wise) power. They have to prove their love to each other, rather than just loving. It's bad.

So there you go Anne, that's how I feel about Antony and Cleo

Story for the final project

So I was doing some research and I thought watching an episode of Xena would be a good choice for finding a story. Xena always ties in Greek and Roman mythology into the plot. I love it.

What did I find. Not what, but who!

Meleager. That's who

I did some more research on him and I think his story would be a perfect candidate for our class project. It's got war, the woods, classic prophecy from the beginning (the fatal flaw), romance, room to flesh out characters. We can even find room to add in some of our own characters. Maybe a B line of Meleager's never before heard of Sidekick Euriponditis, a lower class war attendant who provides Meleager with his weapons and food, and even has somewhat of a meddling role in the killing of Meleager's brother. I'm sure we can put in the pump up speech and cross dressing as we like.

Check out the wikipedia page by clicking on the image to find out his whole story! I think it could be very creative.

King Lear in Dance

So I'm pretty sure that you guys don't really need an explanation for the story here. I would like to see what you guys think. I realize it's not the best recording of all, but sometimes parents don't always like to film everything at once like they should, they only focus on their child....

I can't figure out how to embed the video, so I'll just link it to this picture of the dancers


Oh and don't worry, I've put a lot more meat on my bones since I did this dance. If you can't watch it, then just friend me on FB until I can figure out how to get the video onto youtube.

Edgar/Tom's favorite words

My favorite is Flibbertigibbet.

Flibbertigibbet is a Middle English word referring to a flighty or whimsical person, usually a young woman. In modern use, it is used as a slang term, especially in Yorkshire, for a gossipy or overly talkative person. Its origin is in a meaningless representation of chattering. ^[1] It does not always apply to females, however; it has also been used to describe Jiminy Cricket due to his whimsical, chatty nature.


So the next time you see a gossipy freshman walking around campus being trite and all hush hush, call her a Flibbertigibbet! See what happens

What's your favorite word of Edgars?

For those of you who haven't read Act 3 Scene 7 with the BYU recording. Thank your luck. I haven't heard or seen such a mortifying thing since I was a part of dance about rape. It was based off of Titus Andronicus for a competition at the USF.

This BYU recording was so good that I nearly wanted to heave my stomach out onto the keyboard. I guess that's the price we pay for good actors right? Realism.

I believe though that sometimes we are supposed to be exposed to those things that might disturb us to keep our conservative minds in a state of actualism. That we might see things as they really are. We may deny that there are children dying in Africa, or that our soldiers were tortured in the Middle-East, but the sooner we realize reality, the better citizens we become. We become aware of the potential of man: good and evil.

Court of Crazies

Okay so what the heck is going on when King Lear appoints Edgar to an imaginary judge and then presents his two daughters in the form of sticks and stools?


I'll tell you what. King Lear has lost all power over his children and his kingdom, so he takes advice from people that are so under him (Edgar pretending he's Tom, and the Fool) for two reasons. One, because they won't lie to them. Two, because he feels as lowly as their station. Unfortunately, because King Lear is around the two people that talk in circles, he starts going a little bit.... mad, crazy.

Quite honestly this part reminds me of a absurdist play where it's all about the breakdown of language. The most common one known is The Bald Soprano. I myself during both the court scene in King Lear and also in The Bald Soprano found myself saying to myself:

"why does this part exist?"

The crazier thing is that I actually find this run-around logic quite logical. You just have to listen to what they're saying and follow the train of brain thought rather than specifically what they're saying. If that doesn't make sense to you, that's okay. I have many friends that tell me that my own life is an absurdist play and that's the only reason that I get it. :/

I Cannot Heave my Heart into My Mouth

Duke of Kent

And your large speeches may your deeds approve,
That good effects may spring from words of love.

O!!! how right the Duke of Kent is. Goneril and Regan have pulled a pharisee moment. Like the pharisees of old that used to let other people know that they were fasting, disfiguring their faces and complaining of hunger, their reward was the appraisal of men. Goneril and Regan got the appraisal of their father.

Cordelia well put the fact that actions speak louder than words. She would rather act before she speaks. Unfortunately she has a "pharisee" for a father that cannot realize that the love between them is the strongest.

It makes you wonder what kept King Lear a king as long as he was.

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Edmund: a Bewidlering, Beguiling Bastard

This has to be one of the best monologues ever written. He has very valid points. Just like Shylock he was beaten down for something that he couldn't control. Shylock was a Jew, Edmund was a bastard. You really have to ask yourself, if you were in Edmund shoes, what would you do? Would you fight your brother? Would you run away? Would you challenge your father in an open duel?


