Sunday, November 14, 2010
Nov. 14th, 2010 11:35 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
bearshortyWe went to Brooklyn for most of the day, first to visit my grandparents and then for Papa’s doctor’s appointment. Most of the afternoon, Mama and I did some errands and some grocery shopping. I got some nice veal liver. Mmm. Can’t wait to fry some up on egg and flour. We also got lunch and walked along the boardwalk while waiting for my father to finish some tests. Mama was actually pleasant most of the day, and then had to ruin it by lecturing me on my relationship with Bear. I get where she is coming from and she is my mother so of course she will butt in, but it really doesn’t help my general state of mind. End of venting.
I saw the trailer for Julie Taymor’s “Tempest” again and it looks so wonderful; I realized that it has been awhile since I read the play and I barely remember it or even most of the characters. So I decided to reread it. I have The Norton Shakespeare so first I even read the intro to the play by Stephen Greenblatt. (When I got this book in college I didn’t know who Greenblatt was, and then I read lots of his stuff in grad school). It was a good intro, it really gave good introduction to all the characters and the play itself. Usually when I read Shakespeare (and it has been awhile) I read an act a day, so today here are some thoughts on Act 1:
Shakespeare’s “Tempest” Act 1. This play has only one woman – 15 year old Miranda. No wonder Julie Taymor made Prospero a woman. This act is pretty much exposition. Well, the first scene is the storm and basic introduction to some personalities but the rest of the act is exposition. First Prospero tells Miranda all about their background. At least, she didn’t really know before so that is something. But then, when Prospero and Ariel talk, Prospero exposits to Ariel Ariel’s own backstory and how he came to be in Prospero’s service. Yes, let me tell you about the worst thing that happened to you, Ariel, in case you forgot. This plot device, exposition that is just repeating information that everyone in the room already knows is very silly. He does it to remind Ariel why Ariel should not complain, so the exposition does serve some purpose but still. There is a little of that with Caliban too. And final part of act one is the meeting of Ferdinand and Miranda and love at first sight that Prospero really arranges. Poor Miranda – this is the third guy she meets ever and, of course, this is all her choices. At least she is thinking she is making her own decisions, even as she is being manipulated. I really like Ariel – he is bitchy.
Dexter S5E8 The twist at the end made me gasp. How far off shore were they that RoboCop could photograph them with that big lens. Two scenes really stood out for me: Deb’s conversation with Dexter about how she doesn’t feel bad about the murder, which unsettled Dexter a bit. This part of Deb he understands and it opens the possibility that she could understand him at some point. And the second scene was his conversation with Lumen right after he killed Cole. He even realizes what is new here; here is a person who can potentially know all of him and not be disgusted. His father killed himself after fully seeing who Dexter was. Miguel was a psycho. But Lumen could be the first person to accept Dexter in all his forms and that is a powerful thing. That was a really powerful moment. I’m really liking this storyline. And I like how Jordan gives him the language to explain to Lumen how he got this way, i.e. his mother’s death shattered him and the killing is making him whole of a bit. Great episode.
Brothers and Sisters S5E8 Aw, Scotty and Kevin at the end, all snuggled up watching TV on the couch. That was so nice to see. I really like Carl. I hope he sticks around. He just seems decent and smart and a good match for Nora. They do fit. Justin – why are you a slut all of a sudden? And do we really need to know how all brothers named their penises? Luc at least is getting more depth here. I like him with Sara too. Nice episode.
After Dexter there was a teaser about “Borgias,” a new Showtime series coming next year. I’m intrigued. The preview is next weekend (and because of music awards no “Brothers and Sisters” so I will try to see it). I didn’t like “Tudors” so I’m not sure about Showtime handling another historical drama but I will give it an episode. That family was insane so the possibilities for this series are fabulous. We’ll see. I’ll certainly check it out.
I saw the trailer for Julie Taymor’s “Tempest” again and it looks so wonderful; I realized that it has been awhile since I read the play and I barely remember it or even most of the characters. So I decided to reread it. I have The Norton Shakespeare so first I even read the intro to the play by Stephen Greenblatt. (When I got this book in college I didn’t know who Greenblatt was, and then I read lots of his stuff in grad school). It was a good intro, it really gave good introduction to all the characters and the play itself. Usually when I read Shakespeare (and it has been awhile) I read an act a day, so today here are some thoughts on Act 1:
Shakespeare’s “Tempest” Act 1. This play has only one woman – 15 year old Miranda. No wonder Julie Taymor made Prospero a woman. This act is pretty much exposition. Well, the first scene is the storm and basic introduction to some personalities but the rest of the act is exposition. First Prospero tells Miranda all about their background. At least, she didn’t really know before so that is something. But then, when Prospero and Ariel talk, Prospero exposits to Ariel Ariel’s own backstory and how he came to be in Prospero’s service. Yes, let me tell you about the worst thing that happened to you, Ariel, in case you forgot. This plot device, exposition that is just repeating information that everyone in the room already knows is very silly. He does it to remind Ariel why Ariel should not complain, so the exposition does serve some purpose but still. There is a little of that with Caliban too. And final part of act one is the meeting of Ferdinand and Miranda and love at first sight that Prospero really arranges. Poor Miranda – this is the third guy she meets ever and, of course, this is all her choices. At least she is thinking she is making her own decisions, even as she is being manipulated. I really like Ariel – he is bitchy.
Dexter S5E8 The twist at the end made me gasp. How far off shore were they that RoboCop could photograph them with that big lens. Two scenes really stood out for me: Deb’s conversation with Dexter about how she doesn’t feel bad about the murder, which unsettled Dexter a bit. This part of Deb he understands and it opens the possibility that she could understand him at some point. And the second scene was his conversation with Lumen right after he killed Cole. He even realizes what is new here; here is a person who can potentially know all of him and not be disgusted. His father killed himself after fully seeing who Dexter was. Miguel was a psycho. But Lumen could be the first person to accept Dexter in all his forms and that is a powerful thing. That was a really powerful moment. I’m really liking this storyline. And I like how Jordan gives him the language to explain to Lumen how he got this way, i.e. his mother’s death shattered him and the killing is making him whole of a bit. Great episode.
Brothers and Sisters S5E8 Aw, Scotty and Kevin at the end, all snuggled up watching TV on the couch. That was so nice to see. I really like Carl. I hope he sticks around. He just seems decent and smart and a good match for Nora. They do fit. Justin – why are you a slut all of a sudden? And do we really need to know how all brothers named their penises? Luc at least is getting more depth here. I like him with Sara too. Nice episode.
After Dexter there was a teaser about “Borgias,” a new Showtime series coming next year. I’m intrigued. The preview is next weekend (and because of music awards no “Brothers and Sisters” so I will try to see it). I didn’t like “Tudors” so I’m not sure about Showtime handling another historical drama but I will give it an episode. That family was insane so the possibilities for this series are fabulous. We’ll see. I’ll certainly check it out.