The portrayal of adolescence in a film is a relatively new concept, and one that many directors have attempted in their career to varying results. Some directors are able to capture the awkward, bumbling phase of adolescence perfectly. However, there are some representations of teenagers that cause much debate, and can generally leave viewers confused about the director’s intentions. On one hand, a director can undoubtedly celebrate teenage culture through a variety of techniques, however on the other hand they can criticise teenagers and their aimed demographic, in some cases simultaneously, and especially when adapting Shakespeare. William Shakespeare’s Romeo + Juliet is an adaptation that has stirred much controversy since its release, and it’s easy to understand why. Critics deemed the film kitsch, tasteless, and even went as far as to dismiss it as “MTV Shakespeare” because of its fast-paced style and blatant advertisement in some of Shakespeare’s most paramount scenes. I thoroughly believe that Baz Luhrmann is attempting to get teenagers interested in Shakespeare by reducing the complex themes of forbidden romance and familial rivalry into a superficial film that contains many aspects of an MTV music video, which can be deemed problematic as it assumes that that is all that teenagers would ever be interested in.
Something that is clear when watching the adaptation is that Luhrmann attempts to catch teenagers’ attentions through modernisation. It has been said that
Baz Luhrmann, a well known film director, adapted this love story to film in 1996, which is called Romeo and Juliet. William Shakespeare’s play Romeo and Juliet, is a tragedy about two young lovers who cannot be together because their families are enemies. Baz Luhrmann directed 'William Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet' recounts the Romeo and Juliet story utilizing Shakespearean Language set as a modern day environment. Not all viewers would recognize the language of Shakespeare so the mise en scene and additionally the performers' developments are essential to ensure that the audience recognizes what is happening inside of the dialog. In this essay, I will talk about whether Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet and Baz Luhrmann's film updates Shakespeare
Teen Rebellion is a common theme throughout movies, literature, and song lyrics. Teen rebellion is a normal action through teen years. Teen rebellion is caused by wanting to prove a point and a craving for freedom. During teenage years you always want prove a point weather to an authority figure or even to yourself. Also teens are growing into adults and tend to grave freedom. In Shakespeare's “Romeo and Juliet” both Romeo and Juliet rebel against their families. The two families of Romeo and Juliet are the most bitter enemies and only care for murdering the other family. Romeo of the Montagues and Juliet of the Capulets are now falling in love with each other but know that the war being families will be a complication to their love. Romeo
During the play Romeo and Juliet, Shakespeare manages to effectively depict the tragedy of Romeo and Juliet’s relationship. One way he achieves this is by creating sympathy for Romeo and Juliet, which consequently affects the reader and audience of the play. Three ways in which Shakespeare is able to create sympathy for them is through the general setting and plot structure, the language used, and also the characterisation of Romeo and Juliet.
When Juliet finds out that Tybalt has been killed and Romeo is in exile, for killing Tybalt, Juliet feels both passionate about Romeo and disappointed in both Romeo and herself, which reveal her inner struggle. In Act 3, Juliet’s Nurse comes back with this news that Tybalt is dead and that Romeo is such an awful person for killing him. Juliet fights back at the Nurse, and herself, for speaking bad about Romeo. She claims, ““Shall I speak ill of him that is my husband? Ah, poor my lord, what tongue shall smooth thy name, When I, thy three hours' wife, have mangled it? But wherefore, villain, didst thou kill my cousin? That villain cousin would have killed my husband.” (3.2.99-101). This shows that Juliet is passionate about Romeo, because first of all, she says that she was wrong to say bad things about her husband.
