tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13529575.post8081787626112941931..comments2023-07-07T10:56:11.083-04:00Comments on Shakespeare Geek: When, and How Much?Duane Morinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16569611828708601563noreply@blogger.comBlogger32125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13529575.post-5856131364937739852012-02-28T20:18:37.764-05:002012-02-28T20:18:37.764-05:00I am totally unable to say when I first encountere...I am totally unable to say when I first encountered Shakespeare. It was fairly early though. By about age 9 I had seen The Tempest, Midsummer, Romeo and Juliet, and Hamlet, although I'd only SORT OF gotten them. (I loved Midsummer!) And I had heard of many of the plays.<br />As for in schools, I think middle school is a good time to start. My school puts on a student production of a Ophelianoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13529575.post-20657631738675622962012-02-01T10:51:04.602-05:002012-02-01T10:51:04.602-05:00Agreed, JM. The role of Prospero goes to a boy, an...Agreed, JM. The role of Prospero goes to a boy, and we push the envelope further by casting one of the girls as Calibana.Nick Miliokashttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09971198626290169920noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13529575.post-84264448937719295422012-02-01T10:47:15.995-05:002012-02-01T10:47:15.995-05:00Ironically, CG, our own theatre here in Regina is ...Ironically, CG, our own theatre here in Regina is called the Globe.Nick Miliokashttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09971198626290169920noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13529575.post-16846165821968889962012-02-01T10:33:57.041-05:002012-02-01T10:33:57.041-05:00CGriff,
You do indeed make a great case. I echo yo...CGriff,<br />You do indeed make a great case. I echo your thoughts. Well done, to say the least.JMhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08099932219392937069noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13529575.post-91937916038562549802012-02-01T10:30:33.335-05:002012-02-01T10:30:33.335-05:00I hear that. At least you do have the 'Shakesp...I hear that. At least you do have the 'Shakespeare on the Saskatchewan' Festival in the summers, which offers incentives for families attending matinee performances.<br /><br />http://www.shakespeareonthesaskatchewan.com/index.html<br /><br />A little to the east in Winnipeg, there's Shakespeare in the Ruins (http://www.shakespeareintheruins.com/) which has some education programs andCGriffhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02043351878523522130noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13529575.post-5142431787188397242012-02-01T10:25:31.420-05:002012-02-01T10:25:31.420-05:00"What say we give the kids a crack at "T..."What say we give the kids a crack at "The Tempest" and do something outlandish like cast a boy in the role of Prospero?"<br /><br />--And cut against the grain of the current 'popular notion'? I'm aghast, Nick! ;)<br />What say we do it anyway?<br /><br />PS. It's very sad that Shakespeare is getting the ax. It has already happened in some high schools in JMhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08099932219392937069noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13529575.post-33840099204623679942012-02-01T10:06:50.206-05:002012-02-01T10:06:50.206-05:00One more thing, CG. By "here," I mean Re...One more thing, CG. By "here," I mean Regina, Saskatchewan, Canada.<br />p.s. Don't get me wrong. It's a great place to live, except that we are not eligible to win prizes from the Shakespeare Geek. Which isn't going to strengthen my case with the school board.Nick Miliokashttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09971198626290169920noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13529575.post-89321812394048758792012-02-01T09:43:52.123-05:002012-02-01T09:43:52.123-05:00It's going to be an uphill battle, CG. Shakesp...It's going to be an uphill battle, CG. Shakespeare is at risk in high school here, much less at the elementary level. Sad, but true.Nick Miliokashttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09971198626290169920noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13529575.post-90090167738438110162012-02-01T09:40:57.976-05:002012-02-01T09:40:57.976-05:00Sounds good, JM. What say we give the kids a crack...Sounds good, JM. What say we give the kids a crack at "The Tempest" and do something outlandish like cast a boy in the role of Prospero?Nick Miliokashttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09971198626290169920noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13529575.post-33907107123863102222012-02-01T09:40:45.812-05:002012-02-01T09:40:45.812-05:00Good luck, Nick. Do let us know how that goes. And...Good luck, Nick. Do let us know how that goes. And - in trying to be helpful - do feel free to show them any programs you can where elementary students are, indeed, learning and loving Shakespeare. Great examples are the Colorado Shakespeare Festival, the RSC's residency in NY, and the Folger's own elementary programs (http://www.folger.edu/Content/Teach-and-Learn/Teaching-Resources/CGriffhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02043351878523522130noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13529575.post-52182614367037699122012-02-01T09:33:37.411-05:002012-02-01T09:33:37.411-05:00You make a strong case CG. I'm going to crash ...You make a strong case CG. I'm going to crash the next school board meeting and see if I can get the ball rolling.Nick Miliokashttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09971198626290169920noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13529575.post-7705438294638340632012-02-01T09:26:43.049-05:002012-02-01T09:26:43.049-05:00Nick: "I would love to be in that elementary-...Nick: "I would love to be in that elementary-school classroom when the teacher walks the students through the play-within-the-play in "Midsummer Night's Dream" and the Rude Mechanicals get to the part about the wall."<br /><br />I <i>have</i> been. I'm not speaking from a delusional fantasy about a world that loves Shakespeare. I see hundreds of elementary students CGriffhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02043351878523522130noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13529575.post-42139303076181251782012-02-01T09:26:36.113-05:002012-02-01T09:26:36.113-05:00Nick, LOL
