How successful is Baz Luhrmanns adaptation of Romeo and Juliet in Representing William Shakespeares original ideas and why is it so popular with young people today Essay Example For Students

How successful is Baz Luhrmanns adaptation of Romeo and Juliet in Representing William Shakespeares original ideas and why is it so popular with young people today? Essay Media is contemporary communication, it is featured everywhere and influences, even controls our lives by moulding our fashion, views, ideas and tastes. Media is television, radio, newspapers, magazines, telephone and any kind of advertising. Media often forms from speech. Moving image is our specific topic of media, focusing on Baz Luhrmanns adaptation of William Shakespeares Romeo and Juliet. It was first written during a period when Shakespeare had found the strength of his writing. He would have been about twenty six years of age when he wrote it. It stands as a great play in its own right and many say the best play ever written. There have been many adaptations of this 1595 text and performance including that of, a moving image version by the Franco Zeffirelli production through which the text has been written rather freely. More recently both the BBC and ITV have screened their own versions. There is also a cartoon, The Animated Tales of Romeo and Juliet. One of the better variations on the theme is the 1961 moving image, West Side Story which explores ethnic tensions in the poorer part of New York, based on the successful Broadway musical of 1957 with songs including Tonight and Maria. Hector Berlioz gave his first performance of the Romeo and Juliet symphony in 1839- a work for solo voice, choir and orchestra-at the Paris Conservatoire. Peter Tchaikovsky used the play for his 1870 Fantasy Overture. The story has been used for three operas including Capuletti ei Montecchi (vincenzo Bellini, 1830); Romeo and Juliet (Charles Gounod, 1867), and A village Romeo and Juliet (by Frederic Delius, 1907). The best k nown of the Ballet interpretations is that of Sergei Prokofiev, first danced in Moscow in 1935. Australian director Baz Luhrmanns moving image and text Romeo and Juliet of 1997 is an aggressively modern, trendy and very energetic representation of William Shakespeares original themes and ideas. Baz Luhrmann has done something truly audacious. He has left Shakespeares rich poetry intact, (however, in fact, by flashing some of the lines onscreen, he has elevated the words) but delivered them in an ingenious and resourceful manner. One of Luhrmanns most refreshing conceits is in translating Shakespeares characters into modern archetypes easy to recognise. The flamboyant Mercutio becomes RuPaul, the clean-cut Dave Paris is a ringer for JFK Jr., Lady Capulet is a dithering Blanche DuBois, the herb-loving Father Laurence is a take on Timothy Leary. But they all stay 100% true to the original characters of Shakespeare. The text, with its genre of a romantic tragedy is fundamentally about a pair of star-crossed lovers. Two teenagers pursue their forbidden love for each other. Their families have been at odds with each other for decades, each day becoming greater in hatred. The original story combines sword fighting, and themes of disguise, misunderstanding, tragedy, humour and some of the most romantic language found in literature all in the name of true love. In the moving image version includes themes of violence, vengeance, passion, forgiveness, despair, hope, love and death, these themes are in fact used within the Shakespearean performance but were never moulded to the extremes in which Baz Luhrmann has represented them in his very personal and individual adaptation. The sheer millions of pounds spent to form his final solution has enabled him to choose the perfect actors and actresses and to have the best possible setting and the alluring effects. It has enabled Luhrmann to capture every word, movement and costume through the most intricate of detail, creating a precise but superlative atmosphere to give a young American style dramatic action, romantic tragedy which is so captivating the audience cant concentrate and focus on the moving image to any more extent. It is bold, and modern elements are merged and blended almost seamlessly into the original script so the present day audience can related, and therefore enjoy the moving image. These elements include the replacement; of The City of Verona has become Verona beach in Luhrmanns production. Also, the taking of hallucinogenic drugs and the drag act appear convincingly with the original dialogue as they were always supposed to be there. The guns are inscribed with the names sword or dagger, so when asked to draw thy sword they stay cleverly true to the Shakespearean dialogue. Baz Luhrmanns clever ideas are continued through out. Even the high-glass production design uses Shakespearean puns. Storefronts on Verona Beach advertise Rosencrantzkys or A pound of flesh. Meanwhile, Luhrmann throws of such-off-the-wall touches as the boys choir rendition of princes when Doves Cry and the real trick of having the rivals wearing different designer labels Dolce Gabbana for the Capulet boys and Prada for Romeo. He ideas of visual imagery and symbolism in relation to the film include that of the whole religious detailed effects and topics. Each member of the cast wear a crucifix, most, a rosary around their necks but some as a tattoo or hair styled to reveal a cross. It