Macbeth Film Analysis!

Ooooh I love seeing Shakespeare performed--especially because every director/actor/costume designer/set designer/voice coach/tech manager interprets the texts in his/her own way. The challenge for these theatre professionals is to channel their individual interpretations into one cohesive, powerful production. You saw two different productions in class today: the 1971 Polanski production and the 2009 Folger production (directed by Teller and Posner). I am sorry that I couldn't watch the films with you, but I hope they were intriguing and thought-provoking. There are a million decisions that went into the film you saw today, so I hope you left class with an idea of what particular decisions you can now analyze. Your job in this post is to analyze something about either or both of the film versions. You can analyze (and remember, that means to argue something with specific support from the film) Lady Macbeth's purple dress or the vastly different performances of the "What if we fail?...We FAIL" scene or the portrayal of the witches in either or both performances...the possibilities really are limitless. Your goal, though, is to write a clear, eloquent analysis of the film(s) that hopefully helps us understand the repercussions and meanings of the choices made by each director. Please, please, please proofread before you post. I will be grading not just your content but also your style, so be thoughtful and deliberate. If you include citations from the text, make sure you cite them correctly!

Macbeth 1.7 Analysis (10A)

In one well-worded paragraph, analyze EITHER Macbeth's opening speech OR Lady Macbeth's rhetorical strategy in 1.7. You should, as always in analysis, ground your argument in specific references to the text. Remember that your job here is to argue not summarize. Proofread before you post. Include citations.

Macbeth 1.1-1.6 Analysis

In class today we looked closely at Lady Macbeth's two speeches in 1.5. There were many significant elements to both of these speeches--her "unnatural" vocabulary, her strange relationship with being a woman, the fact that she delivers the first soliliquy of the play, the battle imagery, etc.--that make her lines powerful not just in WHAT she says but HOW she says it. Tonight, I would like each of you to locate another passage (at least one line, but no longer than one speech) in 1.1-1.6 that you feel is significant in HOW it is worded and structured. Begin your blog post by copying the line(s) into the comment box, and then write a well-developed paragraph in which you analyze the selection. Remember that we have all read this part of the play, so you don't need to summarize. ANALYZE. Try to help us see your selection in a deeper, more meaningful way than when we read it ourselves initially. Good luck!

Shakespearean Sonnets

So fun! So fun!

Youtopia

This is so cool! Check out Backyard Paradises.

Then, open a new comment on this blog. In one sentence, respond (good or bad) to the backyard utopia that most interested you.

After doing this research, I want you to think about what your version of a utopian SCHOOL would be. BNW focuses on a utopian society, Backyard Paradises focuses on utopian outdoor spaces...I want you to create a utopian school. I am very serious about this. What would it look like physically? What would the schedule be like? Who would attend? How would people learn and grow? How would the different grades interact with each other? Would students be graded? What special events would occur? What would be part of the daily schedule? You are welcome to answer all or none of these questions, but you must get specific, creative, and intentional with your description. Help us SEE this school and understand WHY it is structured the way it is.

These posts are due by the end of the period.

Structure: Begin with a one sentence quote (and yes, put it in quotation marks) that captures your vision. Then describe and explain your utopia.

My non-honors sections will vote on the honors descriptions; my honors sections will vote on the non-honors. The winning students (one honors and one non-honors) will earn 10 Bonus points on their BNW Test, get first pick on which day they would like to present their research paper topic, AND get a one-day extension on their research paper. Awesome!

Everyone will earn 10/10 points for completing this.

Pro-Pro Arguments

In your comment, please post each Pro's thesis statement followed by topic sentences supporting that side's position.
PRO 1
Thesis: Haiti's recovery efforts have been hampered by an corrupt and ineffective government.

TS:

TS:

TS:

PRO 2
Thesis: Haiti's recovery efforts have been slowed due to inconsistent global assistance and a severe drop-off of media and medical attention.

TS:

TS:

TS:

Global Issue Topics List

Please post your list of ten global issues you are interested in for your research paper. Next to three of your topics, you should include a 2-3 sentence statement of what the issue is all about (this should be in your own words--don't lift this from another source). Finally, please put an asterisk before the topic you have chosen for your research paper. Thanks!