Shakespeare Blog

Measure for Measure Plot Summary The play opens when the Duke of Vienna publicly announces that he is transferring the “deputation all the organs of our own power” to a man named Angelo; Angelo to be his deputy; the duke having plans to immediately leave the city.  He tells Angelo “to enforce the laws as to your soul seems good.”  When asked by the duke “what think you of it,” Escalus, a judge, replies “If any in Vienna be worth to undergo such ample grace and honor, it is Lord Angelo.”  We soon learn that Angelo, acting quickly as the duke’s deputy, has had Claudio arrested for “getting Julietta with child” and that “within these three days his head is to be chopped off” and that “all houses in the suburbs of Vienna must be plucked down.”  Claudio is just a regular guy whose fiancée is pregnant. As well, Claudio just happens to have a good-looking sister, Isabella. Angelo’s plan is to present a tough law-and-order front.  Claudio has been arrested to serve ...

History Of The Rave Scene Early Origins: Acid House Parties Chicago in the mid-to-late 1980s was the birthplace of house music. After years of slight changes and playing around with the music, it led to the creation of "Acid House".The sound of acid house was created on the Roland TB-303, a bass line generator. This new sound began with a record produced by Phuture, a group founded by DJ Pierre, Earl “Spanky” Smith Jr., and Herbert “Herb J” Jackson.    London House Scene (Mid-late 1980s)   By the the time the year 1987 came around, House music had grown extremely popular in the UK as a result of the popularity of songs like Steve “Silk” Hurley’s “Jack Your Body". Acid house hadn’t really made a big impact, until a group of four DJs (Paul Oakenfold, Danny Rampling, Nicky Holloway and Johnny Walker) took a trip to Ibiza to visit the acclaimed club Amnesia. They heard the resident DJ Alfredo blending records in the ‘balearic’ style, which fuse...

Shakespeare Bio Early Years William Shakespeare was the son of John Shakespeare, an alderman and a successful Glover originally from Snitterfield, and Mary Arden, the daughter of an affluent landowning farmer. He was born in Stratford-upon-Avon and baptized there on 26 April 1564. His actual birth date remains unknown, but is traditionally observed on 23 April, St George's Day. This date, which can be traced back to an 18th-century scholar's mistake, has proved appealing to biographers, since Shakespeare died 23 April 1616. He was the third child of eight and the eldest surviving son.  Although no attendance records for the period survive, most biographers agree that Shakespeare was probably educated at the King's New School in Stratford, a free school chartered in 1553, about a quarter-mile from his home. Grammar schools varied in quality during the Elizabethan era, but the curriculum was dictated by law throughout England, and the school would have provided an...

Laban Efforts I feel that Friar Peter embodies and physicalized one main form of a Laban effort which is Light-Slow. Friar Peter is a religious man and therefore not weighed down by any form of guilt or deep trouble that may be affecting his mind. He also feels it necessary to conduct himself in a certain manner so as to ensure that he always holds a presence in a room which resonates and exudes a feeling of religious authority. The Friar is slow as he does not feel the need to rush around for anyone or anything and always feels justified and sound in all of his actions and decisions as a result of his religious standing. He is also slow as to ensure he remains conducted in the image he gives off. Costume    I feel that the costume is perfectly suited towards the kind of role that it is which is that of a holy man who would ideally dress in simple and modest manner (lack of accessories and flashy items). I like the costume not necessarily for its d...

Laban Efforts Although I feel that there are stages throughout the play where Abhorson as a character may fluctuate, I have come to the conclusion that his two main Laban Efforts are Light-Slow and Heavy-Slow. The first effort I feel perfectly physicalized how Abhorson as a character holds a position that weighs heavily upon him and so is constantly affecting his mood and his perception of everything around him, but despite this, he must maintain his composure and present a degree of respect for the authority around him. The latter effort I feel presents the moments during the play where the weight of his position and his acts truly affect him, to the point that he can no longer hide it or present a front to those around him although I feel this effort is more rarely shown. Costume I really like Abhorson's costume as I feel that it is not to complex and is simple but still captures and emulates the feeling and of an executioner, a man that does not have a glamorous or attract...

Laban Efforts I initially had some difficulty deciding the Laban Effort that best physicalized the First Gentleman. I have concluded that Light-Slow best physicalized the First Gentleman. The First Gentleman holds himself in high regard with an arguable element of arrogance and so he'll move in a light manner, careful to maintain his composure in all situations. Additionally, because of his arrogance hell be sure to always move in a slower manner, as he would not believe he would need to move quickly for anyone and to once again maintain his composure and perception by other characters.  Costume I initially only liked the costume purely for its vibrant design which I feel stands out and is just a generally "fun" costume. However I now feel that the costume relates well to my character as I believe it captures his arrogance and inward regards towards himself. I am impressed how the costumes are pretty much the same but incorporate slight differen...