King Richard Iii and Looking for Richard
KRII and LFR Essay Draft 1
Changes in context and form offer fresh perspective on the values in texts. How does Pacino’s film “Looking for Richard”, reveal his response to the values explored in Shakespeare’s play, “King Richard III”?
Through changes in context and form a fresh perspective can be offered on the values in texts. Pacino’s film “Looking for Richard” [LFR] reveals his response to values such as; the allure of evil, conscience and the artistry of language, that are explored in Shakespeare’s play, “King Richard III” [KRIII]. The change in context often offers a fresh perspective to the differences between the Elizabethan audience and the contemporary audience, and how they perceive what values are presented within the play. This perception also allows these values to transcend time.
In KRII, Richard’s evil dual personality was an inconceivable concept to the Elizabethan audience. They viewed Richard as a renowned villain of history during the War of the Roses, and only as a villain within the play. This allowed no room for tragedy, as they did not sympathise with Richard. Richard’s villainy was also further emphasised in his physical deformity, hinting at the corruption of the mind. Richard is seen as the vice of morality plays, and an example of the Christian devil in how he acts and constantly reminds us that he is “…determined to prove a villain” [Act 1, Scene 1] in his soliloquies and asides.
Pacino offers a fresh perspective on the allure of evil to Richard in form of his 1996 film, LFR. Here he presents a multi-faceted personality to a twentieth century audience that has an interest in evil as a part of its popular culture in films such as “Silence of the Lambs”. The contemporary audience are free from preset values, or prejudices against Richard, allowing Pacino to explore tragic effect in the play more extensively than would have been possible in the Elizabethan context; as the audience are more able to deal with Richard’s moral complexity,
Changes in context and form offer fresh perspective on the values in texts. How does Pacino’s film “Looking for Richard”, reveal his response to the values explored in Shakespeare’s play, “King Richard III”?
Through changes in context and form a fresh perspective can be offered on the values in texts. Pacino’s film “Looking for Richard” [LFR] reveals his response to values such as; the allure of evil, conscience and the artistry of language, that are explored in Shakespeare’s play, “King Richard III” [KRIII]. The change in context often offers a fresh perspective to the differences between the Elizabethan audience and the contemporary audience, and how they perceive what values are presented within the play. This perception also allows these values to transcend time.
In KRII, Richard’s evil dual personality was an inconceivable concept to the Elizabethan audience. They viewed Richard as a renowned villain of history during the War of the Roses, and only as a villain within the play. This allowed no room for tragedy, as they did not sympathise with Richard. Richard’s villainy was also further emphasised in his physical deformity, hinting at the corruption of the mind. Richard is seen as the vice of morality plays, and an example of the Christian devil in how he acts and constantly reminds us that he is “…determined to prove a villain” [Act 1, Scene 1] in his soliloquies and asides.
Pacino offers a fresh perspective on the allure of evil to Richard in form of his 1996 film, LFR. Here he presents a multi-faceted personality to a twentieth century audience that has an interest in evil as a part of its popular culture in films such as “Silence of the Lambs”. The contemporary audience are free from preset values, or prejudices against Richard, allowing Pacino to explore tragic effect in the play more extensively than would have been possible in the Elizabethan context; as the audience are more able to deal with Richard’s moral complexity,