Essay Sample on Adaptations of Shakespeare's Work

Introduction

Today, there is no doubt that several renowned adaptations of "Romeo and Juliet" are more appealing to the younger generations than other movies. These adaptations as well play a central role in bridging the gap between the old-fashioned Elizabethan customs and the modern culture in England. For example, films like the 1996 Romeo and Juliet directed by Baz Luhrmann as well as 1961 American West Side Story directed by Robbins Jerome and Wise Robert have grossed huge amounts of money in the box office both locally and internationally. Even though Shakespeare's English seems outdated and strange compared to the modern day language and linguistics, there is no doubt that teenagers love watching movies and plays because of the poetic nature of the Elizabethan English (Forgeng 107-110).

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Similarly, most of the modern adaptations of these ancient Shakespearean works, including Romeo and Juliet, tend to blend this Elizabethan way of life and modern cultures. It is, therefore, puzzling why most teenagers today are more attracted to the Elizabethan language even though it is majorly symbolic and poetic in nature. Thus, the aim of this project is to answer why the current generation seems glued to this ancient Shakespearean language as well as how its literary adaptations in the film (especially Romeo and Juliet) bridges the gap between Elizabethan traditions and the modern culture.

Discussion

Without question, the present younger generation adores and appreciates the Elizabethan culture, especially the entire list of Shakespeare's film adaptations such as Romeo and Juliet, West Side Story, and many others, for myriad reasons. For some, it is the only platform that can connect modern England with ancient England. Some argue that the two cultures share common cultural themes that have never eroded since the creation story. A few also think that the Ancient Shakespearean customs were more interesting and reflected the true English and human nature, especially when it touches on matters love and affection. The younger generations often find these themes of love more appealing and attractive, perhaps more than the older generations (Gillespie and Rhodes 9).

Therefore, the following sections discuss some of the reasons modern day teenagers find the Elizabethan culture more thrilling and appealing as portrayed in Shakespeare's movies as well as how Shakespeare's adaptations bridge the gap between the two distant cultures. The discussion primarily aims to answer the secret of the success of Shakespearean English movies like Romeo and Juliet, particularly what made it more popular with the younger generation than films used in words more acceptable to today's norms.

The secret behind the success of Elizabethan English movies in the present day, particularly Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet (1996)

The Artistic Use of Modern Film Devices (Like Camera Shots, Symbolism, and Many Others) And Famous Artists

For a fact, for a wider range of global audience, the thought of ancient movies, poems, or literature is a sign of boring and dull experience, primarily because of the complex Elizabethan language associated with these kinds of texts. However, this is the opposite with most of Shakespeare's works. A good example is Baz Luhrmann's 1996 movie Romeo and Juliet that has revitalized the global interest in Elizabethan cultures and language. Baz co-wrote and co-produced with Craig Pearce and Gabriella Martinelli respectively. The movie was a huge success and grossed approximately $ 147 million with just a budget of $ 14.5 million, an amount that was considered extremely high in the 90s. However, the primary question that most people still ask is how such Elizabethan-based English cinemas can manage to gain much popularity even several contraries down the line after Shakespeare wrote the film. A majority feel that the Elizabethan culture and the modern norms are wide apart, while the English language is also different (Barber).

One of the reasons the movie is such popular globally, especially among the young generation, stems from the decision by Baz Luhrmann to use famous and iconic Hollywood movie actors and personalities. There is no doubt that Hollywood, a region in Los Angeles, California, is a larger-than-life and famous trademark of the entertainment industry today, featuring prominent personalities as well as legendary production studios and labels. It is the most famous and recognizable movie business on the global stage. Besides, movies produced by Hollywood labels have an upper hand because of its wide fan base and resources to market their products.

Some of the most notable Hollywood movie stars that revitalized the outlook of the Romeo and Juliet movie include Claire Danes and Leonardo DiCaprio, who play the leading roles Juliet and Romeo respectively. The two lovebirds immediately fall in love at a party, even though both are members of two rival families. Other notable stars who feature in supporting roles include Diane Venora (Gloria Capulet and Juliet's mother), John Leguizamo (Tybalt Capulet and Juliet's cousin), Paul Rudd (Paris Davis and Juliet's supposed fiance), Brian Dennehy (Ted Montague and Romeo's father), and Postlethwaite (Father Laurence, and evangelist who oversees the union of Romeo and Julie). Casting these Hollywood celebrities is perhaps a major boost to the film because of their renowned prowess in acting. Maybe, if Luhrmann decided to opt for unpopular stars the global ratings of the movie and the outcome at the box office would have been dissimilar.

