Beneficial working with others to research ideas and resources before writing this individual analysis
Reflecting on the assignment and process of collaborative research. Did you find it beneficial working with others to research ideas and resources before writing this individual analysis? What have you learned from this assignment? Why do you think collaborative research is important?
Step 1#: Collaborative Research Outline
Postcolonial Theory and Hamlet
Collaborative Research Outline and Steps
Explore Global Shakespeare website as a group watch performance and discuss elements you noticed in the lighting, costumes, acting, staging.
Similar to the Royal Shakespeare videos we looked at in class, take note of aspects that stand out to you in this performance: is
Hamlet genuine?
High camera angle, seems to be standing on wood planks
Far angle makes it harder to see facial expressions, making his feelings/emotions less clear to the audience. David Tennant’s version has a close up angle on his face, showing every emotion he expresses to the viewer.
“To be or not to be, there’s the point” Korea vs “To be or not to be, that is the question” original
Ophellia enters at the end of the scene in both, but in the Korean one she is standing next to a hamlet who is lying on the ground, before he finishes his soliloquy.
Hamlet in the Korean version, seems less genuine than David Tennant in the way that we can’t see his emotions, and the way he’s flopping on the ground like a child while speaking of ending his own life.
Postcolonial Lens and Theory
Refer to Fact sheet provided on your Global Performance
Look into the context and history of the performance and international relations of your work.
Analyze the selected languages and cultural representation in these Global performances
Discuss the terms in class we looked at if they apply to your performance
Gender
Diaspora
Syncretism/Hybridity
Neocolonialism
Othering
Speaking korean and seem to be wearing culturally appropriate clothing, those of which people in their time period/culture would wear.
Similar to the Korean war and the split of North and South Korea, we see in hamlet the war between Denmark and Norway.
As many wars do, these wars were based around the idea of achieving land and power.
Gender: this play represents Hamlet as a man and Ophelia as a woman, similar to the traditional play and the David Tennant version we watch in class.
Diaspora: In Hamlet we see this as Hamlet feels displaced or away from his home during the time his father dies. This connects with Korean history because after the war many families were displaced from their homes and scattered thus causing them to question their culture and explore a new identity.
Neocolonialism: Exploitation of Korea began early in the 20th century, first by Japan. Resulted in many deaths, suppression of language and culture and enslavement of Korean people. After WWII, the United States began their influence, helping to rebuild governments and the economy. They gained a lot of political, economic, and cultural influence especially in South korea. In the play you could argue Denmark, after winning the war against Norway, could have some degree of power and exploitation over them whether it be land or political
Othering: A demonic other in Hamlet would be Norway as they’re the “enemy” represented as “evil” or “inferior” to Denmark. This is similar to North Korea being represented as “evil” due to their role in the Korean War and their actions and ideologies post-war and into the present day.
Sourcing Works Cited
While working in your groups ensure to source all the websites you are utilizing to conduct your research. Insert them in the box to the right to keep track of your findings. Find at least One good source other than global shakespeare
https://www.britannica.com/place/Korea/Korea-since-c-1400
https://www.eisenhowerlibrary.gov/research/online-documents/korean-war
https://www.insightguides.com/destinations/asia-pacific/south-korea/historical-highlights
https://www.hamptonthink.org/read/from-stolen-land-to-riches-us-neo-colonialism-in-south-korea
Step #2
Compare and Contrast “To be or not to be”
Take notes while you…..
1) Rewatch In your groups watch David Tennant’s version of Hamlet’s Soliloquy https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xYZHb2xo0OI
2) Paapa Essiedu’s ‘To Be Or Not To Be’ speech in Royal Shakespeare’s Hamlet https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7dZMJM-LGzQ&t=1s
3) Rewatch your version of Global Shakespeare
Here is a grid for guidance …….
Acting Genuine? Staging, Lighting, Filming, Music, Sound Effects, Props,
Costumes?, Language,
Similarities Differences
Costumes: Paapa Essiedu has a suit jacket and white t-shirt underneath. Both the jacket and shirt, along with his face are covered in paint. David Tennant is wearing a red t-shirt with a childish muscle print along with jeans and a lack of shoes or socks. Aimed at infantilizing David Tennant’s Hamlet. Korean Hamlet is dressed in black pants and shirt, with silver designs on the cuffs and shoulders, giving it a military like appearance.
Lighting: all have the same dimly lit/dark setting
David Tennant Royal
Shakespeare
David Tennant is wearing a red t-shirt with a childish muscle print along with jeans and a lack of shoes or socks. Aimed at infantilizing David Tennant’s Hamlet.
Camera angle is close up to Hamlet, allowing the audience to see his emotions. It also shows an angle that makes it seem like Hamlet is looking towards the empty throne while he delivers his speech, adding some deeper meaning to the soliloquy.
Paapa Essiedu Royal
Shakespeare
Paapa Essiedu has a suit jacket and white t-shirt underneath. Both the jacket and shirt, along with his face are covered in paint.
The camera angle in this version is a close up shot at the beginning, almost making it seem like the viewer is standing in front of him. This allows the viewer to see Hamlet’s emotions and body language. The camera then zoom out, showing
Your Groups (1,2,3) Global Shakespeare Performance
Korean Hamlet is dressed in black pants and shirt, with silver designs on the cuffs and shoulders, giving it a military like appearance, yet still appearing to be some sort of traditional
How do you think these similarities and differences could be viewed through a postcolonial lens or perspective?
Royal Shakespeare
Production
Post Colonial Theory
Global Shakespeare
Any indications of
Production
1) Colonialism
2) Neocolonialism
3) Decolonization
Diaspora, Othering,
Hybridity/Syncretism,
Nationalism, etc.
War in Hamlet between Norway and Denmark draws parallels to the Korean war, a conflict in the Koreran peninsula which resulted in it being divided along the 38th parallel into north and south korea.
Similarities between Norway ending their offensive on Denmark, after the death of Fortinbras, their leader. This can be seen in Korean history when in 1598, Japanese military leader Toyotomi Hideyoshi was killed, Leading to the withdrawal of Japanese invaders and effectively ending the Japanese assault on Korea.
Demonic/exotixc other: In Hamlet Norway is portrayed as the enemy, the demonic other. This can be seen in Korea where to South Korea and most of the world, North Korea is seen as the other. They are also considered a demonic other because of the constant portrayal in western media. Their isolation from the modern world also portrays them as the exotic other to western people.
16th century Korea was exposed to Catholicism. The majority of the people who took on this religion were aristocrats. Hamlet, being a prince, is an aristocrat. This introduction of catholicism provides an explanation for the references to Catholic things, like hell in the Korean version of to be or not to be.
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