The Art of the "Os"

Reading plays and watching films are two totally different worlds. There is a uniqueness to both kinds of art and I enjoy discovering them both. Plays allow you to be creative. Everything that takes place within the storyline is laid out on paper, giving you freedom to process all of the information, go back if you need to, and unfold the story when you wish. The best part about plays is that they inspire and encourage imagination. It becomes up to you to picture what the characters, scenery, costumes, dialogue, and action all look and sound like. In Othello so much action and encounter takes place between its characters, providing room for imagination. Sure, you can sense the general makeup of the plot when context is given, but it becomes up to you to make the scene come alive. Just like we did in class, it is up to us to decide what Act 5, scene 2 of Othello would have looked like had it come to life right then. Imagination becomes crucial when reading a play because you are the director! Film is another intriguing art to explore. Throughout the years film has come far in ways to produce something effective for the audience. Nowadays, filmmakers have many hi-tech tools to use to their advantage. Perhaps one of the most visible ways film has changed, especially from old interpretations to new interpretations of Othello, is through color. Color has brought an incredible amount of life to the screen. One advantage film has over a play or script is its ability to get you, the audience, in the action. I have liked watching O because it has done a great job of putting the audience right in the scene with the actors. For example, placing the camera on the floor of the basketball court with the players allowed us to have a front row seat in the action. It's also fun to explore how different directors portray life, historical or modern, and take on interesting interpretations of their scripts through film. Both forms of art allow for exploration and creativity and are ways to discover imagination and style.