Baz Luhrmann’s "William Shakespeare’s Romeo + Juliet" (1996) retells the famous story of Romeo and Juliet who fall in love but cannot be together due to their families’ old feud. In many English literature lessons this film adaptation is popular to familiarize people with William Shakespeare’s plays and language. Due to the juxtaposition of Shakespeare’s words, fast colourful pictures and teenage stars such as Leonardo DiCaprio and Claire Danes the director Baz Luhrmann claims this adaptation to be an “Elizabethan interpretation of Shakespeare”.
Adapted to the modern Zeitgeist Luhrmann staged a combination of an updated version of the classic in a multimedia time and preserved traditional essential elements such as the language and main themes. The adaptation lets the cast speak the Shakespeare’s original text and combines it with fast modern video art. The combination of the Elizabethan English language and the recontextualisation of the classic love story with news, TV, swords as guns, advertisements, and ecstasy led Jane Maslin, a reviewer form the NY Times, to remark “[t]his is headache Shakespeare, but there's method to its madness“. The adaptation is widely recognized to be postmodern. This does not seem to coincide with Luhrmann’s aspiration of an “Elizabethan adaptation” of the classic dramatic love story. So the question arises: Can a postmodern interpretation be an “Elizabethan interpretation” at the same time?
Table of Contents
- Introduction
- Luhrmann's "Elizabethan Interpretation" and Postmodernism
- Shakespeare's Popular Culture Status and Luhrmann's Adaptation
- Intermediality and the Construction of Verona Beach
- Language, Time, and Setting in Luhrmann's Adaptation
- Genre, Soundtrack, and Casting
Objectives and Key Themes
This text analyzes Baz Luhrmann's 1996 film adaptation of Romeo and Juliet, examining the tension between Luhrmann's claim of creating an "Elizabethan interpretation" and the film's undeniable postmodern characteristics. It explores how Luhrmann utilizes various cinematic techniques to make Shakespeare accessible to a modern audience while grappling with the potential challenges of updating a classic text.
- The interplay between postmodernism and an "Elizabethan interpretation" in Luhrmann's adaptation.
- The representation of Shakespeare as popular culture in a modern context.
- The use of intermediality to blend high and low culture.
- The impact of Luhrmann's choices regarding language, setting, and time on the film's overall meaning.
- The role of casting and soundtrack in shaping the film's aesthetic and thematic resonance.
Chapter Summaries
Introduction: This introductory section sets the stage by presenting Baz Luhrmann's film adaptation of Romeo and Juliet as a unique blend of Shakespearean language and modern cinematic techniques. It highlights the film's popularity in English literature classes and introduces the central question of whether a postmodern interpretation can simultaneously be considered an "Elizabethan interpretation."
Luhrmann's "Elizabethan Interpretation" and Postmodernism: This chapter delves into the inherent contradiction between Luhrmann's stated objective and the film's clear postmodern characteristics. It examines elements like hyperreality and the depiction of Shakespeare within popular culture, showcasing how these elements contribute to the film's postmodern feel, challenging the notion of a purely Elizabethan approach.
Shakespeare's Popular Culture Status and Luhrmann's Adaptation: This section explores Luhrmann's aim to make Shakespeare accessible to a broader audience. It discusses the director's intention to capture Shakespeare's status as a writer for the masses, highlighting how the film’s use of popular culture elements contributes to this accessibility while considering potential criticisms about diluting Shakespeare's cultural value.
Intermediality and the Construction of Verona Beach: This chapter focuses on Luhrmann's masterful use of intermediality. It analyzes how the film blends various media, such as television, music, and advertisements, to create a unique visual and thematic experience. The analysis explores how these media choices contribute to both the postmodern interpretation and reinforce the film's connection to popular culture.
Language, Time, and Setting in Luhrmann's Adaptation: This section examines Luhrmann's significant decisions regarding language, time, and setting. While retaining Shakespeare's original language, Luhrmann drastically alters the setting and imagery. The discussion explores how this choice impacts the film’s ability to resonate with a contemporary audience and the resulting tension between the past and present.
Genre, Soundtrack, and Casting: This chapter examines how the film’s genre blending – a mix of teen drama, romance, and action – is reflected in the soundtrack, which contrasts Shakespeare's eloquent language with a faster-paced, modern musical style. The analysis also explores the role of casting choices and how each actor brings their individual image and past roles to the film, further enriching the interpretation and highlighting the interplay between stage and screen acting.
Keywords
Baz Luhrmann, Romeo and Juliet, Shakespeare, Postmodernism, Elizabethan interpretation, Popular culture, Intermediality, Hyperreality, Adaptation, Film, Language, Setting, Time, Genre, Soundtrack, Casting.
Baz Luhrmann's Romeo + Juliet: A Postmodern "Elizabethan Interpretation"? - FAQ
What is the main focus of this text?
This text analyzes Baz Luhrmann's 1996 film adaptation of Romeo and Juliet, focusing on the tension between Luhrmann's claim of an "Elizabethan interpretation" and the film's undeniable postmodern characteristics. It explores how Luhrmann uses cinematic techniques to make Shakespeare accessible to a modern audience while navigating the challenges of updating a classic text.
What are the key themes explored in the analysis?
Key themes include the interplay between postmodernism and an "Elizabethan interpretation," Shakespeare's representation in modern popular culture, the use of intermediality to blend high and low culture, the impact of Luhrmann's choices regarding language, setting, and time, and the role of casting and soundtrack in shaping the film's aesthetic and thematic resonance.
What is the structure of the analysis?
The analysis is structured into chapters covering an introduction, an examination of Luhrmann's "Elizabethan Interpretation" and its postmodern elements, Shakespeare's status in popular culture and Luhrmann's adaptation strategies, the use of intermediality in constructing Verona Beach, the impact of language, time, and setting, and finally, the role of genre, soundtrack, and casting.
What are the key findings or arguments presented?
The analysis argues that Luhrmann’s adaptation, while aiming for an "Elizabethan interpretation," is fundamentally a postmodern work. It highlights how Luhrmann successfully makes Shakespeare accessible to a modern audience through the use of popular culture elements and cinematic techniques, while also acknowledging potential criticisms regarding the dilution of Shakespeare's cultural value. The analysis explores how intermediality, carefully chosen language, setting, and time, as well as the soundtrack and casting, contribute to the film's overall meaning and its postmodern interpretation.
What specific aspects of Luhrmann's adaptation are analyzed?
The analysis delves into various aspects, including the film's visual style, the use of popular culture references, the adaptation of Shakespeare's language to a modern context, the setting and time period changes, the soundtrack's role in shaping the film's mood and atmosphere, and the impact of casting choices on character portrayal and the film's overall interpretation.
What are the keywords associated with this analysis?
Baz Luhrmann, Romeo and Juliet, Shakespeare, Postmodernism, Elizabethan interpretation, Popular culture, Intermediality, Hyperreality, Adaptation, Film, Language, Setting, Time, Genre, Soundtrack, Casting.
Who would find this analysis useful?
This analysis would be beneficial for students of English literature, film studies, and media studies, as well as anyone interested in Shakespearean adaptations, postmodernism, and the intersection of high and low culture. Academics researching these topics will find the structured approach and detailed analysis valuable for their work.
- Quote paper
- Vera Henne (Author), 2015, Baz Luhrmann's "Romeo and Juliet". A postmodern Elizabethan interpretation?, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/341508