symbolises their Christian faith, which enables the film to portray a strong comparison between the sins in which the story carries through it, and the good, pursued by the bible. This idea of what the characters are doing compared to its opposite of which their faith would disagree with, is shown at the beginning in the opening views of their city. The two families of exact stature and equality shown by two precise replicas of a tower block, illustrating the exact same wealth, even with the same font and size lettering on top- but two family names at hates end with each other. Perfectly in the centre of these two buildings is the statue of Jesus looking out on to the city, also showing that their religious beliefs are a fundamental part of their everyday life and look up to it as a sign of honour. The Virgin Mary is also another symbol of importance; a minor reason of her presence is because she represents fair Juliet, due to their pure and innocent qualities along with their virginity. Her portrait is featured on their guns, along side Jesus on a few of their bullet proof under garments symbolising they believe that they are protected by their religion. A heart belted with flowers, with sun raise descending from it and protruding fire symbolises burning love and passion. This is featured a number of times including when it is worn by the priest with little colour, just that of white and gold showing his commitment to his faith and his love to it. But with bright colours, like the one worn by Romeo on his shirt, it gives the impression of the young passion held Romeo and Juliet. The colourful and bright symbol worn by Romeo represents his passionate love for Juliet, but the white and gold symbol worn by the priest shows his long-term commitment for his religion. This idea of white and gold being colours for loving commitment is backed up by the example of white and gold being traditional for weddings. Another time this strong symbol is used, is when it is zoomed into a frame during the choir rendition along with silhouettes of two doves flying in a clear sky all symbolising love and their hidden feelings making them stronger for each other, during the scene of the priests soliloquy of his dreams of peace between the Capulets and Montagues. Showing his hopes that the marriage of the Romeo and Juliet would end the conflict. The main reason religious symbols, themes and ideas are used during Luhrmanns production, is because he has wanted to state that life, love and death are controlled by their religion and God, so the priest is so important because he has the power of God and can influence life when they are born by prayer for the new born and baptism influences the babys life by protection, The priest can influence love by marrying people and can influence death by the right to take life or pray for it, and funerals are influenced by death. More symbols include water and fire, which are used frequently throughout. Water traditionally means love and passion; it features in the fish tank scene where Romeo and Juliet first meet. It is also featured after the party when they have a passionate interlude in the in the swimming pool and declare their love. Water (love) and fire (hate) are exact opposites. So while the water is used in the scenes of Romeo and Juliet, the fire is used in the brawls of the Montagues and Capulets as in the petrol station Scene. Baz Luhrmanns prologue neatly sketches the plot, of the two star-crossed lovers born of feuding families and their surroundings whose deaths bury their parents strife, which sets the scene for the viewer. This prologue is ingeniously on a news report, with a television anchorwoman replacing the narrator on a television screen, which forms and enlarges from a black background. The idea of the viewer having to concentrate to see what the small image is at first so therefore causes them to listen with content so that the plot can be understood from then on. It implies a form of media within media so immediately states that it is set in the present day. This is another example in which Baz Luhrmann has made a smooth transition from the Shakespearean form of re-sighting at the front of a stage to a contemporary everyday act as if it was always meant to be so. The prologue has a formal verse structure and takes the form of a sonnet, a characteristic form of love poetry. The image of the separated ring symbolises that it is about two star-crossed lovers and with the sonnets words the knowledge of their death ad pathos to our view of events. Baz Luhrmann has then chosen to make a fast and furious journey through the centre of the television screen which becomes a frame, down a street with built up houses and sky scrapers proving another contemporary aspect. Storming with aggression (because another brawl is in the first scene, which contains hatred so an idea of vengeance leading up to it is adequate) into place, of a view of the city, the words In Fair Verona are stamped many different times on to the screen, While various signs in the background indicate that it is actually Verona Beach in America. This foretells us that Verona Beach is the modern day version of Fair Verona where Shakespeare set his scene. It also rules out any confusion, followed in the text compared to the moving image. The views of the city lead to a frame of a statue of Jesus causing us to presume a sin-free, quiet, religious city. The active and energetic camera