Week One
To the wide world of the internet;
This week was step one: figure out which classic choose. There was a considerable amount of them to sift through, and it made a difficult task to choose between all of them. In the end I settled on three stories: Little Red Riding Hood, The Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde and Peter Pan.
Upon closer examination of the plots (see Wikipedia), context, the fact that one of my classmates had already claimed Peter Pan and an epic battle of rock paper scissors I decided upon Little Red Riding Hood. Upon and even more in depth look into the story I realised just how short the fairy tale was and made an executive decision that The Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde was the best option for me.
This week was step one: figure out which classic choose. There was a considerable amount of them to sift through, and it made a difficult task to choose between all of them. In the end I settled on three stories: Little Red Riding Hood, The Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde and Peter Pan.
Upon closer examination of the plots (see Wikipedia), context, the fact that one of my classmates had already claimed Peter Pan and an epic battle of rock paper scissors I decided upon Little Red Riding Hood. Upon and even more in depth look into the story I realised just how short the fairy tale was and made an executive decision that The Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde was the best option for me.
Week Two
This week I mainly focused on reading my texts The Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde and Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde (2008). The first thing I did was to search my school library for the book. I couldn’t find the original version, but I could find an appropriated version in a more modern dialect, so I borrowed the book and read it that night. This book gave me more modern insight into the story line and let me know what I was in for – as I had never read then book before.
An unsuccessful search of my local library sent me to the internet to find the original text. After reading this text I set about drawing up the plan for Part A. to help with this I looked up the context of the time it was written in (mainly using text sources used during the uncanny-self topic) concerning the Victorian era, as well as the personal context of the writer.
At the end of the week I returned to the first place I saw the story of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde, my much loved childhood TV show Arthur. In this particular episode, one of the characters describes the storey of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde through the medium of song. This song shows a modern day interpretation of the text, showing the basic plot line concerning Dr Jekyll transformations, as well as how Jekyll original revelled in Hyde’s antics but soon became wary of them.
An unsuccessful search of my local library sent me to the internet to find the original text. After reading this text I set about drawing up the plan for Part A. to help with this I looked up the context of the time it was written in (mainly using text sources used during the uncanny-self topic) concerning the Victorian era, as well as the personal context of the writer.
At the end of the week I returned to the first place I saw the story of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde, my much loved childhood TV show Arthur. In this particular episode, one of the characters describes the storey of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde through the medium of song. This song shows a modern day interpretation of the text, showing the basic plot line concerning Dr Jekyll transformations, as well as how Jekyll original revelled in Hyde’s antics but soon became wary of them.
Week Three
This week I continued to research the historical context of my novel. This week I employed SparkNotes to help clarify some of the themes within the novel. What I found to be the most intriguing concept was that of insanity. In a Hamlet like situation, the protagonist questions his rigid conservative their own sanity in even thinking that a man with as much social class and decorum as Dr Jekyll could be one and the same as the notorious Mr Hyde.
I also researched into Victorian definitions of insanity. I found a lot of ‘treatments’ for insanity, ranging from an exorcism to bloodletting and even death. Though it seemed to be, that as time progressed, the methods became more scientific and less biblically inspired.
I also finished Part A of the assignment. I set out the 5 different aspects of the novel (theme, style, plot, setting and characterisation) and the movie adaptation and through this structure I defined the similarities and differences and what has influenced these similarities and differences.
This week I learnt the (very) basic functions of Weebly. I chose my layout as well as how to insert words and create new pages, and made a page for Part A of my assignment. I also found the copyright laws concerning photographs were a lot more complicated than I had once thought, and thus turned to Flickr Storm to find some copyright free pictures to decorate my website.
I also researched into Victorian definitions of insanity. I found a lot of ‘treatments’ for insanity, ranging from an exorcism to bloodletting and even death. Though it seemed to be, that as time progressed, the methods became more scientific and less biblically inspired.
I also finished Part A of the assignment. I set out the 5 different aspects of the novel (theme, style, plot, setting and characterisation) and the movie adaptation and through this structure I defined the similarities and differences and what has influenced these similarities and differences.
