8-4InfluenceAcrossCenturies

Shakespeare in Modern Media // Answer prepared by Caitlin Z. // According to the American Film Institute’s website, on the page called “Modern Film Adaptations of Shakespeare,” many movies have been made to rebuild interest in Shakespeare’s work. Moviegoers have a greater knowledge of Shakespeare’s plays than they realize, for they have become familiar with the common storylines through many popular movies. According to the Absolute Shakespeare website, on the page entitled “Shakespeare Movies,” over 200 movies have been released dealing with Shakespearean themes. These movies include //Forbidden Plane,// (based on __The Tempest__), //Throne of Blood / The Castle of the Spider's Web / Cobweb Castle// (based on __Macbeth__), //Ran// (based on __King Lear__), //Prospero's Books// (based on __The Tempest__), //Shakespeare in Love//, //10 Things I Hate About You// (based on __The Taming of the Shrew__), //Hamlet 2000, West Side Story (//based on __Romeo and Juliet__//),// and //The Lion King (//based on __Hamlet__). Shakespeare’s classic storylines are made accessible to a modern audience through these films.

The movies are renewing interest in Shakespeare, but according to __A History of Modern Criticism 1750-1950__, by René Wellek, the movies are not necessarily doing the correct thing (64). Many scholars believe that Shakespeare’s work loses quality when the language has been changed. The American Film Institute’s website declares that some do not believe that the storyline alone has the power to recreate the emotion that William Shakespeare put into his writing. Though support is mixed the movies seem to be successful.

I believe that it is a good idea to re-introduce the plays into the media. Children today tend to enjoy visual media more than reading the old plays, and consequently the plays are at risk of being forgotten. The movies are a good way to spark interest in a way that children today will enjoy. Whether they are favorite plays in the 1600s or favorite movies in the 2000s, the works have the same purpose and the same messages are conveyed. The movies are doing a good job to keep Shakespeare alive in modern times. Works Cited "Modern Film Adaptations of Shakespeare." //American Film Institute//. 12 Apr 2009 . "Shakespeare Movies." //Absolute Shakespeare//. 17 Apr 2009 . Wellek, René. //A History of Modern Criticism 1750-1950//. Cambridge, UK: Cambridge University Press, 1893. Print.