This is a picture of Edmund from the Utah Shakespearean Festival production of King Lear in 2007


EDMUND

Thou, nature, art my goddess; to thy law
My services are bound. Wherefore should I
Stand in the plague of custom, and permit
The curiosity of nations to deprive me,
For that I am some twelve or fourteen moon-shines
Lag of a brother? Why bastard? wherefore base?
When my dimensions are as well compact,
My mind as generous, and my shape as true,
As honest madam's issue? Why brand they us
With base? with baseness? bastardy? base, base?
Who, in the lusty stealth of nature, take
More composition and fierce quality
Than doth, within a dull, stale, tired bed,
Go to the creating a whole tribe of fops,
Got 'tween asleep and wake? Well, then,
Legitimate Edgar, I must have your land:
Our father's love is to the bastard Edmund
As to the legitimate: fine word,--legitimate!
Well, my legitimate, if this letter speed,
And my invention thrive, Edmund the base
Shall top the legitimate. I grow; I prosper:
Now, gods, stand up for bastards!

More Manly Men

Another thing about how men's brains work is shown through the ridiculous character of Dogberry. Guys also can have a hard time with letting things go. Girls, if you don't get this it's like calling a man a little boy; it's a total slap in the face.

One that lingers too...
Especially when someone criticizes how they do their job. Dogberry has this exact situation happen.

A servant calls Dogberry an ass because of the ludicrous way he does his interrogations (which is total gestus btw which I talked about about a month ago. The guards are played up to be complete idiots so that the lower class can have something to laugh at back in Shakespeare's day). So Dogberry gets totally defensive and calls for the scribe to come back just to write that down. check it out :)


DOGBERRY

Dost thou not suspect my place? dost thou not
suspect my years? O that he were here to write me
down an ass! But, masters, remember that I am an
ass; though it be not written down, yet forget not
that I am an ass. No, thou villain, thou art full of
piety, as shall be proved upon thee by good witness.
I am a wise fellow, and, which is more, an officer,
and, which is more, a householder, and, which is
more, as pretty a piece of flesh as any is in
Messina, and one that knows the law, go to; and a
rich fellow enough, go to; and a fellow that hath
had losses, and one that hath two gowns and every
thing handsome about him. Bring him away. O that
I had been writ down an ass!

So lesson learned boys and girls, don't blatantly criticize a man for what he does unless you want him to harbor bad feelings towards you for a while ;)

Much ado about.... Something

So last week instead of listening to the Librivox, I listened to the BYU library's audio play version of "Much Ado About Nothing." I loved it! There were real actors and they also had background music/ sound effects that put you in the scene. Even though it was hard sometimes to understand their words because of their British accents, it was BRILLIANT! The actors were actually reacting while the other were talking, like you do in real life, and you could hear it on the recording. I would HIGHLY RECOMMEND THE BYU RECORDINGS!!

Something that I posted about a few posts back was about men's attitude. It think Much Ado has another nugget of gold when it comes to the this area of psychological mindset. Men tend to over analyze any situation. ESPECIALLY when it involves a girl. I don't get it. Benedick is so smart at the beginning I feel. He knows he doesn't want Beatrice, but then as soon as he thinks that she likes him, it's like Beatrice's whole personality suddenly changed from this

to this.

When in reality, the only thing that has changed is Benedick's perception of her. Seriously this next monologue is right after Benedick overhears that Beatrice supposedly likes him and then she comes to fetch him for dinner because she's told to by her uncle.

Benedick
Ha! 'Against my will I am sent to bid you come in
to dinner;' there's a double meaning in that 'I took
no more pains for those thanks than you took pains
to thank me.' that's as much as to say, Any pains
that I take for you is as easy as thanks. If I do
not take pity of her, I am a villain; if I do not
love her, I am a Jew. I will go get her picture.

Seriously! just seconds before this he was saying how he wanted nothing to do with her. I can't believe he's gullible. But there's something else at work here.

The dude totally over thinks the whole thing! He finds a deeper meaning when there isn't one because he makes one for himself to tell him that he's right. I've seen this done many times before.

I admit, I am a man. (did you know???) I have done some of these same things, but none quite so bad as some of the people I love dearly and will leave nameless just in case they ever read this blog. yeah.... seriously.... I hope he never reads this........ :/

But the thing is, we men don't just over think things when it comes to women, we over think competition too. We start to overcompensate in some areas of competition so that we feel sure that we're going to win just in case some other guys does what we've anticipated. (no I'm not talking about guys who drive trucks) More often than not, nobody is going to make our anticipations come to life, unless we tell other people about it. It's like if you joke about somebody turning on an alliance in the game RISK.


We joke because we're afraid it's going to happen, but then some other guy gets the idea ONLY BECAUSE YOU SAID IT and actually does it. Self fulfilling prophecy. huh, that sounds like a lot of things in life actually.