In this essay I will be looking at how Shakespeare presents love in Act 2 Scene 2 of Romeo and Juliet from lines 18 through to 127. After reading the majority of act 2 scene 2 we are now able to understand and interpret Shakespeare’s language and language devices further. Act 2 Scene two is set in the shadow beneath Juliet’s bedroom window, with Romeo hiding in the darkness. Romeo listens on as Juliet speaks of her love for Romeo to what she thought was the darkness however as we as the audience know Romeo is able to hear everything she is saying. Once Romeo has revealed he is below Juliet in the garden the two begin to exchange expressions of devotion for one another, this is what we will be unravelling in this essay to understand and
Many teenagers make bad decisions, and act in a way most adult would say is unintelligent. Romeo and Juliet was a story about two feuding families with the same wealth living in Verona. After a big fight Prince Escalus tells them that if there is another fight they will be killed. Later that night Romeo meets Juliet at her father’s party and they both fall in love, after the party Romeo talks with Juliet about getting married and she agrees to have the wedding the very next day. After the wedding the two families get into another fight. Due to the fight Mercutio and Tybalt gets killed. Romeo who was also fighting was sentenced to banishment even
Romeo and Juliet, written by William Shakespeare, is a tragic love story about two young lovers who are forced to be estranged as a result of their feuding families. The play is about their struggle to contravene fate and create a future together. As such, it was only a matter of time before Hollywood would try and emulate Shakespeare’s masterpiece. This had been done before in many films. Prominent among them were, Franco Zeffirelli’s 1968 “Romeo and Juliet” and Baz Luhrmann’s 1996 “William Shakespeare’s Romeo & Juliet.” Both films stay true to the themes of Shakespeare’s original play. However, the modernised Luhrmann film not only maintains the essence of Shakespeare’s writings, Luhrmann makes it relevant to a teenage audience. This is
A classic literature film adaptation made for a teen audience can only succeed with proper casting that embodies the stereotype of the modern day teenager. The success of the adaptation also relies heavily on the on-screen representation of teenagers’ daily activities and values, namely drugs and sex. Clueless, based on the classic novel Emma, and 10 Things I Hate About You, based on Shakespeare’s play The Taming of the Shrew, both include a full cast of teenage character stereotypes and a script filled with adolescent debauchery and fornication amidst their classic “high brow” story lines. While the 2013 adaptation of Romeo and Juliet gives the audience none of the elements they desire in a teen film. The audience leaves the movie theater feeling more like they just experienced a high school English class rather than the next big teen film of 2016.
William Shakespeare, is the most famous playwright of the English language as he successfully conveys many universal themes, in his 16th century tragedy, Romeo and Juliet, appealing to the audience during the time which it was produced. Hence it raises the question of how effective would Baz Luhrmann's 1996 film be as appealing to a 20th century audience? Luhrmann’s form of displaying the original play as a film, is a significant modern appropriation, as the audience can physically see the play unfolding, identifying the film's effectiveness. By drawing on the original themes of violence and love, and introducing numerous film techniques, Luhrmann's modern adaptation of the play will prove itself highly effective.
In the play, Romeo and Juliet, the entire plot revolves around the two lovers, Romeo and Juliet. They are both youthful and and childish characters, and their immaturity makes the play dynamic. However, there are several moments throughout the play where they show maturity. There is a sense of tragedy in each of these moments because the audience understands that in the short span of the six days this play occupies, the characters age years. Romeo and Juliet both mature as characters and as people throughout the events of the play. Their maturation is caused by the circumstances they go through.
‘Romeo and Juliet’, a play by William Shakespeare is one of the most famous love stories of all time and, while most people think that it focuses on just romantic love, it also includes many other types of love such as courtly love, friendly love, parental love and sexual love.
Baz Lurhmann’s creation of the film Romeo and Juliet has shown that today’s audience can still understand and appreciate William Shakespeare. Typically, when a modern audience think of Shakespeare, they immediately think it will be boring, yet Lurhmann successfully rejuvenates Romeo and Juliet. In his film production he uses a number of different cinematic techniques, costumes and a formidably enjoyable soundtrack; yet changes not one word from Shakespeare’s original play, thus making it appeal to a modern audience.
Love plays a crucial role in telling the story of Romeo and Juliet, clearly shown in the appropriated Luhrmann film. Using film as a new medium, cinematic techniques explore the love between Romeo and Juliet. The balcony scene is a clear example of how Luhrmann expresses this. To show his love for Juliet, Romeo decides to sneak into the Capulet mansion to confess his love for her. When Romeo sees Juliet through his window, light shines around her and he describes it as, “ the sun.” This suggests that Romeo is calling Juliet the brightness in his life. Luhrmann decided to portray Romeo
Romeo and Juliet’s actions may seem rushed and immature, but Baz Luhrmann’s movie offers a compelling insight into their decisions. By setting this Elizabethan era play in the present day, the viewer can see past the differences in scenery and clothing compared to those of their lives, to analyze the unique characteristics of the lovers’ society and upbringing that may have led to their hasty love affair and violent end. Luhrmann creates a culture of violence and speed through careful decisions regarding cinematography, editing, and sound.
In 'Romeo and Juliet', Shakespeare portrays different aspects and types of love in many ways. The obvious love is the fateful love between Romeo and Juliet although the play also displays platonic love, maternal love and aspects of adolescent love.