Happy Friday the 13th!
Apr. 13th, 2012 08:15 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
eldritchhobbitHappy Friday the 13th!
Beginning in June, National Theatre Live is showing encore screenings of 2011's amazing production of Nick Dear's Frankenstein with both starring performances: Benedict Cumberbatch and Jonny Lee Miller as, alternately, the Creature and Victor Frankenstein. (You can read my review from last year here). I've got tickets for both versions, and I can't wait! To see if there's a venue near you (in the USA, UK, Canada, South Africa, Australia, or New Zealand), check this list.
And here's the trailer:
In other news, the publishers have released more detailed information about J.K. Rowling's new novel.
"Paradise Lost excited different and far deeper emotions. I read it, as I had read the other volumes which had fallen into my hands, as a true history. It moved every feeling of wonder and awe that the picture of an omnipotent God warring with his creatures was capable of exciting. I often referred the several situations, as their similarity struck me, to my own. Like Adam, I was apparently united by no link to any other being in existence; but his state was far different from mine in every other respect. He had come forth from the hands of God a perfect creature, happy and prosperous, guarded by the especial care of his Creator; he was allowed to converse with and acquire knowledge from beings of a superior nature, but I was wretched, helpless, and alone."
- Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley, Frankenstein, or The Modern Prometheus
Beginning in June, National Theatre Live is showing encore screenings of 2011's amazing production of Nick Dear's Frankenstein with both starring performances: Benedict Cumberbatch and Jonny Lee Miller as, alternately, the Creature and Victor Frankenstein. (You can read my review from last year here). I've got tickets for both versions, and I can't wait! To see if there's a venue near you (in the USA, UK, Canada, South Africa, Australia, or New Zealand), check this list.
And here's the trailer:
In other news, the publishers have released more detailed information about J.K. Rowling's new novel.
"Paradise Lost excited different and far deeper emotions. I read it, as I had read the other volumes which had fallen into my hands, as a true history. It moved every feeling of wonder and awe that the picture of an omnipotent God warring with his creatures was capable of exciting. I often referred the several situations, as their similarity struck me, to my own. Like Adam, I was apparently united by no link to any other being in existence; but his state was far different from mine in every other respect. He had come forth from the hands of God a perfect creature, happy and prosperous, guarded by the especial care of his Creator; he was allowed to converse with and acquire knowledge from beings of a superior nature, but I was wretched, helpless, and alone."
- Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley, Frankenstein, or The Modern Prometheus
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no subject
Date: 2012-04-13 02:04 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2012-04-14 12:13 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2012-04-13 09:27 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2012-04-14 12:17 am (UTC)I've also been fascinated by the reaction from the media, both positive and negative (to what is, let's face it, not that much in terms of details). In fact, we're going to discuss that in my seminar tonight, pieces like Sameer Rahim's "Why I'm Dreading J.K. Rowling's Adult Novel." *rolls eyes* It's Harold Bloom all over again.
Heaven forbid we actually read a book before we pass judgment on it. LOL!
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Date: 2012-04-13 09:32 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2012-04-14 12:17 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2012-04-14 07:46 pm (UTC)[weird nostalgic flashback warning]
To be exact, TODS used Frankenstein in his freshman writing course at our previous institution--the students read the original book (which often surprised them by not being at all what they expected) and practiced writing papers by writing papers about it, analyzing it in terms of two theoretical backgrounds: the philosophy of Nietzsche on the one hand, and Taoism on the other. We would have the lot of them over to our house (a tiny duplex in
District 12the Pennsylvania coal country), where they would sit on the floor and munch whatever I fixed for them while watching Frankenstein Unbound (a bit too creepy to require them to watch in class--but they would ALL come). Our cats quickly figured out that these homesick freshmen missed their own pets, and would come out during the movie and wend their way among the kids to get petted and loved on. Good times.no subject
Date: 2012-05-17 08:52 pm (UTC)I'm SO glad the information was useful. I really, really hope you enjoy it! I teach Frankenstein, too - I'll be teaching it this Fall again, as a matter of fact - and I can't think of anything better than seeing this once more to get the old mental juices flowing! BTW, I highly recommend reading Nick Dear's play before seeing the production. It's now available for Kindle as well as in hard-copy form.
I adored your story of the freshman joining you two in
District 12to watch Frankenstein Unbound, and enjoying "quality time" with your oh-so-empathetic kitties. That's the best thing ever. I can just picture it!Hugs to you, my friend. I hope your soon-to-be summer is going well.