what would make Shakespeare Hamlet moden? - Writers Forum

crayz · 10-14-2007, 08:52 PM

I have been commissioned to typeset some of Shakespeare work , in particular Hamlet's soliloquy. Key features of this being they want a "modern" take on it. Not knowing or understanding much of Shakespeare work. I have been researching for 2 days trying to gain a better insight into the going of Hamlet and the hidden meanings.

I wonder if perhaps i could pick your brains on your thoughts on the "to be or not to be" soliloquy and how hamlet would be preserved in the present day. What would change to create this a modern peace? could the play even be Hamlet if they language were to change? Would Hamlet even be Hamlet now a days. would the series of events that drove Hamlet to this powerful monolog be plausible? Would a young modern express him self with the same depth and wonder as Hamlet did?

im keen in believing that what Shakespeare was doing then, he knew to be modern. and i hope im right in thinking major changes in his work today he would also consider to be modern.

thank you so much for you insight.

Craig.

Erik Buchanan · 10-15-2007, 08:04 AM

Good luck with that. People study Hamlet for years to understand it all.

My best suggestion would be to contact the English professors at your local University, explain the project, and ask if they could recommend some reading material.

Good luck.

crayz · 10-15-2007, 08:21 AM

Thank you Erik,

I have tryed to make contact with some English professors waiting on them to contact me.

dose anyone else have any suggestions on material or ideas on what would make shakespeare modern?. im planning on watching hamlet 2000 . and have watched many of the acts from the 2004 stage version with Toby Stephens as Hamlet.

Mermaid on the breakwater · 10-15-2007, 09:14 AM

I never understand this obligation to make things modern. In doing so you are just watering Shakespeare's original intentions down by allowing *cough*stupid film directors*cough* the opportunity to interpret his socialogical perceptions and many other things.

I have no problem with making a film out of shakespeare's plays - I welcome more - you can film it in colour, you can put a slightly modern slant on it, but what I detest is the fact that people like Baz Luhrmann can get their greedy paws on it and vandalise a brilliant playwright by introducing guns and ridiculous situations. It turns Romeo and Juliet into a comedy and just plays to the crowd of idiots (usually my age group) who don't have the intelligence to truly enjoy Shakespeare anyway.

Sorry, rant over, I wish you all the best and my little tantrum is nothing to do with you, crayz.

lin · 10-15-2007, 09:22 AM

Well, typesetting should be easy enough to modernize. Just set it an "X Files" font with eroded edges or some such and voila.

crayz · 10-15-2007, 04:07 PM

haha , was that a joke lin?

crayz · 10-15-2007, 04:19 PM

i agree with you mermaid on the breakwater. its a very sensitive subject for alot of people and i for one think that shakes spear can just be as modern today as it was when it was 1st played. i think maybe some of the meanings and feelings mite not appeal so well in the modern world. im a young man as hamlet was and i find it hard to connect and relate to Shakespeare plays done in the classical way. the 1st time i clicked and it felt right inside of me was watching the 2004 stage play. it had a lot more emotion and brought anger to the soliloquy. do you think the script is so ridged that even these emotions the other 90% of communication we don't translate verbally should be altered? do you think even in the modern day it should be as stiff and mono in its feeling of emotion ( the dread and depression) of what i have seen in older adaptations of the script .

thanks for you time .

Craig.