Modern Appropriation Of Romeo And Juliet

Good Morning teachers and peers today I will be discussing the effectiveness of Luhrmann's film version of Romeo and Juliet as a modern appropriation of Shakespeare's original play .

Romeo and Juliet has made a very effective and successful modern appropriation of the
Intro - Luhrmann’s 1996 film version original shakespearian play. Luhrmann uses the very popular key form of film to help make a modern appropriation of Romeo and Juliet as well as using many different film techniques such as diegetic and nondiegetic sound,camera angles and modernised settings to further modernise the key themes of love and violence and the characters of Benvolio and Tybalt.

Film is a very popular form of entertainment in modern times. Luhrmann using film

Baz Luhrmann in his 1996 film version of the play has created a modern portrayal of the key theme of Love by using several film techniques and a modernised setting. The modern portrayal of of love is evident in the Balcony Scene which is ( Act 2 Scene 2 ) in the play when Luhrmann uses a close up camera shot when Romeo and Juliet kiss as well as using the setting of the Capulet's Mansion at night time .The closeup camera shot of Romeo and Juliet kissing creates the feeling that their love is very strong and that they are very close with one another the closeup shot also suggests that they are equal which is modernised from shakespearean times were the male was more dominant than the female in a relationship also filming this scene at nighttime also shows that their love is very private and secretive and should be kept a secret from both their families. In Luhrmann's film he has adapted the theme of violence to a modern audience by using non-diegetic and diegetic sound as well as using once again the modern setting as well as modern props . This is evident in the very first scene were the Capulet’s and Montague's confront each other in the modern beach side city of Verona and Luhrmann uses non diegetic western standoff music and also use of the modern beach side city of Verona as well as the use of guns instead of swords.The use of western standoff music shows the modern audience that

In Luhrmann’s version Benvolio is portrayed in a modern way as a peacemaker whenever a fight erupts between the two families.This is evident in the opening scene when Benvolio enters after the rest of the Montagues and Capulets have confronted each other and he tells them to put down their swords. In this scene the use of soft non-diegetic sound right after he enters the scene shows to the modern audience that he demands peace between the two families. In Romeo and Juliet Tybalt is characterised as a fiery tempered character always looking for a fight. Luhrmann draws on cultural stereotypes of Latinos and gang members to convey tybalt's allegiance and love towards violence. This is also evident in the opening scene when the camera zooms in to a close up shot of Tybalt opening his jacket to reveal two guns which are placed either side of an image of the Sacred Heart of Jesus. This shows to the modern audience that Tybalt has an unbreakable love and allegiance towards violence and shows that this love and devotion is almost like a religious devotion. Luhrmann has made a powerful modern appropriation of Tybalt and Benvolio in his modern version of R and