Turner:Thompson's Culturalism

E.P. Thompson's theory of Culturalism brings the idea of the human experience into cultural studies. Other theorists focused on some of the same class struggles and the effect that the dominant structure/society had on the common man, but Thompson thought about the everyday activities of these people. He felt that people had the power to change history. Thompson believed that culture was created by an individual's experience within society.

A Glimpse At The Globe

London. Shakespeare. The Globe. These terms are synonymous with one another, and before beginning research for this project, I thought that The Globe Theatre was one of many famous buildings in London that stood the test of time and contributed to the rich history of the city. The story of Shakespeare’s Globe spans many years, but theatre-goers have only been able to enjoy shows there since 1997. What is it about The Globe Theatre that is so important to the landscape of London? Is it the novelty of stepping back into Elizabethan times while living in the 21st century? Is it the only suitable tribute to William Shakespeare? To answer these questions, it’s important to start at the beginning.

History

The original Globe was constructed in 1599 and situated in Southwark, outside the city of London. Authorities did not allow plays within the city. During Shakespeare’s time, the area was known for illicit activities such as bear-baiting, prostitution, and gambling. Those involved in theatre did not have the best reputations, but thousands of people from all walks of life would attend shows regularly. Of course, Lords and Ladies would not be in the same area as the common people, class and status determined this. Amphitheatres were created to separate people. The “groundlings” paid a penny to stand in the inn-yards nearest the stage. Those that had a few extra coins would pay to sit in the gallery, and aristocrats would sit in the boxes behind the stage. But the theatre was a main source of entertainment for everyone. It involved the acting out of human experiences, and remains a favorite pastime to this day. Despite the positive aspects of theatre, the history of The Globe might lead one to believe it just was not meant to last forever. The first theatre burned down during a production, but the players decided to rebuild. The second Globe fell victim to Puritanical rule, as all playhouses were shut down in 1642. It was pulled down in 1644 to make room for housing.

Sam Wanamaker’s Vision

300 years go by. In 1949, American actor and director Sam Wanamaker visits London. He is disappointed to find that all that there was only a small bronzed plaque to memorialize the world-renowned playwright Shakespeare. He set out to re-create The Globe Theatre, and he had to work from the ground up. Patrons made contributions to The Globe Trust-the new Globe was not financed by the government at all. The biggest obstacle was figuring out what the theatre looked like in Elizabethan times. There were few clues available. Architects took cues from drawings of the city and written accounts. The Rose Theatre was excavated in 1989, and it served as a model for the recreation of Shakespeare’s Globe. It is a “best guess.”The rebuilding of The Globe Theatre was faithfully executed using the same 16th century techniques, but of course some compromises were necessary in order to adhere to modern construction codes. The exterior is made from a mixture of plaster and goat’s hair, and the frame and seating areas are oak. It is an open air theatre and the only building in London with a thatched roof. Thatched roofs were banned after the Great Fire of 1666, so this one has a flame-retardant coating and a sprinkler system.

My Experience at Shakespeare’s Globe

I have always loved Shakespeare’s work, but I’ve never seen a production, so after learning about Shakespeare’s Globe, I was looking forward to seeing a show there. Stepping into the theatre was like traveling back in time. I noticed the simple architecture and decoration. I recognized that the building itself is iconic and it stands for a great time in the history of England and the city of London, and also the history of theatre.I thought about the impact that Shakespeare has on the world. Not much is known about the man, but his words remain. His plays are part of every curriculum, and I think it’s safe to say that he contributes to the American vision of London-perhaps more than he should. Theatre is a big part of the culture of this city, there are almost too many to count.I watched Romeo and Juliet from the yard. I stood next to the stage just as a “groundling” would have, but I was thankful that they only allowed 1,500 people into the theatre instead of 3,000 as was customary in the Elizabethan era. It is not easy to stand for three hours, but it was definitely the best spot in the house. I was close enough to see every expression, every little movement. It was great to be a small part of the show as the players interacted with the audience. I loved the fact that it was an outdoor production, because that is not the kind of theatre I’m used to. The open air added to the authenticity of the production and made it even more fun. I also liked the fact that The Globe is lacking in technology. There is no stage lighting, no sound mixing, no orchestra pit. The audience is forced to focus on the dialogue and the actors and nothing else. There is a bit of music provided by the players using period instruments and songs. All of these things came together to transport us back to 1599.

It can be argued that the theatre is nothing but a tourist attraction, but I believe it stands for more than that. It defines the culture-past and present. Graeme Turner states, “Culture is a description of a particular way of life, which expresses certain meanings and values not only in art but also in institutions and ordinary behaviour” (45). Shakespeare’s Globe serves as a narrative of London because it tells a different story than the one we live every day. It is a reminder of the distant past, but it is situated among a diverse landscape. The building did not exist for hundreds of years, but it was rebuilt because of what it stands for. It stands for greatness and simplicity. I think of it as the birthplace of theatre. There is a sense of nostalgia within the place, and people are willing to embrace this small part of Elizabethan London. Maybe Shakespeare’s Globe has been around for centuries-the idea of it never died. But someone sought to bring it to the people so that they could really see it instead of just hearing about it. Old England sits happily with new on a plot of land in Southwark. The Globe pays tribute to a man who was known as a great playwright, but it also speaks for London as a place. I understand why Sam Wanamaker was so passionate about an authentic re-creation of this theatre. It is something that cannot be experienced the same way anywhere else. Even though Shakespeare is beloved worldwide, replicating The Globe anywhere else would be quite odd. It is part of the story of London. It belongs here.

