“In what ways does a comparative study of Richard III and Looking for Richard enhance your appreciation of how context affects form and values?Despite differing contextual influences and audiences, some inherent values are universally embedded within humanity.
I think this Thesis could do with being a little more definite in how it is expressed, bringing in audiences doesn't quite make sense, because you aren't talking about texts, rather, the nature of humanity. Shakespeare’s play King Richard III (1592) examines the upholding of moral integrity and the consequences of an individual’s unwavering pursuit for personal power, reinforcing the theocentric worldview held by the Elizabethan society.
Good contextual info with the introduction.Similarly, Pacino’s postmodern docudrama ‘Looking for Richard’ (1996) explores the concepts of integrity and power through a focus on the value of interpretation to connect Shakespeare’s powerful language and moral values to his contemporary, secular audience. Through a study of the intertextual connections of both texts, a responder is able to extract humanity’s values that are influenced by the differing social paradigms and forms.
A solid introduction! A more definite Thesis would be beneficial, but besides this it works well!An individual’s unwavering pursuit for power is a universal value despite differing contexts and forms.
I'd add 'for composers' to specify that you are talking about it being a universal value in texts, a little clearer here as well. In Shakespeare’s play, Richard’s Machiavellian political discourse and abdication of his conscience is revealed in the opening soliloquy “Since I cannot prove a lover… I am determined to prove a villain.” This melodramatic signpost definitively proclaims his purpose as villain, representing the societal shift towards the emerging Renaissance humanism and self-determination.
Fantastic! This is reinforced by the visual imagery of his “rudely stamped” external deformity metaphorically symbolising his internal duplicity, allowing the theocentric Elizabethan audience to recognize the transgression of moral and providential boundaries.
Great connection to contextual audience. As a Machiavellian demagogue, Richard derives power from skilful oration enabling him to gain sovereignty and exert power over others.
Retell, careful! This is highlighted through his successful persuasion of Anne to marry him, using antithetical and manipulative language “I did kill King Henry, but twas thy beauty that provoked me.” Anne’s vulnerability and Richard’s dominance over her is contextually supported by Anne’s need for status in the patriarchal world that Shakespeare was writing in.
Careful we've slipped into retell here, don't tell me what happens in the text, keep the focus on techniques! Contrasting Shakespeare’s exploration of the power of language, Pacino uses cinematic techniques to effectively portray Richard’s power in this scene to his egalitarian society.
Love this linking sentence: The difference in technique is a great thing to accentuate! Pacino positions the camera to swirl around the couple, visually symbolising Anne’s confusion and entrapment by Richard, who is portrayed in chiaroscuro and dark costume to represent his Machiavellian treachery.
Retell. Furthermore, the docudrama focuses on the power of the actors to reveal Richard’s Machilvellian political discourse. Pacino’s suggestion to ask the experts is refuted by Kimball: “You are making the documentary to show that actors truly are the possessors of tradition.” The editorial cut to a scholar who responds “I don’t know” humorously challenges academia’s traditional reverence, empowering Pacino and his actors to undertake the role of connecting Shakespeare to modern society. Thus, the different approaches to the portrayal of Richard’s pursuit for power is a result of contextual differences. However, the humanistic value of power remains relevant.
Fantastic conclusion! The start of this paragraph was fantastic and very technique driven, and you bring it back towards the end, but the middle slips a bit into retell. You start telling me about things happening in the text and how they relate to your concept. Ensure the focus stays on techniques!An examination of the transience of power is based on a text’s political and social context.
I like how you are blending your concepts with aspects of the module, it's very effective! Shakespeare’s morality play cautions the Elizabethan audience of the detrimental consequences of suppressing humanity to blindly usurp power through Richard’s eventual downfall during the Battle of Bosworth. The recurring animal motif “The bloody dog is dead” metaphorically characterises Richard’s inhumanity and reinforces divine retribution.
Excellent analysis here. Shakespeare affirms the nobility of the Tudor’s legitimate power to the throne through Richmond’s defeat of the Vice character.
