I don't have time to give you a real answer, but... I think you're making the wrong distinction. The difference isn't between modern and classic plays, it's between realistic and pre- or non-realistic plays.
Anne Frank relies for its effectiveness on re-creating a specific, realistic environment. That is, its setting is intrinsic to the piece. The Shakespeare plays you mention may have been set in a "specific time frame," but think about the original production: the costumes for King Lear were contemporary to the period in which it was produced, not the period in which it was set. More significantly, the stage was essentially bare: the setting was therefore imagined (differently!) by every spectator: now that's a post-modern phenomenon! Realistic plays, by contrast, aren't so open-ended. I don't think that's either a good thing or a bad thing, just a thing
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And I hadn't actually considered the original presentation of the history plays, but still... Aren't the themes of Anne Frank more universal than specifically Jewish persecution? It sort of feels like August Wilson saying that white people can't understand Fences. I just think if you focus on the themes of overcoming persecution, or intense maturation due to extreme circumstances, or holding on to hope in a world that seems devoid of such a thing, or even being grateful for the small shelter you're hiding in. These themes to me, can easily be used in different settings. If Anne Frank was set in Sarajevo would it REALLY cease to be Anne Frank? Why? The themes stay true. The essence of the play and the spirit of the girl still hold true. I realize it's not an accurate recounting of history, but honestly, neither is the play in it's original conception. So why try
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First off, I don't think it's so much that the themes and ideas can't be used to shed light on any more recent situation...I mean, honestly, you could draw parallels to Darfur (and several other regions) if you wanted to without missing the mark
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No, and I understand that completely. I think you're absolutely correct and that this is something that is probably much closer to home than say, changing the Crucible around to infer the trials of terror suspects or something because McCarthyism is so long and done for. (which I don't entirely understand seeing as it occured roughly around the same time period, but then again I guess the HUAC trials didn't leave millions dead in its wake) Anyway, yeah, I agree with you totally. Thanks.
You cite Shakespeare plays as being acceptable to change settings in. It's been acceptable practice to rework Shakespeare as a means of articulating the universal themes and nature of the plays. The same with the Greeks. Part of what kept those plays in the cannon was their adaptability. Also, as their events are long out of recent memory they are less likely to push buttons in and of themselves, so buttons are pushed by the interpretations.
Shakespeare's histories would also be rather difficult to classify as documentary plays, whereas the Anne Frank story, or The Laramie Project to use another example, are much more married to their settings
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Let me see if I can respond (also in not much of an order)
I hadn't even considered The Laramie Project as a viable similiarity; but it's a good one.
So, what would happen if you take The Laramie Project and change Mathew Shepard to a Muslim instead of a homosexual. Not to say that homosexuals aren't still being persecuted, (or for that matter that there isn't still anti-semitism in this world)but that this would update the play to an issue that is being addressed very much here and now on the front page of newspapers. Isn't the theme and essence of The Laramie Project (as well as Anne Frank) overcoming persecution and ignorance, and holding on to hope in the face of death? Aren't these themes relevant to more than one specific people and place
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I don't necessarily agree with this but....insaneamoebaJanuary 12 2008, 18:42:21 UTC
I think that the biggest reason difference between the 'classics' and something like the Diary of Anne Frank is that the classics are unabashed works of fiction based loosely on historical events. While the play may fictionalize aspects of the book, the Diary of Anne Frank is not a work of fiction.
Some other reasons plays like the Diary may be considered sacrosanct might be
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This is very interesting. My initial reaction is to want to vomit that you were laughed at for thinking outside the box. You are in a learning environment, and flexing your creative muscles should be encouraged. Even if this particular project was not about focusing on new ideas and approaches, the discussion should have been taken seriously by the rest of the room (because no way did the same question not pop into the heads of your fellow classmates.) The discussion should have been civilized like the forum here.
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Anne Frank relies for its effectiveness on re-creating a specific, realistic environment. That is, its setting is intrinsic to the piece. The Shakespeare plays you mention may have been set in a "specific time frame," but think about the original production: the costumes for King Lear were contemporary to the period in which it was produced, not the period in which it was set. More significantly, the stage was essentially bare: the setting was therefore imagined (differently!) by every spectator: now that's a post-modern phenomenon! Realistic plays, by contrast, aren't so open-ended. I don't think that's either a good thing or a bad thing, just a thing ( ... )
Reply
And I hadn't actually considered the original presentation of the history plays, but still...
Aren't the themes of Anne Frank more universal than specifically Jewish persecution? It sort of feels like August Wilson saying that white people can't understand Fences. I just think if you focus on the themes of overcoming persecution, or intense maturation due to extreme circumstances, or holding on to hope in a world that seems devoid of such a thing, or even being grateful for the small shelter you're hiding in. These themes to me, can easily be used in different settings. If Anne Frank was set in Sarajevo would it REALLY cease to be Anne Frank? Why? The themes stay true. The essence of the play and the spirit of the girl still hold true. I realize it's not an accurate recounting of history, but honestly, neither is the play in it's original conception. So why try ( ... )
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I think you're absolutely correct and that this is something that is probably much closer to home than say, changing the Crucible around to infer the trials of terror suspects or something because McCarthyism is so long and done for. (which I don't entirely understand seeing as it occured roughly around the same time period, but then again I guess the HUAC trials didn't leave millions dead in its wake)
Anyway, yeah, I agree with you totally.
Thanks.
Reply
You cite Shakespeare plays as being acceptable to change settings in. It's been acceptable practice to rework Shakespeare as a means of articulating the universal themes and nature of the plays. The same with the Greeks. Part of what kept those plays in the cannon was their adaptability. Also, as their events are long out of recent memory they are less likely to push buttons in and of themselves, so buttons are pushed by the interpretations.
Shakespeare's histories would also be rather difficult to classify as documentary plays, whereas the Anne Frank story, or The Laramie Project to use another example, are much more married to their settings ( ... )
Reply
Let me see if I can respond (also in not much of an order)
I hadn't even considered The Laramie Project as a viable similiarity; but it's a good one.
So, what would happen if you take The Laramie Project and change Mathew Shepard to a Muslim instead of a homosexual. Not to say that homosexuals aren't still being persecuted, (or for that matter that there isn't still anti-semitism in this world)but that this would update the play to an issue that is being addressed very much here and now on the front page of newspapers. Isn't the theme and essence of The Laramie Project (as well as Anne Frank) overcoming persecution and ignorance, and holding on to hope in the face of death? Aren't these themes relevant to more than one specific people and place ( ... )
Reply
Some other reasons plays like the Diary may be considered sacrosanct might be ( ... )
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Stacie steps off of her soap box and curtsies.
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