This week I learnt the (very) basic functions of Weebly. I chose my layout as well as how to insert words and create new pages, and made a page for Part A of my assignment. I also found the copyright laws concerning photographs were a lot more complicated than I had once thought, and thus turned to Flickr Storm to find some copyright free pictures to decorate my website.
Week Four
This week I handed in my Part a section of my assignment, after some last minute touch ups and (much needed) grammatical fixing. Now that Part A was out of the way, I set my sights to my more creative (and scary) mission of creating my own appropriation of the classic novel. I first had to decide what medium my appropriation would take. I immediately discounted poetry due to lack of ability, as did I discount a short story due to fear of being dramatically outshone in that department. My more likely possibilities were: a play, a monologue, a dramatic reading and a play script. I decided on a monologue due to unwillingness from my family of wanting to be filmed so that the play could be performed.
I then had to decide the ways that my own appropriation would link to and which way it would defy the original. I decided to keep the element of insanity as it was what interested me first. But through the counselling of a classmate I decided to keep a more realistic theme to my monologue and attributed that insanity to alcoholism instead of the less likely split personality disorder that I was originally going to use.
I researched poetry concerning alcoholic and abusive fathersto try and find a realistic perspective on such an all too common situation. I tried to interpret this poetry as best I could and found them a very good source of information. I have decided to focus on the duality that alcohol causes, and how once a person I affected the darker side only increases, whilst the good side is tainted by the darkness.
I then had to decide the ways that my own appropriation would link to and which way it would defy the original. I decided to keep the element of insanity as it was what interested me first. But through the counselling of a classmate I decided to keep a more realistic theme to my monologue and attributed that insanity to alcoholism instead of the less likely split personality disorder that I was originally going to use.
I researched poetry concerning alcoholic and abusive fathersto try and find a realistic perspective on such an all too common situation. I tried to interpret this poetry as best I could and found them a very good source of information. I have decided to focus on the duality that alcohol causes, and how once a person I affected the darker side only increases, whilst the good side is tainted by the darkness.
Week Five
I posted Part B (my draft appropriation) of my assignment, which was the script of my monologue. I also looked towards my website a bit more, in an attempt to try and decipher a bit more of the technical magic that we call the internet. I looked a bit more in depth into photographs about Jekyll and Hyde and its various appropriations just to find out that there are next to none. I decided upon finding photos of decrepit alleyways and disfigured men who are meant to represent the inner insanity and the hostile atmosphere that allowed for Mr Hyde to flourish.
I also thought about the logistics of filming my monologue, such as where it would be filmed, who would play the minor role of the police officer and even when it would be filmed. Due to issues with all three of these particular questions, I decided on recording my voice, and cutting out the character of the police officer. This was due to the presumption of fault that would fall on this character if she was taking part in a police interview, so the recording is more of a personal journal, or reflection that an interview, allowing for more personal feelings.
I even learnt how to use audacity to edit it! Although I had some issues with uploading it. I plan to work out how in the next few days though…
I also thought about the logistics of filming my monologue, such as where it would be filmed, who would play the minor role of the police officer and even when it would be filmed. Due to issues with all three of these particular questions, I decided on recording my voice, and cutting out the character of the police officer. This was due to the presumption of fault that would fall on this character if she was taking part in a police interview, so the recording is more of a personal journal, or reflection that an interview, allowing for more personal feelings.
I even learnt how to use audacity to edit it! Although I had some issues with uploading it. I plan to work out how in the next few days though…
Week Six
This week is the culmination of my research, the presentation of my website. I have loosely prepared a speech that I will present to my class concerning my classic and how my appropriation reflects it as well as answering my driving question: Is literature made for or by the world? I have answered that although the literature is made by the world to some extent, that it is mainly made the world (whether it is for or against the current ideals and opinions). I have edited my monologue and it is now ready to be posted on my website, and hopefully will do poetry justice.
I hope you enjoyed reading about my experience as much as I surprisingly enjoyed it, and that you have learned a little bit more about strange and convoluted world of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde.
I hope you enjoyed reading about my experience as much as I surprisingly enjoyed it, and that you have learned a little bit more about strange and convoluted world of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde.
