Stories have been an important form of communication since the early development of language, and William Shakespeare’s plays are still considered some of the finest examples of storytelling. The timeless themes, complex characters, and engrossing plot lines present in all his works are continuously adapted and re-imagined for contemporary audiences around the globe. One particularly creative endeavour is Baz Luhrmann’s 1996 version of Romeo + Juliet, a highly-stylized, ambitious film that belongs as much to popular culture as it does to Shakespeare’s canon. As an in-depth study of Luhrmann’s film, this workshop provides challenging and fun activities to accompany the screening and encourage dynamic discussion among participants. You will have a chance to explore the classic themes of Shakespeare’s play as it was written centuries ago, drawing parallels to modern-day social critiques portrayed the film version. What is the effect of contemporizing the story while preserving the original dialogue? What is the marketability of the soundtrack and the imagery, and how successfully do these elements appeal to the teen demographic?
LEARNING OBJECTIVES
1. Explore the possibilities and limitations of Shakespeare’s plays as experienced in different mediums.
2. Connect the themes and social commentary of the original Romeo and Juliet to Baz Luhrmann’s film version.
3. Recognize the approach taken by movie studios to target teen audiences and transform past works into fresh, relevant, and lucrative features.