Have I met myself half way?

Shakespeare literacy:

not quite.

The only thing I've done is go to the Merchant of Venice and watch Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead (which I'm currently writing a blog post about).

All the other plays I've either already read or have been in, so it hasn't really increased my depth as much as brought a few more things to my attention.

Analyze Shakespeare critically:

I would say that I've actually done some of that, especially with the posts on the Merchant of Venice specifically my posts entitled Racism and Man's Attitude. In my original plan I wanted to go into historical detail because it would stretch me.

I've also done theatrical analysis on much of the stuff explaining why things are they way they are. Refer to Librivox? and Making Fun of the French


Engage Shakespeare creatively:

I have already performed a monologue for the class as well as read several sections of the plays aloud.

I also have watched Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead ( as before mentioned, I'm currently writing a blog post about). I think Tom Stoppard's adaptation of Hamlet into this work is brilliant and also a new way of thinking about Shakespeare.

I also have a plan in the works for getting people to record two monologues from the Merchant of Venice, one for guys and one for girls and then piecing them together. But now that everyone has read it maybe I'll choose two monologues from my individually assigned plays. I will admit I've never read Othello and I'd like to give that a whirl, although I have directed two short monologues from it before. Maybe I should post that video in a post.


Share Shakespeare Meaningfully:

I've done some blogging, both formal and informal. I've also done some Facebook posts and some in person discussions with my acting friends. I was considering putting up a post about that, but my posts take a long time. I don't know that I've mastered writing an effective blog post yet.


Gain Digital Literacy:

I've listened to librivox for all of the plays except The Tempest.

As for producing content, I try to post links to other websites and artists that are worth looking into, or are relevant to the subject.

I would like to think that I've added to the class discussions for in class participation, as for outside, I have to go out of my way to actually get somebody who doesn't say "I hate Shakespeare." so I can work more on that one.

Say What!?????

Sorry I haven't really posted much in the last week and half, I've been stressing over this Doctrine and Covenants midterm that I have to take and everyone says it's super hard. I've got several posts that are saved as drafts they're just not finished yet.

So I'm in my Writing 150 class (which I'm taking for the third time to get a 1% better grade to get into my major) and I'm reading my Perspectives on New Media as part of an assignment. My teacher told me to flip open to a random article and start reading. I turned instantly to this one entitled "Dear Students: Don't Let College Unplug Your Future." Instantly I thought that it could be interesting. Guess who wrote it. Dr. Gideon Burton. yeah that's right. I'm reading stuff from my Shakespeare teacher in my writing class about blogging and new media in general. WHAT!!!!!???

HOLY CROSS SECTION LEARNING BATMAN!!

So I read the entire article and I have to say it completely changed my view on social media and especially on blogging. I've never been much of a blogger; I'm still not one even after having been in this class for a while. I found it profound that he addressed the exact thing that I was stressing over at the top of this post. College tests! You guys seriously need to read this article. It's really good. Oh and he used the word esoteric again, which I lol-ed in class at (which was really weird because everyone else was so quiet. Awkward)

The article also reminded me that I don't have to always listen to my communications teachers when they say you have to be careful what you post on the web. I can write informally here on this blog because that's where it's supposed to be. It won't be held against me when I go to apply for a job. That being said I did a ego google of myself. Didn't find much that wasn't connected to this blog. But then I did a ego google of my user name Skeggoms.


Sadly I found some things that I'm not proud of. Like that Flixster account I made when I was 12, and a Combat Arms online player profile I made when I went through my gaming phase. I've since deleted them as best as I can. Even though I've found those two negative things, I found many MANY more positive things. Like the link to my Youtube Channel where you can see things that I liked and even a fight video that I produced a little while ago as my application into the Advertising Program. I can see all the contributions to the social media world that I've made just my typing in my user name. CRAZY.

I then got the idea to ego google DR. GIDEON BURTON. Have you seen all the contributions this guy's made? holy Crap! He's got pages beyond pages of stuff. Also did you know that he has another professional blog? How many blogs does this guy have and how does he keep track of them all?

Professor Burton's article has actually inspired me, even though I'm not a blogger. I'm going to start up a blog/website for my fight choreography projects. The first one I did was my application, which if you haven't already checked out, you should. I've got millions of ideas about different film/theatre projects that have messages to them that I want to explore. I never thought about letting other people help me get more ideas because I've always been afraid someone would steal my own ideas. There comes a point where you have to stop being the old fashioned university and just make the leap onto the freedom of the webby internets. And yes I'll be using Skeggoms as part of the blog name. I'm also going to link it to a friends website that also a film major at the U that helps me make these ideas come to life. check out Blooming Filmmaking on FB.