Absolutely. In my book, it goes without...Nick, LOL<br /><br />Absolutely. In my book, it goes without saying that "The Un-Adaptables" are much better left Un-touched for the time being. :-)JMhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08099932219392937069noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13529575.post-11159461943193417862012-02-01T08:56:54.178-05:002012-02-01T08:56:54.178-05:00Fair enough, JM. On one condition. We leave "...Fair enough, JM. On one condition. We leave "Titus" until later on.Nick Miliokashttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09971198626290169920noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13529575.post-11911058635248881452012-02-01T08:24:18.800-05:002012-02-01T08:24:18.800-05:00Nick Miliokas wrote: "CGriff, I would love to...Nick Miliokas wrote: "CGriff, I would love to be in that elementary-school classroom when the teacher walks the students through the play-within-the-play in "Midsummer Night's Dream" and the Rude Mechanicals get to the part about the wall. Sorry, it's not for kids." <br /><br />--Not a problem Nick. One, most adults have to have the " bawdy jokes" explained JMhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08099932219392937069noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13529575.post-54528449979205746972012-02-01T06:56:09.577-05:002012-02-01T06:56:09.577-05:00I feel that students should ne taught Shakespeare ...I feel that students should ne taught Shakespeare at a young age, around 3rdand grade maybe 8 or so. I think this because children should be introduced and well informed on classic literature,so in the future they will have a better understanding. One I didn't have until I reached highschoolAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13529575.post-86977614622089981942012-01-31T22:44:22.270-05:002012-01-31T22:44:22.270-05:00CGriff, I would love to be in that elementary-scho...CGriff, I would love to be in that elementary-school classroom when the teacher walks the students through the play-within-the-play in "Midsummer Night's Dream" and the Rude Mechanicals get to the part about the wall. Sorry, it's not for kids. Adolescence is soon enough. If Shakespeare is taught well in high school, there is the potential it will last a lifetime.Nick Miliokashttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09971198626290169920noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13529575.post-4841274266500983302012-01-31T22:25:02.569-05:002012-01-31T22:25:02.569-05:00CRS, yours may not be the most popular opinion, bu...CRS, yours may not be the most popular opinion, but I for one agree wholeheartedly.<br />In order to get the most out of Shakespeare, a reader has to bring something to Shakespeare. That is to say, personal experience(s).<br />Adolescence is plenty soon enough.<br />Lest we forget, context is paramount. Ask any teacher and he or she will tell you, with high school students "Romeo & Nick Miliokashttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09971198626290169920noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13529575.post-4399537043703068022012-01-31T22:18:53.424-05:002012-01-31T22:18:53.424-05:00This comment has been removed by the author.Nick Miliokashttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09971198626290169920noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13529575.post-11588424189408406222012-01-31T16:28:25.008-05:002012-01-31T16:28:25.008-05:00I understand your thoughts, CRS, but I can't h...I understand your thoughts, CRS, but I can't help but think the following:<br /><br />1) You wouldn't hand a geometry book to someone in college without them having had math classes throughout elementary school and expect them to understand and like it. Nor would you only expect mathematicians and engineers to take math because it's part of their profession.<br /><br />2) Shakespeare&CGriffhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02043351878523522130noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13529575.post-14085371443997228462012-01-31T14:15:09.888-05:002012-01-31T14:15:09.888-05:00Having read the other comments, I already know my ...Having read the other comments, I already know my opinion is not the popular one here. <br /><br />Here are my basic positions on the related subjects:<br /><br />1) Shakespeare was written for adults. It can be scary, violent, and sexy. Themes include politics, mortality, suicide, revenge, rape, marriage, war, and religion. The humor in Shakespeare can be clownish, but it is also often bawdy, orCRShttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00155972391697013367noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13529575.post-38728018750910550512012-01-30T17:18:20.804-05:002012-01-30T17:18:20.804-05:00@CGriff,
They aren't called 'Players' ...@CGriff,<br />They aren't called 'Players' for nothin'. :-)JMhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08099932219392937069noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13529575.post-40094267821482504092012-01-30T16:16:31.231-05:002012-01-30T16:16:31.231-05:00As I ranted yesterday, I'm tired of the pedest...As I ranted yesterday, I'm tired of the pedestal. I'm tired of hearing people complain that the original text is "too hard" for anyone. I'm tired of students complaining to the twitterverse and the heavens themselves that they "h8 Shakespere". And I don't blame the teachers, I blame the education system.<br /><br />I agree with JM - the texts aren't to be CGriffhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02043351878523522130noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13529575.post-53606368355460324272012-01-30T16:14:23.326-05:002012-01-30T16:14:23.326-05:00perA very interesting question. Of course, as you ...perA very interesting question. Of course, as you have outlined, Shakespeare can be ‘introduced’ to children at any age at some level. Educators, though, have to think about when his work is introduced in the classroom. Here, again, it can be at any level. Because there is so much to a Shakespeare text, so many possibilities for exploration, there are innumerable entry points. One could work on Warren King No Sweat Shakespearehttp://www.nosweatshakespeare.com/blog/noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13529575.post-44332273127348498412012-01-30T15:39:02.745-05:002012-01-30T15:39:02.745-05:00Notice if you will, outraged "Anonymous"...Notice if you will, outraged "Anonymous", that I wrote: "As long as we approach it strictly from the standpoint of an "English Class", thus necessitating an age group's ability to comprehend it as such, we miss the boat."<br /><br />The operative word is "strictly". <br /><br />The operative question was "when" students should be exposed to JMhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08099932219392937069noreply@blogger.com