StM: Othello Movie

Monday, October 20, 2008

Othello Movie

What was the point of the people doing it on top of where Roderigo and Iago were talking...?

3 comments:

Emily A said...: Marianna, why would you ask that on the blog???; October 22, 2008 at 2:31 PM
Jessica Deckard said...: It's a good question. A major issue in the play is sexual fidelity and love versus lust. Iago's plot and conversations with Roderigo focus on Desdemona as a lustful woman, just as his conversations with Othello do. The director of the film decided to stage it that way so that the audience is reminded that sex and sexuality are central concerns in the play/film. The play uses bawdy language and gestures, but the film has the advantage of elaborate sets and staging, so they chose to set the dirty conversation in a lustful setting.; October 22, 2008 at 3:09 PM
Emily A said...: Alright, point taken Ms. Deckard. I stand corrected. It served a purpose in the movie after all. Sorry Marianna if I ever questioned your blogging taste!

This issue of setting in the movie versus lines in the play can tie back to the issue of race in the film and race in the play that you brought up in a newer blog. You said yourself, Ms. Deckard that they use bawdy language in the play but the movie has the advantage of elaborate sets and staging. So perhaps this is the reason that the director chose to de-emphasize Othello’s race in the movie, because they had the advantage of modern sets and costumes and could create scenes and situations in the play in which the issue of race was implied, without actually having to say it so straightforward as done in the play. Also people react more to the visuals in a movie as opposed to verbally in a play, as Maryclaire said.; October 24, 2008 at 8:49 AM

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