angle reverses out to include to identical business tower blocks and the city around them. One reads Montague and the other reading Capulet in identical letters symbolising wealth, equality and dignity. As shown by the taxicab driving by the modern day Fair Verona is Verona Beach as previously stated. It is shown discreetly without altering the text. The opening sonnet is repeated by the voice of the Priest to clarify the plot but this time with a voice of anger and hatred with fire between newspaper cuttings and clips of the city during a brawl to show the long amount of time it has been happening. This is also another form of Media within media, which tells us the feud affects the people of the city. The hatred between the two families is shown with emphasis during bold, war music to add the atmosphere of their rivalry, this is also don e by the speeding up of flashes of what the film entails. This idea causes us to be more captivated by what is coming up and we want to find out more so therefor have to watch more to find out. Many of the characters are introduced during the prologue and are portrayed to be rivals, so backs up the feeling of hatred between the two characters, and creates interest and more understanding. The novels a demonstration EssayAfter finding out this, my only love, sprang from my only hate, they pledge their love on the balcony after the party and have a passionate interlude in the soft lighted swimming pool after falling into it in the shape of a cross symbolising another religious aspect with shares their commitment with their love, so again is a romantic scene in water, the symbol for love under the stars and agree to wed. Which not only makes the audience jealous of this romantic, dream setting the pool has a contemporary feel to again back up the modern theme. All of the young men treat their guns as toys, they play with them and show off with the moves, not treating them like a killer weapon. All fights begin with the firing of a gun- like drawing a sword so symbolises another comparison between the modern and old weapons. Mercutio shoots at the water of the sea, so symbolically is shooting at the love between him and the Capulets. The nurse dresses in red when she goes as Juliets love messenger to Romeo which is the colour of love and she wears this colour as it is symbolic, as she is to make the love between Romeo and Juliet stronger. When Romeo marries Juliet he looks more like a Capulet as he is Dressed in a dark suit and is tidy and clean cut, instead of a coloured shirt and pink or green hair like the Montagues, which is symbolic because they are mixing the names of these to feuding families. The society is represented towards the Beach as a rough and fairly poor one, as shown by the prostitutes and the poor living conditions of all those below the feuding families. There is rubbish and people are dressed in rugged clothes. This gives another contrast of the equal wealth of the Capulets and Montagues, but compares it to the suffering society around them. At the beginning of the beach brawl, the weather is sunny and bright, when Montagues first arrive, but as they start to speak of a fight with the Capulets the weather begins to change subtly to a windy state and something bad is later to follow The base music fades out like the beats of a heart is going to fade out aswell. As the Capulets arrive the weather becomes dramatically worse, which creates a tense and hateful atmosphere This is increased by their sinister attitudes and their black suits like they are at a funeral, which is symbolic as a murder scene is about to happen. Tybalt is first to approach which shows he i s the leader and walks over in an aggressive manor telling us that Tybalt knows about them going to his uncles party. Romeo shows his peace-loving character again by begging for their peace but as this is shown to be betrayal to the long lasting feud. Mercutio cant bear this vile submission any longer and takes over. The hatred on their faces performs such clarity of their rivalry to the extent that it is breathtaking. Winds become stronger and more violent, which captivates the audience into the death of Mercutio, which makes the hate, build vigorously between the audience and Tybalt because he stabbed innocent Romeos best friend. Sorrow is built as Romeo and Mercutio say their last words. As Romeo tries to help him, flooding him in tears, Mercutio utters a cry that forever sums up the fate of the innocent, a plague o both your houses! a curse that is soon to be carried out. His death later effectively puts an end to the priests plan to reunite simply the warring families. Luhrmann has directed this line to be said by Mercutio as he walks off the back of the derelict stage, showing how his performance has come to an end for ever, so therefor again captivates the viewers in the atmosphere. Mercutio fatal wound causes the darkness to fall and clouds pass over his body which shows he has passed the m to heaven. The screen fades to reflect on the death. The winds form into a storm as Romeo declares vengeance on Tybalt. Dramatic Irony is caused because the audience is worried because they know that a fourth brawl, which disturbs the innocent streets, will result in the death of those people. The music as Romeo gets into his car to chase Tybalt becomes more strong and the drum beats become louder and faster drones of sound, It is racy and menacing, creating the tension and