Topic for Spring 2009: Shakespeare, Film and Media.

The seminar will focus on intensive work on film adaptations and spin-offs of Shakespeare plays. Tentative film list: Henry V (Laurence Olivier, 1944); Henry V (Kenneth Branagh, 1989); Romeo and Juliet (Baz Luhrmann, 1996); Shakespeare in Love (1998); Stage Beauty (John Madden, 2004); Hamlet (Michael Almereyda, 2000); Richard III (Richard Loncraine, 1996); Looking for Richard (Al Pacino, 1996); Titus (Julie Taymor, 1999); King Lear (Jean-Luc Godard, 1985); Prospero's Books (Peter Greenaway, 1992); Ten Things I Hate About You (Jill Junger, 1999). This will be a discussion class. Students will also present on-line multimedia essays using MIT XMAS (Cross Media Annotation Software). Previous Shakespeare course or equivalent expected. No technical experience required.