LINES OF THE DAY

". . . But the past does not exist independently from the present. Indeed, the past is only past because there is a present, just as I can point to something over there only because I am here. But nothing is inherently over there or here. In that sense, the past has no content. The past -- or more accurately, pastness -- is a position. Thus, in no way can we identify the past as past." p. 15

". . . But we may want to keep in mind that deeds and words are not as distinguishable as often we presume. History does not belong only to its narrators, professional or amateur. While some of us debate what history is or was, others take it into their own hands." p. 153

Silencing the Past: Power and the Production of History (1995) by Michel-Rolph Trouillot

Monday, January 27, 2014

The Life of Shakespeare - Historical Drama Mini-series

The Life of Shakespeare 6-part series was shown on ITV in 1978.  It was scripted by John Mortimer (he who is responsible for Rumpole of the Bailey and many other things).






 Shakespeare is played by Tim Curry while Ian McShane plays Kit Marlowe. The period London's influential gay population is given parity in this series.  I've only watched some of it so far, but am enjoying it a great deal.  It's lively and energetic.  The costumes are splendid as is appropriate for a series that sets so many scenes within the theater with the costume makers forever chasing Richard Burbage and other famous board treaders about for fittings.  The more the watcher knows about this era of England politics, both power and literary, the more the watcher will enjoy.

The discs were obtained from netflix.  The color values are a lot higher than on many dvds from this era of English television, though it doesn't play full screen.



 The vitality of the period, the place, the London theater. the man and his cohorts are fundamental to this series, and a fine way to observe the splendid fact that my broken elbow is healing well and I feel so much better -- and energetic myself.

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