Retell. The religious reference “The true succeeders of each royal house, By God’s fair ordinance conjoin together” reinforces to the theocentric audience that providentialism will ultimately triumph.
Much better! Pacino similarly conveys the immorality of insatiable ambition through the examination of Richard’s downfall. However, due to his secular audience, Pacino investigates the psychological factors leading to Richard’s death.
Good links to the audience again here! A scholar describes Richard as “A person who finally… knows that he does not have his own humanity.” The docudrama’s use of method acting and the fluidity of the interspersing combinations of performance, rehearsal and discussions in the final scene, empowers the audience to understand the psychological motivations of Richard, departing from Shakespeare’s religious focus.
Fantastic! However, I'm not seeing the connection to your paragraph topic here? Pacino also places less emphasis on Richmond’s victory, eliminating his final speech due to his differing purpose from Shakespeare who had to appeal to Queen Elizabeth. Therefore, the transience of power is a factor of both contexts and it is the form of both texts through which the meaning is forged.
Some FANTASTIC analysis here and excellent connection to audience, bloody brilliant! You do slip into retell in some areas though, be very careful that you aren't giving me unnecessary plot details! Also be sure that your paragraph concept carries through the paragraph itself, you slip out of focus in the latter half.The inherent value of integrity is conveyed through differing forms due to a change in context. Shakespeare focusses on the integrity of the characters such as Hastings, who functions as a symbolic matyr to the contextual belief in the divine right of kings. His naïve loyalty to King Richard who “holds me dear…I don’t think there’s a man under the sun who’s worse at hiding his love or hate than Richard” is hyperbolic and ironic as it occurs immediately before Richard orders Hastings’ excecution.
Retell. Similarly, the Nemesis figure of Margaret whose prophesies come true, function as a choric voice.
Retell. She curses “Hie thee to hell for shame…there thy kingdom is”, referencing religious imagery to maintain a position of divine justice and foreshadow the consequences of Richard’s Machiavellian duplicity.
What is the importance of this for the audience? What does it show us about integrity? Due to the 20th century departure from Elizabethan providentialism, Pacino focusses on the integrity of his dramatic interpretation of the original text.
I think a more comparative way of expressing that is possible, add a joining word, it feels like a whole new paragraph otherwise. The stream of consciousness docudrama form empowers Pacino to imbue his work with his own contemporary values in order to “make Shakespeare accessible to…people in the street,” This is evident in the intertextual reference to ‘The Tempest,’: ‘Our revels now are ended. These our actors…’
Great. The accompanying panning shot of a Renaissance cathedral cutting to an establishing shot of urban New York foreshadows Pacino’s interpretation of the original play in his contemporary, postmodern world. Furthermore, his use of cinema veritae and impromptu vox populi display the scepticism about the relevance of Shakespeare’s plays from the secular society describing Shakespeare as “boring”.
I think you need to be linking more specifically to integrity here. The different approach is absolutely great, but the link needs to be more obvious. However, Pacino returns to the African- American man because his values counter the negative responses and align with Pacino’s belief that “We should speak like Shakespeare …He did more than help us. He instructs us.’ The low angle, close up shot of his face emphasises the significance of his message in conveying the moral legacy of Shakespeare’s works that have been lost in the modern world. Thus, integrity is central to both the characterisation in ‘Richard III’ as well as the editorial process in the docudrama ‘Looking for Richard’.
I like this paragraph!! I think your links to integrity need to be more obvious in the latter half, and on the whole, the analysis here wasn't as powerful as in the initial paragraphs!Shakespeare’s play ‘King Richard III’ didactically reinforces to his theocentric audience, the consequences of challenging the divine order and providentialism.
Try to start your conclusions conceptually just like your Thesis! Similarly, Pacino’s docudrama ‘Looking for Richard’ extends these inherent ideals of Shakespeare’s legacy to engage his secular and postmodern society. A comparative study of both texts against their respective time periods allows the responder to gain a deeper insight into how different social paradigms influences the form and the universal values of integrity, the pursuit and transience of power.
Excellent conclusion! A more conceptual start would make it shine 
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Topic: English Advanced Essay Marking (Modules Only) (Read 732927 times)