Alex Woelffer's Othello

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The different versions of Othello have highly influenced the different views one has for this tragedy. From its original form, this novel has carefully been modernized in text, performances and films by scholars. In looking back to “No Fear Shakespeare” by Alex Woelffer the original and modernized text can easily be compared and contrasted. Not only is the wording quite different but the original text is very blunt and narrow, using confusing phrases such as “purse” and “sblood”. On the other hand being very specific by stating “money” and “damn” the text is easier to read and understand. By improving comprehension, the text allows readers to build an imaginary version of the characters. This imagery is later used when approving or denying…show more content…
In Joffrey Ballet’s Othello (2013), a modernized version of this novel is seen. With music being heard in a much more rhythmic pattern than one is used to or that one considers the audience is able to easily fixate on the different scenarios of the performance. Likewise, the performance in ballet therefore renounces any of the attire that has been fixed for comfortable turns and highly emphasizes on the expressions of the cast. Just as any other opera, Verdi’s Othello in ten minutes is much more classical and original. Maintaining focus on giving a story through voice by detailing actions and thoughts as well as future ones before expressing them physically without voice. Attire, equality, racism and fitting in operas are carefully organized and chosen to fit the most popular idea of Othello – black on white with no regard to exception and dismay. However, the theoretical performance being quite different from that of the aforementioned, displays a more formal view of each character and the tragedy as a whole. Giving each character the characteristics they need and providing emphasis to pronunciation and the validly and value each character would present during Shakespeare’s time. Othello here is therefore brave and heavy in voice proving pride to the “negro actor, my people” as Paul Robeson would put…show more content…
The criticism behind each version overwhelms scholars who study and make Othello easier to understand. Like the imagery that is sought in text of each characters skin color the idea of a characters personality and characteristics is also shaped. The difference lies in the idea that is formed for if a character is presented by another race the tragedy takes a different toll. However, to scholars this is not true. Instead they believe that without a doubt it is the way the author describes the character and the way an actor acts that affects the tragedy as a whole. The different versions present of Othello prove no reason behind thought, they’re simply put out into our modern world to tie reality from fiction. The influence one has about Othello is known to come from the version one first experiences. If it is a text the idea that Othello is black and Desdemona is white won’t go away. On the contrary if a production or movie version is first seen, the idea may focus on Othello being white and Desdemona black or both of the same color. At other times, the version may even indicate an emphasis for the age preference of each of the characters. Although truly horrifying for scholars who put in so much work to keep the ideas which Shakespeare has built the different face of Othello highly vary the way one sees and accepts the tragedy. In retrospect, the

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