Romeo & Juliet

Two sides of a tragedy

Romeo and Juliet, a classic tragedy written by William Shakespeare; from beginning to end this play captures the heart and the emotion behind the fight for true love. This play has been made into a film twice and was able to evolve through its remakes. One of the films was made in 1968, staring unknown teenagers at the time, Leonard Whiting (Romeo) and Olivia Hussy (Juliet); directed by Franco Zeferelli. At this time Zeferelli would be the first to remake the play as well as, be the first to have the characters nude in the marriage bed scene. Also he decided to actually film the movie in Italy, with most of the scenes being shot in Verona.

            As for the second remake of Shakespeare’s play; it was directed by Baz Luhrmann and stared Leonardo DiCaprio as Romeo and Clara Danes as Juliet. This was a remake that was even more modernized than the 1968 filming. This version was filmed mainly on California’s Verona Beach, while the Capulet’s home was filmed in Mexico, and for weapons they used guns and knives instead of swords. These were not the only things used throughout the film; there were also drugs involved during the scene when the Montague’s crash the Capulet’s party, as well as modern clothing; button down shirts, vest and regular pants. There were many aspects of both films that were similar and at the same time very different from one another, as compared to the play it’s self and the most obvious difference between both remakes was the death scenes. In general both films have the same themes; love, hate and fate, and in the end the two lovers take their own lives, but the setting, the look, the way they went about the act of committing suicide, all of these aspects were  quite different in their own way.

             In the 1968 film, the scene was set in a tomb in Verona, Italy this was the “Capulet’s tomb.” Over all you could tell the quality of film was a little less during this period of time, the lighting was different, the body language of the characters were different, even the way in which the scene took place was a lot different as compared to Luhrmann’s version. The lighting in the tomb was very dim, almost dark even; you’re not able to see the other bodies that lie dead in the tomb very well but the actors themselves are well lit. There is a key light that illuminates both of the main characters faces during their speeches and when they die, this way it seems to bring the audience to focus on them and not whatever else is in the background. The dimed lighting throughout the tomb, gives one the sense of sorrow and sadness, the light is also dimed on Romeo’s face from time to time during his speech, which in someway give the audience the idea that he is preparing to kill himself. I feel because they were finally putting one of the most well known tragic love stories, I think that the lighting and the way that they had it for this scene, it able to give the audience the true emotion behind it.

            Not only was the lighting in this film significant to the emotion and meaning in the movie, but the clothing also played a deep role. In the death scene, Juliet is wearing a red/amethyst colored dress, in most films the director uses the color red to symbolize the arrival of death at some point through out the movie; he also included it during the scene where Romeo and Juliet first meet. The fact that she was wearing a red dress in more then one scene including the death scene, in a way signifies that she would ultimately be the reason for the two lover’s death; she is a Capulet, she persuaded him to swear his love by marrying her, and in the end Romeo kills himself because of the choice she made to agree to take a poison which she got from Father Laurence. Over all one could say that she was the reason for their deaths.    

            Throughout this movie, I felt that historically, the directors idea for the way he designed the film in general, kept with the visual image that you get from reading the play. For the lover’s death scene, Zeferelli filmed in Verona, which for me, enhanced the classic look of the film. He also used daggers, for the suicide of Juliet. Zeferelli was able to keep with all the themes of the play its self; love, hate and fate. During this scene I noticed that, while Romeo was looking over Juliet in the tomb; though she does not move he looks as if he can’t understand why it is the color is returning to her cheeks and lips; he says, “Even death hath no power yet upon thy beauty. Death’s pale flag hath not advanced there.”

            Looking at the cultural aspect of the movie/play arranged marriages were very common during this period of time. An in many cases the two individuals do not love one another, but I think that Shakespeare put a twist to it, when he decided to have the two lovers commit suicide. The way that the suicides were carried out, I feel was very traditional at the time, the using of poisons and daggers, this way Shakespeare was able to keep it in most way, similar to what was going on culturally at the time. I feel that Zeferelli had the responsibility, because it was the first time Romeo and Juliet would be on the big screen, to make it as similar to the play that all people know and love.

