On Recycling Shakespeare
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On Recycling Shakespeare
Acting, above all else is the portrayal of humanity, the art of grasping the follies and foibles of the human condition. Ups and downs, ins and outs, acting is no more than a mirror of ourselves. Why then would "Shakespearean" acting be any different? The passage "The Shakespearean fallacies of John Barton" from the book Recycling Shakespeare (author unknown), is neither right, nor wrong in the argument of how Shakespeare should be played, rather it is a disgusting display of egoism at its worst, presenting ideas on Shakespeare as if it were law when we of the 20th century have no choice but to scratch our heads and guess because, despite what some may say, the bard is dead and we who practice the art he loved so dear are not able to ask him what exactly he meant.
The author presents his views along the same argument this paper is intended to make, there is no law concerning acting, and no one man should decide how everything must be done. This is correct. Yet in making such an argument, the author himself becomes suspect of the same crime. There is no one set defined way to act, this is true, but by the very definition of that argument, there can be no wrong way. The tenacity and argumentative spirit with which the author tackles this subject illustrates only his/her own close-mindedness and unnecessary bitterness towards the work of John Barton and the Royal Shakespearean Company. The author may have presented many pieces of sound evidence towards the theory, but it seemed to the reader to be shown in such a condescending and bitter way that the reader had no interest in continuing with the passage...