ENGL 339: Shakespeare
Dr. Debora B. Schwartz
English Department, California Polytechnic State UniversityA Midsummer Night's Dream: Video Questions
Review General Instructions for Personal Responses to the Required Video Screenings.
All video assignments are to be submitted to your PolyLearn Group Discussion Forum. For each assigned video, you will answer each of three questions TWICE:
Both your ungraded Pre-Video Analysis responses with your own thoughts on the play and your graded PR analyzing the assigned video should be clearly numbered (questions 1a, 1b, 2 and 3). Remember that for the ungraded pre-video analysis posting, you are answering the questions based upon your own informed understanding of the text, as if you were a director planning your own prodcution of the play. Your graded PR should answer the same questions as you feel the director of the assigned film might have answered them.
- once for yourself, prior to seeing the video, based upon your own informed understanding of the play; this "pre-video analysis" posting is ungraded, but it is required for you to get credit for your graded PR. It should be completed before you screen the required film and must be posted to your Group Discussion Forum before the class meeting when the required video will be discussed.
- a second time after screening the required video, the Joseph Papp Public Theater / N.Y. Shakespeare Festival production of A Midsummer Night's Dream, directed for the stage by James Lepine and for film by Emile Ardolino. (You must screen this film in its entirety, either at a scheduled group screening or on your own, prior to the scheduled video discussion on the last full class day devoted to A Midsummer Night's Dream). The second time, answer the questions as you believe directors James Lepine and Emile Ardolino would, based upon your attentive viewing of the video and informed knowledge of the text. (Be sure to identify the film clearly by Director's name and year produced.) Your GRADED Personal Response analysis of the required video is due no later than 10 PM on the Friday following class discussion of the required video and clips from other filmed versions of the play.
As you write up these questions, take care to state your interpretation clearly (it is your thesis) and support it textually (cite specific textual passages with act, scene and line numbers). For the video, cite both specific non-textual details from the video screened AND at least one key speech or scene which the director may have been thinking of when making these choices about how to film the play.
General Questions to answer prior to screening ANY Shakespeare video:
1a) What is the central issue in this play? (What is it really about?) Upon what speeches/textual passages is my (or is the director's) understanding of this issue and its central importance based?
1b) What non-textual details would I use (or are used in the video) to get this message across? Consider the contributions of director, actors, set and lighting designers, costumers, choreographers, musicians, cinematographers, etc. -- NOT elements common to ANY production of the play (such as plot lines or speeches that are in the script regardless of the director's interpretation).
Specific video questions for A Midsummer Night's Dream:
2) What is the nature of the fairies? What do they represent? How would I, as director (or: how does this director) communicate this idea to the audience? On what speeches is this interpretation based?
3) What is the function of the Pyramus and Thisbe play? Is it just there for comic relief? What more serious purpose or function might it serve? And again, how would I (or: how does this director) communicate this understanding to the audience? Upon which speeches (in the Pyramus and Thisbe play or elsewhere in A Midsummer Night's Dream) is this understanding based?
Click here for A Midsummer Night's Dream Study Questions
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