Romeo and Juliet (1968) was only the beginning for this famous play, it was not until 1996 that this play evolved once again through the eyes of a director named Baz Luhrmann. He created an even more modernized version of this tragedy; using some well known actors as well as some not so well known. He changed the setting, the clothing, the style of the characters in general, (buzz cuts, pink hair, tattoos, etc.) the use of drugs when referring to “queen mab,” the weapons used, the opening scene and the way the prologue was presented; and in this film, the play was introduced by a newscaster. All of this and more was modernized to fit or relate to the world we lived in at the time.

            One of the most interesting thinks I noticed about this film was that when Romeo met his Juliet, he met her while under the influence of acid, so I wondered how he could be so in love with someone, when he met her when he was not mentally all there. Another interesting part of this movie was that they did not have the famous balcony speech, instead the speech was held in the Capulet’s pool, where their interaction with one another was at times a little steamier then the interaction between Olivia Hussy and Leonard Whiting.

            In this film the color of red was represented a lot of the time; in the scene where the Capulet’s are preparing for their party that the Montague’s crashed, they hung the family crest on different flags out side of the windows, and each flag was red. Juliet’s cousin Tybalt was also in red at the party because his costume was a devil character, and of course as we know he dies towards the end of the play. The difference between the red portrayed in this film as compared to the 1968 film, is that Juliet to some extent came off as playing a more innocent role, despite the fact that both characters, (Hussy and Dane) play the same role, Dane’s was, in small but significant aspects portrayed differently. For example her dress in the first encounter with Romeo, was white not red, which in most cases is a symbol for innocence. While Romeo’s character came off as being pushy and more inclined to persuade her into being with him, for example when they were both in the pool and he yelled that he did not care if he was found or caught, this was his way of showing her how “serious” he was about his feelings for her.

            Over all this version of Romeo and Juliet is different is so many ways, but it works for what the director was trying to do, but at the same time keeping it all the same. One of the most unique things about this film though was the way in which they set up the death scene of the two lovers. In this version, Juliet’s body lied in a church and not the Capulet’s tomb. In this scene the church was well lit, there were a ton of candles lit which helped to illuminate the room a lot more along with the directed lighting. In this version Juliet wakes up as her Romeo is drinking the poison, this gives a good sense of irony throughout the rest of the scene. The one nice ting about it was that Lurhmann he kept the traditional portion of Romeo using the poison to kill himself, but Juliet used Romeo’s gun. Historically during this time period, suicide is in some ways frowned upon, so when Dane’s looks up before she pulls the trigger, the way the light hits her face, it looks almost as if she knows what she is doing is wrong. She still carries that innocence about her; she is wearing a white dress and I thought it was interesting that when she shot herself none of her blood ended up on her dress, but some did manage to splatter on to Romeo’s face, I felt that maybe that could be a sign of blame.

            The characters body positions were a lot different when they died compared to the way they were positioned in the 1968 film. In this version they laid there side-by-side and her hand draped over/on his chest and I thought that it symbolized their “togetherness” even in death, while in the older film Hussy and Whiting did not lay side-by-side together.

Over all the two films have strong similarities as well as differences that make them unique and enjoyable. I believe that with Lurhmann’s version it is in some ways more relatable simply because it is more modern they Zeferelli version. Both movies give a different type of emotion to the same idea being presented, gives one a reason to think, of why one directed choose to go about things differently to some extent then the other director. Either way, film represent what Shakespeare wanted us to see and understand, that true love knows no bounds, knows no fear, and that it will last forever.

Are real Villains the only ones we see on television?

What is it that makes a true villain? Do they have to break a crime? Do they have to well known for their horrible deeds? Or is it that a villain can be the very person you say hello to everyday, or that friend you tell all your secrets to? I think that villains come in many different disguises, and sometimes we don;t even realize it. Maybee in reality the best villains are the ones who’s names are never in lights. the ones who are so sneeky and descreat that we never see them coming. Sometimes i wonder if the individuals i worry about the least in my life, are the very ones who will hurt me in some way shape or form.