Man's Attitude

What do you think? Did Portia nail it on the head?

PORTIA
They shall, Nerissa; but in such a habit,
That they shall think we are accomplished
With that we lack. I'll hold thee any wager,
When we are both accoutred like young men,
I'll prove the prettier fellow of the two,
And wear my dagger with the braver grace,
And speak between the change of man and boy
With a reed voice, and turn two mincing steps
Into a manly stride, and speak of frays
Like a fine bragging youth, and tell quaint lies,
How honourable ladies sought my love,
Which I denying, they fell sick and died;
I could not do withal; then I'll repent,
And wish for all that, that I had not killed them;
And twenty of these puny lies I'll tell,
That men shall swear I have discontinued school
Above a twelvemonth. I have within my mind
A thousand raw tricks of these bragging Jacks,
Which I will practise.

Yes, yes she did.

Honestly it's a little bit sad that a man's attitude has not changed in the last 400+ years. I mean take a look at the character of Barney Stinson played by Neil Patrick Harris on "How I Met Your Mother." His whole goal in life is to have as many one night stands as possible. Does this sound like Portia's bit:

"Like a fine bragging youth, and tell quaint lies,
How honourable ladies sought my love,
Which I denying, they fell sick and died;"

It's not the exact same, but it's transformed into something worse. Rather than just lie-bragging about women whose heart's Barney has broken he's actually disgraced over 250 women. Granted he's a fictional character, but I've actually heard this kind of talk all over the place. It's not very common place to hear of a guy that values the relationship he's had with a one-night-stand. In fact, it's nearly impossible to find.

Racism

Portia says this in respect to a Moroccan Prince:

"if he have the condition
of a saint and the complexion of a devil, I had
rather he should shrive me than wive me."

To most people this would sound like racism! But is it? Is it racism if you are just not attracted to a certain body type or skin color. I know for me I'm personally not attracted to Asians. I don't know why. I'm just not, which is strange considering my best friend is full blooded Chinese. I have nothing against them. I respect their culture and think it's actually fascinating. But even if an Asian girl is really good looking, I'm just not turned on.

See! She's gorgeous. But in my head I'm going "eh." :/

Now on the other hand, the scene between Antonio and Shylock is FULL of racism.

SHYLOCK
Signior Antonio, many a time and oft
In the Rialto you have rated me
About my moneys and my usances:
Still have I borne it with a patient shrug,
For sufferance is the badge of all our tribe.
You call me misbeliever, cut-throat dog,
And spit upon my Jewish gaberdine,
And all for use of that which is mine own.
Well then, it now appears you need my help:
Go to, then; you come to me, and you say
'Shylock, we would have moneys:' you say so;
You, that did void your rheum upon my beard
And foot me as you spurn a stranger cur
Over your threshold: moneys is your suit
What should I say to you? Should I not say
'Hath a dog money? is it possible
A cur can lend three thousand ducats?' Or
Shall I bend low and in a bondman's key,
With bated breath and whispering humbleness, Say this;
'Fair sir, you spit on me on Wednesday last;
You spurn'd me such a day; another time
You call'd me dog; and for these courtesies
I'll lend you thus much moneys'?

Now the question to me is where does the hatred of certain race come from? Mostly I'd say that it comes from an initial confrontation between two people from two different cultures that was never resolved. Between the Jews and the Christians specifically it all goes back to Christ. The Jews crucified Christ and the Christians never forgave them for that. The Jews also have a burning passionate opinion that Christians worship in a heretic fashion. But most of all, they both lay claim to the same religious monuments in Jerusalem. Take a look at this article. (Click on the picture)

Shylock really encompassed the thought process when he gave this monologue

"To bait fish withal: if it will feed nothing else,
it will feed my revenge. He hath disgraced me, and
hindered me half a million; laughed at my losses,
mocked at my gains, scorned my nation, thwarted my
bargains, cooled my friends, heated mine
enemies; and what's his reason? I am a Jew. Hath
not a Jew eyes? hath not a Jew hands, organs,
dimensions, senses, affections, passions? fed with
the same food, hurt with the same weapons, subject
to the same diseases, healed by the same means,
warmed and cooled by the same winter and summer, as
a Christian is? If you prick us, do we not bleed?
if you tickle us, do we not laugh? if you poison
us, do we not die? and if you wrong us, shall we not
revenge? If we are like you in the rest, we will
resemble you in that. If a Jew wrong a Christian,
what is his humility? Revenge. If a Christian
wrong a Jew, what should his sufferance be by
Christian example? Why, revenge. The villany you
teach me, I will execute, and it shall go hard but I
will better the instruction."

Does this kind of racism still exist? Absolutely! Check this article out.