Essay Question

How [T1] do composers represent [T2] conflicting perspectives to influence their audiences? [T3] 

Examine Julius Caesar and ONE other additional text.

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 [T1]Techniques

 [T2]Not retelling thes tory but analysing HOW they do it

 [T3]The impact on “us” or “we”

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Don't forget boys - as soon as you can!!!

Mike

Ides of March Paragraph Example

In the same way that Shakespeare presents divergent viewpoints about Brutus and the situation of power in his dramatic tragedy, so too does George Clooney present the personality of Governor Mike Morris, a democratic Presidential candidate in ‘The Ides of March’. As an audience, we feel compelled to admire Morris; Clooney’s mastery of mis-en-scene presents him in a crisp bespoke suit, close-up camera angles on his smiling eyes and mouth and his endearingly inspirational metaphorical dialogue, “we either bury our heads in the sands of Afghanistan and Iraq…or we lead the world again, like we used to!” It appears that Clooney admires American politicians, and urges his audience to espouse them too, in the same way that Shakespeare presents Brutus as “the noblest Roman of them all”. However, we learn of Morris’ sexual infidelity and a divergent viewpoint is represented. Clooney casts a symbolic shadow over Morris’ face while confronting Stephen Meyer; his mastery of lighting is coupled with a low-camera angle, accentuating his power and manipulation of the situation and we, as an audience, understand the influence of Clooney in presenting us with a powerful personality in an impactful political situation.

M

Brutus vs Antony Comparison

The funeral scene of “beloved Caesar” presents two exceedingly different perspectives about the death of Rome’s dictator. Shakespeare cleverly uses his mastery of both textual form and medium through the use of stage directions to enable the audience to understand his view on Caesar’s demise, “they stab Caesar…seeing the body…Enter Mark Antony with Caesar’s body…Antony goes into the pulpit…Antony comes down from the pulpit”. As an audience, we understand that, although Brutus claims his actions were for “not that I loved Caesar less, but that I loved Rome more”, the “noble Roman’s” use of juxtaposition doesn’t hide the fact that he has conspired and allowed himself to be manipulated to commit a grievous act. Indeed, it is one that Shakespeare presents as contrary to the natural order, his clever manipulation of medium and stage directions “Knock within…they whisper…the clock strikes…thunder and lightning” from the orchard scene belying Brutus’ seemingly noble intentions. However, we feel no such pangs of confusion or conflict about Shakespeare’s portrayal of Antony. As he marks each of the conspirators to die, he then speaks in a powerful soliloquy, “O pardon me thou bleeding piece of earth, that I am so meek with these butchers”. His clever use of metaphor and graphic imagery again cleverly presents the audience with the dichotomy between himself and Brutus; we feel aligned with Antony.

Brutus vs Cassius Comparison

Don't forget the essay checklist...

The stark contrast between Shakespeare’s portrayal of “lean and hungry” Cassius and “noble” Brutus is evident from the fictitious play’s outset. At the arrival home of Caesar, Brutus admits to being “with himself at war”, Shakespeare’s use of metaphor presents us with a clarion understanding of the mental anguish Brutus is suffering, and, as an audience, we think of him as pensive, clever and reflective. However, after seemingly deciding that Caesar must be killed, “if it be aught toward the general good, set honour in one eye and death i’th’other”, his juxtaposition showing that Brutus’s somewhat lucid rationale is at least made with Rome in mind. Shakespeare presents the situation of power inverted by the “envious” personality of Cassius as the foil to Brutus, highlighting the difference between them, as he labels Caesar “his coward lips… did lose his lustre…as a sick girl.” His poignant and vindictive simile presents Cassius as a man whose loyalty and morals validate Caesar’s opinion of the senator as “dangerous”. As the overarching characters in the play, Brutus and Cassius are pawns for Shakespeare’s view that personal ambition and intended nobility are – at the very least – mutually destructive. Shakespeare masters the medium of a play to have their deaths bring about the restoration of the ‘natural order’, a recurring characteristic so common in the textual form of Shakespeare’s tragic dramas.

M

Character Comparison

Here's where you post them!

In the comments section below.

Make sure you do them on Word first - no sympathy for those who lose them. If it doesn't work on Safari, then try Firefox or Chrome.

See you tomorrow,

M

8B Creative Writing Tasks

For your exam:

We need to ensure that you've got two main things in your mind. Two different 'weapons' that you will able to use irrespective of the 'stimulus'.

I want you to do two things:

1 - Describe a man or woman, similar to my story from class today, who is walking down a street.
Are they old? Are they young? Body shape? Eyes? What is the street like? DO NOT TELL ME WHY THEY ARE WALKING. Focus on the descriptive language.

2 - The sun rises over a landscape. What is the weather like? What is the landscape? Sea? Country? Urban? Bright sun? Foggy? Polluted? Clear?

300 words on each

Post below (separately).

M

Final Essay Question - Int'l Perspectives

'Through periods of great difficulty, a new sense of personal understanding is achieved.'

How do the lessons that Tal, Naim and Karim learn in both texts reflect the above notion?

In your response, ensure that you talk about 2 / 3 themes and the importance of relationships.
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800-900 words

M

Love in Balcony Scene - How does Luhrmann present love?

20/20 Response

In Luhrmann’s modern adaptation, the theme of love is cleverly presented in the balcony scene where the two lovers present to the audience their true feelings. Both characters have been dressed in contextually clever costumes that exacerbate their emotions and their specific roles in the embryonic relationship. Romeo is dressed as a knight, symbolising his chivalrous role as he sweeps in to save Juliet from the loveless marriage to Paris. Juliet is dressed as an angel, symbolising her youth and purity. As the pair meet in the pool, they fall in and Luhrmann has cleverly used the motif of the water to cleanse them not only of their past relationships but also to reiterate the notion of purity in their new love. This notion is furthered as neither character wears make-up, underscoring their age and how they are laying bare their emotions for the other to see. As the camera zooms in on their faces, we see complete joy in both their eyes and the close-up continues this and the audience not only sees their love plainly, but also enjoys their fun and frivolity; a careless love that is new, tempestuous and exciting.

Place your attempt at answering this question in the comments tab below.

M