For this assignment i picked one of my most favorite villains, The Joker. I decide to take both Jack Nicolas version and the Heath Ledger version of The joker and to some extent compare the two and just describe how both are uniquely evil in there own was.

Personal: My first impression of the joker is that both characters a disturbingly interesting, though both picture are very different they both have the ability ti send chills down my back. The picture to the left reminds me of the old batman movies i always watched as a kid, while the photo to the right made me want to make sure i go and see this new version of batman as soon as it comes out. It seems more intense, then the previous movies.

Historical:The Joker has always been one of the worlds best villains, I feel that in this remake that they are creating the producer had the job and the responsibility to keep some of the characters authenticity as well as put a more modern twist to it. From the previews I have seen The Joker seems even more deranged then before. They keep the same clothing  as before to a certain extent. They use a darker purple for his suit, the rich color gives off the darkness that is the jokers character, at they same time they keep the green hair and white face but they make it so its not as polished as the old joker characters. The makers were also able to keep the permanent smile that is always on jokers face, thought it is never a happy smile.

Ethical: I feel that the subject as well as the producer has an obligation to keep the character as original as possible. They had to show how great of a villian The Joker really is without taking away from the fact the evil never triumphs over good.

Cultural: The white of The Joker’s face gives off the cold or foreshadowing of death for the character, also his smile and the fact that it is red  gives you the sense that he enjoys the things or the line of work he is in and because his mouth is red; it could symbolize the evil of the joker himself. The producers keep the classic purple suit in both shots, but in the  shot on the right they make it a deeper purple, which gives off the sense that the crimes that this Joker has committed may be worse then before.

Critical: They make the image of The Joker scary, because that is his character, from his smile all the way down to his finger tips, this character oozes evil. They need him to standout from the good characters, he has to have his own villain identity.

In an online article; Pop Culture: “Fulla doll: Arabs answer to Barbie,” it talked about the similarities and the few differences between the two dolls. For example both barbies have the same shape face, they are both the same height and even the shoes are the same in height and size, the differences between the two are just as simple to see, but I feel make a bigger impact.

Personal: The clothing of the two dolls at first glace, i could see they are very different, the fulla dolls have the long black robs that cover them from head to toe, even in this photo you can hardly see the doll’s hands. The Fulla dolls don’t have the vial’s across their faces, that took me slightly by surprise, only because I assumed that that is what they would have. I found it interesting that they made barbie dolls or (Fulla dolls) that are able to represent the identity and culture of Arab women.

Historical: This is a good example of how Arab women have been dressing for years. Culturally Arab women are not st show off there bodies in anyway, that includes tight clothing. People are not to see that their figure; hips breast, thighs etc. This is away that they show respect for their culture and themselves.

Technical: I am not sure if there is a source of light in this picture. I dosen’t seem as if there is. i thik they presented this photot well, showing the distinct differences as well as the few similarites between the two dolls.

Ethical: Morally I think that the photogarpher had a resposibility to show the truth about the way in which Arab women present themselves. As well as showing that there is no problem with the way Arab women represent their culture.

Cultural: One symbol used in this picture was the use of black, the color in general helps to make you look slimmer, and in this case because the facbric is so lose fitting it hides the shape of the woman. also the length as well as the way the rob is drapped, you can tell that no individual is to see who she is physically.

Critical: this photo shows how Arab women are portrayed and howthey are expected to present themselves.

The Red Violin is about the perfect violin that was mad by a man named Nicolo. He made this instrument for his unborn son, in hopes that one day he would be come a great musician, but when Nicolo lost both his wife and son during child birth, he decided to finish the violin and donate it to an orphanage.  After his wife and son’s death he brought his wife’s body back home. Nicolo was in the stages of varnishing the instrument, he put in some of his wife’s blood, which gave the violin the rich red coloring. The violin travels throughout the world, from one musician to the next and because of it, its owners have experienced anger, love and betrayal.