Baz Luhrmann's decision to use film devices is another main reason why the world fell in love with Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet, even though the entire video features the obscure Shakespearean language (Elizabethan) that a majority of the world cannot comprehend. Thus, film devices and modern-day images played a central role in making the audience understand the themes and content of the movie. Besides, Luhrmann gave the cinema an up-to-the-minute and unique look to make it more attractive to the younger generations. In particular, the use of costumes, camera shots, as well as music was significant in attaching the youthful folks to Romeo and Juliet.

For example, Luhrmann effectively uses camera shots to attract the modern-day generations, mainly defined by technological advancement. This is vividly displayed in the opening scenes of the movie, whereby Luhrmann focuses the camera on a newsreader reading the original version of Shakespeare's prologue. The camera is seen zooming as the anchor reads the preamble in the form of news. The idea to focus the camera more on the newsreader is successful in attracting the attention of the audience to the movie as it generates a concentration without interruption. The move to present the prologue as news, especially breaking news, portrays the whole scenario as important and factual. It also plays a central role in emphasizing the influence of the two fighting families (Romeo's and Juliet's). This technique is critical to making the film more appealing, comprehensible, and dramatic, contrary to the previous versions of Romeo and Juliet, including the West Side Story (1960), Kenneth Macmillan's the Royal Ballet (1965), and many others (Lucy 118-119).

Symbolism is also widely used in Luhrmann's work as a means of simplifying the difficult Elizabethan language used in the movie. For instance, there is a photo showing a broken ring just behind the newsreader. These rings have symbolically been used by the director to represent the broken relationship between Romeo and Juliet. Breaking a metal ring requires a significantly higher force, an indication that the gap between the two lovebirds is wide. The use of this symbolism, thus, plays a pivotal role in attracting the attention of the audience with most questioning what might have caused this kind of strained relationship. All these aspects of cinematography are critical to the success of modern films in attracting the young generations to Shakespearean literature, even though most are founded on Elizabethan English and culture.

Use of Themes and Features That Are Perceived as an ‘Identity’ by the Modern Generation

The Oxford dictionary, the English version, defines the term 'identity' as the feature of being equal or similar. This refers to the 'sameness' of an individual or something in all situations, circumstances, or times. In a conflict with these meanings, several experts, including Hall Stuart, have depicted identity as constantly subject to transformations and changes, particularly based on how various generations represent it. Thus, this multifaceted and varying quality happens to societies, groups, as well as individuals. It also true for the image and picture of an author or her literature, usually taking various identifies at different periods.

The English writer Shakespeare is a true representation of these changing identities that the modern society has warmly embraced. Today, the current reflective adaptations of Shakespeare's work are highly appreciated because of its ability to bridge the identity gap between contemporary culture and the Elizabethan customs of ancient England (Currie and Zamir 297-298). Young generations are nowadays elated at the site of any of Shakespeare's works, including the modern movies portraying traditional norms, including dressing, festivals, and many others. A majority perceive these adaptations as essential means of linking these two distant cultures.

As such, today, Shakespeare's Elizabethan norms are constantly used by modern society as a benchmark for assessing various qualities. It is perceived as a measure for revitalizing and reshaping several other cultural objects, developing into a trademark that is commonly recognized as complex, artistic, sophisticated, intellectual, important, erudite, and many others. These features have significantly elevated Shakespeare's portrayal of the Elizabethan culture and endeared them to the modern culture. They are the standards that present societies are using to judge almost all aspects of their social, political, and economic lifestyles.

How Shakespeare’s Adaptations (Including Romeo and Juliet) Bridge the Gap Between Modern and Elizabethan Cultures

Garber's scholarly edition of 'Shakespeare and Modern Culture' reflects the complementary nature between Shakespeare and modern culture, particularly his skillful ability to link the Elizabethan traditions and the modern day customs. Using the original Shakespeare's poems and literature, modern artists like Luhrmann, through movies like Romeo and Juliet, have managed to create a critical link between Elizabethan norms and contemporary societies, despite the difference in the English language versions as well as an age gap.

Today, through various adaptations, Shakespeare's characters like Lady Macbeth, Hamlet, Juliet, and Romeo have been culturally engraved in the society. Their names have been easily recognizable through different generations because of the ability of these adaptations to mirror the contemporary needs and circumstances of the society. These characters, the language, and the themes of this ancient romantic movie have remained intact over the years, even with the ever-evolving cinematography and actors.

For example, the themes portrayed, the names used, and the language applied through the different adaptations of Romeo and Juliet have over the years remained intact, even with changes in directors of the movies. Thus, the theme of love, which is the primary subject, has always been at the center stage of all Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet movies, ranging from George Cukor's 1936 story to Luhrmann's 1996 version. This idea of maintaining the original Elizabethan English language and culture is perceived by some as essential in bridging the two distant worlds-the modern Engla...