increasing the suspense and preparing the audience for what is to follow. The drama is progressed with Romeos screaming and crying and in an act of shock shoots at Tybalt, which because it is so out of character for Romeo to do this, surprises the viewers The frame of Juliets worried face, causes the audience to feel sympathy for her. Romeo shoots him over and over in slowed motion to fulfil the atmosphere of the murder caused by Romeos adrenaline, which is again proved by Romeos guilt afterwards. He kills Tybalt on the steps of the church, so has sinned on gods door step and is viewed by God which is more harsh and meaningful than any other Capulet or Montague watching. Following the death of Tybalt, Luhrmann has captured the moment of realisation by the inertia, until the loud crash of his gun to the floor as the sound of a bullet, which bares the symbol of Virgin Mary on the stem. This symbolises that it was the gun that killed Tybalt but its actions will lead to the death of Romeo himself (after he is banished by the Prince of Verona), again leading to equality. Tybalt dies near a statue of Jesus which has no left side, so no heart which symbolises that there is no love in this murder scene. He falls back into a pool of water, which symbolises that his blood de-purifies the symbol of love. Tybalt has a tattoo of a heart on his chest, so killing Tybalt has caused the death of the love between Romeo and Juliet as followed. After his exile he hides until he can meet Juliet, in a passionate consummation of their marriage in a more compelling way than any other previous adaptation. The white sheets symbolise again their purity and a new life together and their commitment. Miscellaneous category symbols include that of the Lamour sign in the street which Romeo leans on, it means love so shows that love will come to him if he waits. A derelict stage is used a few times, which symbols that life is like stage and there performances are like us acting on the stage of life, using the stage also reminds people of the original Romeo And Juliet which pays a sort of tribute to William Shakespeare. Doves are used in the priests soliloquy because they symbolise that he hopes peace will one day be released in the society. Another important symbol is that of the pill/L.S.D with a heart on it before the party scene. This symbolises that love will affect him like a drug and will soon be addicted to the love of Juliet. It also represents the modern aspect and the effect of dizziness in the party fits in with Shakespeares description of how he felt when he went in. Baz Luhrmanns adaptation of Romeo and Juliet appeals to the younger generation because fundamentally it is set in a modern day and fashion with contemporary form. Including present day costume, setting and props such as guns instead of swords aswell as contemporary media is put across in many ways and the use of the drug is a modern day occurrence and is now more popular than ever and is by some people regarded as cool. The costume consists of designer suits for the Capulets and surfer style, bright coloured shirts with designer slacks for the Montagues. The setting of the modern Verona includes the contemporary themes of high rise buildings and tower blocks surrounded in roads with cars, buses and helicopters used by the police. However this is all made interesting by the original, old-fashioned text, which already added meaning and strength to the scenes, but was made more captivating by Luhrmanns additions. Young people were purposely targeted by 20th Century Fox as shown by the f act that it caters for both genders. The males are lured by the drama of the violence with the hate and rivalry including the guns and the themes of death and vengeance examples being the Petrol Station scene and the killing of Mercutio and Tybalt. Females are captured through the themes the romance and the love between Romeo and Juliet. Aswell as the fairytale aspects and the beauty of Juliet, the fact that Romeo is played by a world-wide heartthrob causes the females to be interested even before they know about the film that he stars in. The Hollywood actors play a large part as they would have been seen in other films so therefor would be recognisable and the fact that they are attractive to both sexes helps the reviews and publications. The soundtrack is modern so is recognisable to young people whom are the main punters of pop music, but it also fits in with the classic form. The story is well ended leaving a good impression of the moving image, which is then passed on to friend and relatives. The moral or denoveme nt is tragic, hopeful, vengeant but still fulfilled by love so never gets boring and allures the viewer through to the end. Overall, Baz Luhrmanns adaptation of Romeo and Juliet, represents Shakespeares original themes and ideas with great success as determined firstly by the fact that Luhrmann has used all of the Shakespearean text and brought it up to date also he has used the drama to its full potential by special effects and expensive scenery and props due to the films large budget. But aswell as this he has targeted at the teenager to young adult audience, which was clever, because they know the story due to studying it in school so this enables them to understand the words. And they have the most money and time as a rule (compared to parents, young children and the elderly), so they are able to spend money on the cinema or buy the film.