Personal: I thought that this clip was very dramatic in the way that the atmosphere and the body language of the character kept changing as well as the emotion. Each scene gets more depressing as the time passes, to the point where you almost get the sense that Fredrick might be dying from such sadness. The way the clip beginnings, with the lack of lighting, and how dark it is outside, as well as the music that is being played i could tell right away that this was going to be a sad, depressing but very passionate scene.

Historical: the film began in 1681, and in this clip (in the 1890s) Fredrick was smoking opium to easy his “pain.” I think at this time it was common for people to use opium to relive themselves of physical pain, but in this case i think it was more emotional and mental pain. Things appeared to be kept very classic looking, everything from Victoria’s carriage to the exchanging of letters between the two lovers, because at that time there were no phones.

Technical: In the beginning of the clip Fredrick is sitting at a desk about to write a letter to Victoria, you can see that there is a good about of natural lighting or maybe even a key light coming from the window in front of him; this lighting is able to illuminate the room. In the scene where Fredrick is causing the hair’s of his bow to loosen or unravel, the lighting in the room is very dim, your able to get a sense of his agony. While Fredrick is in the tub there is that shines on the letter he is reading from Victoria, but not so much on him. I’m not sure if that is a key light, but because there is hardly any light shined on him you are able to get that feeling of sadness coming from his character still.

Ethical: I feel the film maker had the responsibility to make this scene as real and as passionate as possible. Part of the story behind the red violin is that it has a way of bringing out the best and worst in people and situations, and in this clip the film makers had to be able to portray the type of emotions that the violins owner must go through.

Critical: In this film the red in the violin was from the dead wife Nicolo the man who made the violin; you find that in this clip alone that there is a lot of red objects in this film. the curtains, the bed post, the covers on the bed, red in the carpet and Fredrick’s red hair. All of these things possibly symbolize the foreshadowing of death, since he eventually kills himself.

I have lived in Reno for a while and one of the only things i have found interesting about this town, is the many different tattoos that people seem to have. I myself have 7 tattoos, i started getting them when i turned 18 in my senior year of high school. Through out the years, its seems like to a certain extent, tattoos are a trend amounst some groups of people. Here at UNR many athletes have tattoos, and many of them have more then one, I being one of them.

Perosnal: I love tattoos, its a way of expressing yourself through a form of art. this particular picture is of my friend, his tattto is very detailed, and i notice for many guys have tattoos in this same area. Also I found that many guys have tattoos that have a religious meaning to it, I see this a lot with black males. I like the fact that this tattoo is as big as it is, which is very sexy in my opinion.

Historical: The guy in this photo got this tattoo a month ago at Stain Tattoo, owned my Ness, the same artist who did all of my tattoos. I feel that a tattoo like this shows how religious he is, it also shows his respect and commitment to God and the respect he has for what Jesus did for us by dying on the cross.

Technical:I’m not too sure so much about the lighting of this picture, in the tattoo its self, the artist made the shading so that the fished work look as if there is a beam of light coming from Jesus’s crown of thorns, he also made it so it made the face of Jesus look lighter, making the head of Him stand out even more.

Ethical: when choosing a tattoo, it is important that it is tasteful. Other people are going to possibly end up seeing the art on your body so its good to know your not going to offend anyone. You have to be responsible in what you decide to get, this is a premenet decision. But i notice that very few people go wrong when it comes to religious tattoos.

Cultural:I dont know if i would say that this is a specific trend with in a culture, Among many athletes on campus you will find that almost all of them have a number of tattoos. I would have to say culturally i find a lot of African Americans, male and female who have tattoos, especially among balck men. Many men do it to express and show how they feel about life, or the things that they have gone through in the past.

In this chapter as well as in our assignment, the part where we had to critically analyze the photo we had chosen, I couldnt quite understand why there had to be issues that transcended in the image. In photos, is there always an issue that can be found? Does it always shape someone personal reaction?D all photo’s need to be anaylized the way in wich the steps in this chapter showed? In part i feel like if a photo is so deeply anaylized it takes away from the personal feeling after while, istead of going with your original feeling about the picture.

