"The wise man's folly is anatomiz'd Even by the squand'ring glances of the fool." -- William Shakespeare
So, here I am, writing here when I should be writing my research paper. I'm easily distracted. I really have a lousy writing process, but when I get started, I usually bang out the work I need in no time. Problem is, I have no time. As I may have mentioned, we have a lot to do, the research is just one of many projects on the table. But for me, the paper is the most challenging. I seriously dislike writing something that may not be my best work. And I feel that this research will not be. Simply because I don't think I've done enough reading yet. And quite honestly, it's all my fault. I knew before I came that I'd be doing a research paper, but I waited until I came to start thinking about it. I'm trying to make a connection between a comedy - Much Ado, and a tragedy - King Lear, using Revenge as the common denominator. I have an idea, but I really need to look at it some more. Of course I don't have that kind of time, so, basically I'm just going to wing it.
Things here have been great. We have gotten along pretty well, and we've sort of made up little circles of friends with whom we spend more time. Now that doesn't mean there are people we don't like, there was at first, but walls have come down, and there is now less cattiness. Going out to dinner is still an ordeal on occasion. I'm used to going out with a group where it is unwritten that everyone will split the check. It's simple and causes no distress. Of course, until you go out with people who want to do accounting at the table, break out an abacus, and start trying to figure out what everyone owes by what they've ordered. I've yet to come across a situation where there are no problems doing it this way. The money is always short, people have left, and those who often really owe the most, put in the least, leaving the guy who had a coke and a salad shelling out 30 bucks. Now in the third week, we are starting to split the check. Note to self - ask what the custom of eating in a group is when you are with a new group!
This week we're studying Richard III. I have read this play recently, but studied it years ago. Some of the allusions have faded for me, and the minutiae of it all has evaporated. Even now, when discussing it at seminar, I don't feel like I have much to contribute. It's a good play, and Richard is a great villain, right up there with Iago, but the history and the complications of laws of succession gets confusing. We have only one more day, then we begin Lear. And I'm very excited to be studying Lear here because our lead scholar is the man when it comes to this play, and I'm going to be teaching it for the first time this coming year. Yeah, yeah, I know, I'm reeking nerdy, but I'm happy.
Performance is really cool. We've switched our acting teachers, and our new one is wonderful. She's very positive and energetic. I really liked our first instructor as well, and to have worked with both of them will really round out my understanding of performance, but I'm excited to be working with her now. I've heard great things, and we get to act some more on the stage at the Folger. We have to prepare for a final performance next week based on a script that my group has put together. I'm going to try to tape it to share later on.
I have another site you can check out if you want to see some of the work I've been doing while I've been here - http://mjklein67.googlepages.com/
We're going to see King Lear in New Jersey on Saturday, and then we begin our last week here. It's been such a great experience learning from the scholars and the other 24 people I'm here with. Hopefully I won't forget everything as soon as I get back!
Okay, back to the research paper.
I have got to tell you about Albert, our bus driver - the coolest cat I've ever met. Next time!
mahalo
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2 comments:
The language of the sonnets is different in many ways from the language of the plays, especially King Lear. In general, the sonnets are more abstruse, with more convoluted use of figurative language. They could be tough as an intro. to Shakespeare's language.
May I suggest a MAXIMUM length of 5 minutes for a dumb show presentation! The kids should also be required to submit a written guide to the dumb show, demonstrating how and why they translated specific words into specific movements.
Remember how you're feeling about writing the paper when you assign research projects. Your students will feel the same frustration but WITHOUT your discipline and experience. I know I always walked them through the project, showing them how to break the job into smaller parts.
I HATE people who insist on splitting a restaurant bill according to who had what. It's petty, irritating, and time consuming. If you eat less than someone else, you'll eat more at some future meal.
There's not a lot of revenge in King Lear (and not all that much in Much Ado About Nothing), so this could be part of your problem. What about comparing Don John and Edmund--both bastard sons who feel aggrieved and both unrepentant villains, like Iago (whereas Claudius, for example, does feel guilt). You could do a study of "pure" villainy in Shakespeare.
So this is what you were doing when I was in the other room working on my paper! :)
Erica
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