The Film Versions of Macbeth

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Yoni Jay

English Macbeth

It is crucial to understand that in all Shakespeare's productions whether it be in music dance or theatre that ideas and meaning are subtly outlined so that everyone should take out their own interpretation from the text and tailor it to suit their understanding.

It is also vital to understand that television is the most dominant sort of media there is to day and it is expanding rapidly. This is because television brings you action, drama and romance at any period of the day, it takes up little space in the house and you can watch in the comfort of your own home. Television is for mass audiences; millions of people around the globe are watching the very same programme and all in their own armchairs unlike theatre, which is directed to a small intimate group.

Television is "packaged" for you, the directors allow you to watch what he wants you to watch. For example in the Royal Shakespeare production video to which I will be referring to throughout my coursework, displays a scene where the video just pictures Macbeth's eyes and ears in the foreground and people talking about him in the background. This is maybe because the director wanted to show you that Macbeth had spies everywhere and was listening to anything said in opposition to him. This idea at least keeps the viewer's mind in motion. Whereas in theatre you would view the whole stage in general so you don't feel that kind of intensity the producer was trying to capture.

Television is an intermediary of entertainment to anyone watching it. This also applies to the working classes who are not that wealthy so instead can watch a production of Macbeth on television. Theatre is generally for people who are more educated and the higher faction of society who can afford to pay the fee required. But if every one watches television then theatre would cease to exist, or if everyone attends the theatre, television will terminate due to high prices in advertising so there has to be an equal balance of both. But this was different in Shakespeare's time, as the play was directed for everyone. Not just foe a wealthy audience, a lack of money did not stop people attending the theatre. It was a luxury, which cost little.
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Drama blood and romance is what appeals to most human beings, so film producers have a hard time encompassing all these factors into one movie. People like to compare their emotions or personalities with those people in the films. That is why Shakespeare is the all time best, he provided a good source of entertainment for 400 years yet having a serious meaning behind the plot for people to hold up a mirror against.

When Shakespeare wrote these plays there were two main sources of public entertainment. They were theatre and Bearbating. Bearbaiting was always considered globally ...

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