Personal: I love the fcat that this picture is in black and white, at first sight it makes me remember my high school track days. our shed at the back of the field, the long one hundred let in our “latter” workouts, the lane you will be in for the 200m dash. This photo brings back intense memories.

Historical:I ran track all throughout high school, it was not my intention to run it in college, but as “luck” would have it i have now been running track here at UNR for two and half years, almost three. This photo i feel have strong relevants to my life, I am on the track everyday and its somthing i will be doing for another year and a half.

Technical: In this photo there is a good use of natural light toward the back of the photo. from what I can tell I can’t tell whether or not there are any key lights  becuase there is a shadow on the track; it makes it look as if all they did was use natural light. The medium in this photo I think is the angle in which the photo was taken, the slight slant and downward angle; looks like the person was sitting at a distance and zoomed in maybe. I think i portrays the dramaticism of track its self, looking at this picture makes me nervous as if i were about to run a race.

Ethical: The producer has the resposibility of taking the picture as is, not to change or alter anything on the track or the field in the background, and as a viewer I think I have the resposiblity of view the photo for what it is, to try and see it through the photographers eye’s in most ways. 

Cultural: The numbers On the track, I know that everyone worries about what lane they are going to be in, also the long straight of the hundered in the photo, depending on where the finish line is, that strech is the hardest and the most dramatic part of the race.

VH1 wrote a reviwe on the album cover and the songs on Jill Scotts new album, they said that the cover and the tone of some of the songs did not match the meaning behind the album its self. I wonder, is an album cover suppose to speak for how the entire album is suppose to sound? they asked does she look like she has to hail down a cab? What does that type of woman look like in the first place? Is it only women who who dont look like platinum recording artist, are the ones who hail down cabs? they asked does the cover show that Jill Scott really wakes up in the middle of the night by the need to write songs with an anguished look on her face? how do they know if she does that or not? She could in fact do that quite offten, and the song that she does end up writing at that time could be Andy Kellmen’ favorite song, (author of the VH1 review). Is it the way in which Jill Scott looks in the cover, which is the problem, for example her clothes, or her make up, or maybe even the way in which she is holding her hand bag? Is it the way the lighting is in the cover? How it lights up the cover, causing it to appear as if it is a happy album instead of an album refecting the struggles in her own marriage.

For this weeks posting i decided to pick this album cover for Jill Scotts cd, it was on of few cover that caught my attention. In this picture, she is leaning up against the wall and you are abla to see a man in the background, but not very well. the lighting in this picture is very bright, but the amount of light is not so much directed at her. In her album its self it has a lot to do with the romancing of couple, and the passion through music within a relationship, i think thhat is why you see the man in the background of the cover looking toward her.

Lighting

In this cover there is a good use of side lighting, you can see how it reflects her shadow on to the side of the wall where she is leaning. There is also a high key lighting coming from behind her, which also causes the man in the bcakground of the picture to almost be washed out. This lighting causes contrast in the picture, (the man in the backgound).

Color

There is a good use of color ocntrast in this cover, it helps to excentuate jill scott as the ablum’s cover main objective. There doesn’t seem to be a high key color or a low key color, its hrad to tell because the are no perticulra colors that stand out thats fall in to a high or low key cataglory.  

Framing

In the cover they there is a wall or piller that stands off to the side. It doesn’t quite get washed out with the rest of the background but it help to bring out Jill Scott. the framing of this cover, i thought was good becasue it bring the focuse in on the artist, it washes out half of the picture its self leaving the artist as its main focuse, as it should be.

Composition

The focal point in this picture is of course Jill Scott, but i also think that she shares it with the actual title of her album, the size of the words and the color of the words themselves, go well with the contrast in the background of the photo. At the same time, Jill Scott is not in the center of the photo, it gives the viewer an oppertunity to see everything better then if she were in the very middle.