RESEARCH QUESTION!

What is it about Shakespeare’s plays that makes them so relatable, universal, and enduring in contemporary culture? What themes does he explore that make it so?

The play/script that I would like to use is Shakespeare’s most studied play, Hamlet. What is it about Hamlet that makes it’s storyline, according to Arden Shakespeare, capable of “seemingly endless retelling and adaptation by others”, and “the world’s most filmed story after Cinderella“? This might also explain why it was Shakespeare’s most popular work in his lifetime and ours. Hamlet can be analyzed, interpreted and argued about from many perspectives.

~Helena

p.s. Reason cannot be “because it’s really really good.” Even though it’s technically a reason.

I’m a monster-Origins of Drama

Theory one: Egypt

-This theory describes the use of “Pyramid Texts”, which contain dramas about sending the dead pharaoh off to the underworld.  This theory says states that the earliest forms of theater evolved with rituals and ceremonies used to illustrate the myths of the culture. The earliest form of this evolution is in ancient Egypt, around 2800-2400 B.C. Egypt also seems to have the very first passion play,  called the Abydos passion play, which concerns the story of Osiris, the Egyptian god of the underworld.

Theory two: Greece

-This theory states that the earliest forms of theater were found in ancient hymns in Athens, which later evolved into choral processions using costumes and masks. The idea of actors came into this as well, as members of the choral procession were given specific roles within the ritual. Later on, public festivals were developed, which involved dance, music, poetry, and other various entertainments. Among the most famous of these entertainers was Thespis, who would often read his poetry in a way that made him assume the character of the lines he was reading.  We is widely thought, because of this, to be the world’s first actor.

~Helena

I may not be a smart dog, but I know what roadkill is-Research Project Summary

1. One of the cultures I have decided on is Shakespeare. I am not completley unfamiliar with it, in fact, I’m rather familiar. But it’s something that I’m deeply interested in, and I would find great enjoyment in exploring it. One can never know too much.

2. The most notable I can think of is the style of writing: beautiful, rich, poetic, memorable. There are many lines that are so famous that even those who aren’t familiar with theater recognize (“To be or not to be” comes to mind). It can also be interpreted as a style of acting too: theatrical, big, yet still maintaining an interpersonal connection with the audience, as some monologues and asides require the actor to do so.

3. Shakespeare is, of course, highly regarded in British theater, seeing as he’s considered one of the greatest writers in the English language. His plays are constantly performed all over the world, from middle schools to the Royal Shakespeare Company. I would have to do more research on Elizabethan culture to determine how heavily politics or society had an impact on his work, but I do know that the reason his plays are so repititious (and the reason that his monologues consistently address the audience instead of another character in the scene) is that it was a method in order to get the audience’s attention, as they were often standing around drinking and talking. It’s a bit like Cabaret, I suppose.

But not too much like that.

4. I want to do a research paper about why Shakespeare’s work is so relatable, and so heavily performed in practically every medium. It’s very vague at the moment, but I’ll narrow it down as I continue my research. The play I wish to use is the one widely regarded as Shakespeare’s best, and my favorite tragedy of his, Hamlet.

~Helena