Shakespeare - crap or great?
Discussion
Based on this exchange
Out of all of his works, that is the one that we where force fed and it is the one I can't stand.Of course you are entitled to your opinion - but I am pretty sure you will find it is a minority opinion.
Any play about inter-gang warfare is pretty relevant and interesting in any era. Perhaps you weren't taught to appreciate the finer points of Shakespeare. Did you study any other of his plays?
We studied Romeo and Juliet and later Hamlet - and I loved them both, particularly Hamlet.
But, as I said, Shakepeare wrote dramas and poetry, not books, so probably not a relevant discussion in this thread.What are your thoughts on the Bard? Were you too young to appreciate the finer points at school, or is it a load of irrelevant mumblings even now?
My view? Unless you saw his plays on a stage, it meant nothing. Once seen how it was supposed to be shown, it transformed the words into something pretty spectacular.
Trace
Eric Mc said:
MorrisCRX said:
Eric Mc said:
"Romeo and Juliet" tripe?
my opinion and it's valid. Out of all of his works, that is the one that we where force fed and it is the one I can't stand.
Any play about inter-gang warfare is pretty relevant and interesting in any era. Perhaps you weren't taught to appreciate the finer points of Shakespeare. Did you study any other of his plays?
We studied Romeo and Juliet and later Hamlet - and I loved them both, particularly Hamlet.
But, as I said, Shakepeare wrote dramas and poetry, not books, so probably not a relevant discussion in this thread.
My view? Unless you saw his plays on a stage, it meant nothing. Once seen how it was supposed to be shown, it transformed the words into something pretty spectacular.
Trace
When studied at school I found literature in general a dry subject, though still scraped a C.
When I re-read Twelfth Night decades later I really enjoyed it, as I gradually remembered my lessons of yesteryear. Still struggled with a few others I tried at the time though as I had no one to 'translate' them for me. If I could've been bothered to read a guide or two I would probably enjoy more Shakespeare.
I enjoy 'classic' novels though, especially Dickens and Hardy and similar.
When I re-read Twelfth Night decades later I really enjoyed it, as I gradually remembered my lessons of yesteryear. Still struggled with a few others I tried at the time though as I had no one to 'translate' them for me. If I could've been bothered to read a guide or two I would probably enjoy more Shakespeare.
I enjoy 'classic' novels though, especially Dickens and Hardy and similar.
I'd rather go and watch Shakespeare than read it. I've seen some brilliant productions- David Tennant as Hamlet, Patrick Stewart as Shylock in The Merchant of Venice both at the RSC, Rory Kinnear as Hamlet and the Propellor Theatre production of Henry V both in Plymouth, and all brought the words off the page and into life
Paul Dishman said:
I'd rather go and watch Shakespeare than read it. I've seen some brilliant productions- David Tennant as Hamlet, Patrick Stewart as Shylock in The Merchant of Venice both at the RSC, Rory Kinnear as Hamlet and the Propellor Theatre production of Henry V both in Plymouth, and all brought the words off the page and into life
Very much that. Shakespeare never wrote the plays to be read as a book.Absolutely - it needs to be performed to be appreciated.
BBC's recent redoings of a number of Shakespeare's plays were absolutely stunning in some cases (Richard II in particular).
As a 13 to 18, I didn't MIND the plays we were studying - but I could easily understand other young lads (it was an all boys' school) being put off by the language. I learned to appreciate the plays in later life and have now seen quite a few of them performed.
BBC's recent redoings of a number of Shakespeare's plays were absolutely stunning in some cases (Richard II in particular).
As a 13 to 18, I didn't MIND the plays we were studying - but I could easily understand other young lads (it was an all boys' school) being put off by the language. I learned to appreciate the plays in later life and have now seen quite a few of them performed.
After being made to read a couple of different plays at school I quickly lost all interest to be honest. Wouldn't say he was crap to be honest, the fact his works are still performed/appreciated/studied today would suggest the true greatness of his work. But it still fails to interest me enough to want to read them.
This may just say more about me to be honest.
This may just say more about me to be honest.
MorrisCRX said:
It's the force feeding thats done in schools that ruins it for those like my self.
I've seen the tempest performed and I'm sure the rest are great in the medium they're supposed to be presented. (not sure that sentence made sense..)
Printed, they're of no interest to me.
I've seen the tempest performed and I'm sure the rest are great in the medium they're supposed to be presented. (not sure that sentence made sense..)
Printed, they're of no interest to me.
Exactly this 
I've seen most of them performed now at the RSC (sometimes living in the sticks has advantages), usually without the 'Stars' in them, but Shakespeare doesn't need 'Stars', it needs actors (not always the same
) The Taming of the Shrew is my favourite
So many of his plays are the basis for 'modern' films & very few have any idea!
plasticpig said:
Great. My introduction to Shakespeare was Macbeth. Probably rhe best play to introduce a twelve year old kid to the Bard. Murders, witches, ghosts, battles, treason and a high body count. Its also quite short which is a plus. It's still my favorite play.
http://www.derbytheatre.co.uk/performance/macbeth
The tragedies are both a little heavy going and, usually, highly contrived. The histories are fascinating to someone who is an avid historian - to get the 16th Century perspective on contemprary and recent history is awesome. The comedies are wonderful - invariably light and frothy with such a richness to the characters and such acute observation of human nature. There is no better way to spend a summer evening than watching an outdoor production of Much Ado or Measure for Measure.
Edited by ClaphamGT3 on Sunday 26th August 20:13
Ian McKellen's Richard III in the 1995 film that was set in a sort of 1930's Fascist Dictatorship was brilliant. Even I 'got' it.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pjJEXkbeL-o
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pjJEXkbeL-o
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