Sources
Turner, Graeme. British Cultural Studies:An Introduction. London: Rutledge, 2003.
Edwin., Wilson,. Theatre experience. Boston: McGraw-Hill Higher Education, 2008.
London Walks: Shakespeare;s London
Shakespeare-Globe.org
Bevington, David. Necessary Shakespeare, The (2nd Edition). New York: Longman, 2004.

"Perhaps in the future..."

I think everyone can relate to certain aspects of Karim's story. When we are young, we dream of something bigger and better. We are "ready for anything." Karim is running toward this vision of a new and exciting life-something that will fulfill his needs. He is constantly seeking pleasure any way he can, but he's not very good at relationships. He finds that life in the city isn't what he expected. He's not a total failure, but he's not successful either. I think this shows that Karim is human. Life is full of disappointment and struggle, and not everything can be resolved easily. But when Karim comes full-circle in the end, we see that he's grown up a bit even if his search is not over. "I thought of what a mess everything had been, but that it wouldn't always be that way." This final statement is open-ended, but it makes me think that Karim still believes that life may get better, or that he will accomplish something. It is not overwhelmingly optimistic, but there is hope in it. Even if we are unsure of what Karim is thinking, we know his life goes on.

Not Made to Decorate Apartments

Before the trip to Tate Modern, I always thought of modern art as wacky stuff that didn't make sense. Now I understand that it echoes the ideas of the time. After the war, people were looking for anything new. New schools of thought were valued above religion, so the ideas of Freud and Darwin were respected. Art was not meant to be "pretty," but thought-provoking. Instead of just looking at it and saying, Oh, that's nice," I said, "what does this mean? Where did it come from?"

"Landscape from a Dream" by Surrealist Paul Nash depicts unconscious thought. Each part of the painting symbolizes something, such as the soul and the material world. Artists used several mediums to speak out against the tragedy of war, and the focus of many works is the frailty of human life. This is understandable, because at this time the idea of an omnipotent God was in question-there was a shift toward the scientific, the psychological, the tangible. I've never looked at art as a political outlet, but I think that was the goal of many modern artists-to speak out against events of the past and their present.

"No, painting is not made to decorate apartments, it's an offensive and defensive weapon against the enemy." Pablo Picasso

St. Paul's and The Tower

When I walked through the Jewel House at The Tower of London, I thought about the idea of ritual and ceremony. A coronation seems an odd thing to Americans, and I was surprised by all that was involved in the crowning of a monarch-the coronation spoon, the scepter, the rings, and the fact that the Queen wears different crowns depending on the occasion.

I wondered why the idea of grandeur and decadence was so valued here, and if it still is. The Royal Family is part of England's appeal, and I assume there has to be some way of separating a dignitary from a "commoner"-maybe the best way to do that is with a show of pomp and precious jewels.

St. Paul's Cathedral also explains the idea of magnificence in ceremony. It is a place of worship, but it's much more grand than the Abbey. From what I've seen, there is no such thing as a simple church in London. High ceilings, domes, art, gold, marble, statues. Importance is placed on anything that is ornate and beautiful. The cathedral dome is pretty miraculous, so it's hard not to think about God when you look up.
I think that the coronation jewels and the beauty of St. Paul's is indicative of a kind of separation. If a coronation or a church ceremony was made to be simple, then it wouldn't mean as much. People would stop being amazed.

Mrs. Dalloway in Love

Mrs. Dalloway is a commentary on many social issues, and one of these is the concept of marriage for security and status. Most of us believe that marriage for love is the only way. Clarissa Dalloway doesn't think that is best. She has been in love before-maybe she still is. And it is clear that Peter Walsh still loves her, but he is not the one she chose to marry. Clarissa chose Richard Dalloway-a stable man with a good background.

Richard and Clarissa are not passionate about each other, but they do respect each other. Richard can't even tell Clarissa that he loves her, but I don't think she minds that much. Clarissa thinks of love as a nuisance-something that clouds the judgement. She values individuality and privacy most. To love someone would require giving up part of herself and spending time with this other person. In Clarissa's mind, falling in love is a way to lose, and there is nothing real to gain.

Mrs. Dalloway is not wrong for choosing a "marriage of convenience" over a passionate one. She still looks back on her days with Peter Walsh, but she made the best decision based on what is important to her. She doesn't want to link herself to someone else. She sees the beauty in independence, and feels that women should be able to stand apart from traditional roles and think for themselves instead of living under the thumbs of their husbands. Not being in love with Richard allows Clarrisa to maintain her separateness.

Dorian Gray-Who's To Blame?

A Picture of Dorian Gray is a story that makes you think about the power of influence. Dorian is a young man-he is quite naive and impressionable at first. When he meets Lord Henry, he becomes aware of his extraordinary good looks, He also learns that Lord Henry values youth, beauty and status above all else. Dorian begins to change under the "guidance" of Lord Henry. He wishes to remain young forever, but his portrait ages and becomes ugly. It serves as a reflection of his true self, and it eventually destroys him.

There are some ambiguous scenes in the novel-we are not quite sure what Dorian is doing, but we can assume they are bad things because it is a fact that he murdered Basil. Dorian is driven to madness, and I think the outcome would have been different if he had never met Lord Henry. The dynamic of the relationship is strange. I think that Dorian latched on to Henry because he needed some kind of father figure, but Henry's superficial banter and comical personality led me to believe that he had no idea how much influence he had over Dorian. Perhaps he saw what he wished he could have been as a young man and he wanted to live vicariously. Or maybe Dorian was just a shiny plaything and Henry didn't care about him at all.

In the end, everyone is responsible for their own actions. However, a chance encounter can change a life forever. If we are easily influenced, we may become powerless to stop things from getting out of control.

In Lord Henry, Dorian saw a wise man. Lord Henry looked at Dorian and knew that he would listen and believe. That's where the tragedy began.