- For minor crimes, most states have a “statute of limitations” that prohibits bringing charges when a certain period of time has elapsed since the crime. When it comes to serious crimes, is it right for the justice system to pursue criminal charges several decades after the crime is said to have occurred?
Yes, it is right and appropriate for the justice system to pursue criminal charges several decades after the crime was committed, especially serious crimes like murder. In most of these cold cases which are archived and looked through decades later, there is often a lack of evidence, witnesses and/or clues. I watched a television programme about the solving of cold crimes and prosecution of criminals which were committed some 30 years ago on Crime and Investigation last weekend. In one of the crimes, fingerprints, blood and stains were found on the pantyhose which was used as the murder weapon to strangle the victim. Due to a lack of technology in the past, the blood stains could not be tested for DNA and the criminal went scot free. However, the DNA tests of today allowed the police to track down the criminal and he was charged with manslaughter. From this example, prosecuting these criminals is the right thing to do as the constraints of the past could have prevented a criminal from receiving his dutiful punishment.
- Reporting for The Times on the conviction of Edgar Ray Killen in 2005, Shaila Dewan wrote, “While some in Neshoba County [Mississippi] said it was too late and too painful to revisit the episode, others thought that in doing so, the county might find redemption.” What do you think: was the state’s image “rehabilitated”?
Although I never lived through the civil war and only learn about it through movies, books and articles, I understand some of the horrors of the civil war in America. The Civil Rights Activists, both black and white, risked their lives to fight for the rights and equality of the African Americans and it was a noble deed to do so. Many of the people who killed and lynched the civil rights activists should be put on trial and severely punished. Mississippi did the right thing to convict the criminal and some credit should be given to them for punishing him even after decades of the painful memory; the state’s image should be allowed redemption.
- How much do you know about the civil rights era in general?
The Civil Rights Era was a period of time from 1865-1970 in American for the struggle to give equality and civil rights to all Americans. There were attempts to give equality to the African Americans like the Ku Klux Klan Act, and the Civil Rights Acts of 1866 and 1875 but most of the whites in the South kept the Blacks as inferior to them with the Black Codes and the Compromise of 1877. The Blacks continued to be discriminated in the country.
After many protests, strikes, riots, marches, massacres, assassinations, and various movements across the country, the Civil Rights Acts of 1957, 1964 and 1968 and the Voting Rights Act of 1965, the African Americans were given their full civil rights and were treated equally with the other Americans. Among the numerous incidents which occurred in America during the Civil Rights Movement, these are just some of them which contributed to the Movement: the Montgomery Bus Riots, the lynching of Blacks by the Ku Klux Klan (KKK), the role of Black churches in the Civil Rights Movement which included Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr., the Great Migration and the Second Great Migration, the incident of the Scottsboro Boys, and the enacted Jim Crow laws.
Monday, June 27, 2011
Sunday, June 26, 2011
6. Shakespeare’s Theatre
- In what sort of building were Shakespeare’s plays performed?
Before the construction of theatres, plays were performed in the private houses of aristocrats and noblemen and in the courthouses of inns. Balconies (for the audience of up to 500 people) surrounded the open space and platform in the centre of the courthouse where the acting took place. In 1574, the City of London started to restrict the activities in these inns. As a result, this prompted James Burbage to construct The Theatre in 1576 and this was the model for The Globe and many other theatres thereafter.
Shakespeare’s plays were performed in open-air theatres like the Globe Theatre. These theatres were mostly constructed with timber and were prone to burning down. They were three stories high, had a polygonal shape with an open space and platform in the centre for the actors, as well as inward-facing galleries on the different levels for the audience of up to 1500 people. There was also an upper level behind the stage which was used for different purposes.
From 1599 onwards, after the construction of the Blackfriars Theatre which was a smaller an indoor theatre, theatres were built based on that structure. The newly constructed Blackfriars Theatre incorporated the used of artificial lighting. The building could accommodate an audience of 700 people.
- How did the physical constraints of the theatre affect the language of Shakespeare’s plays?
The theatre was open air and there was no scenery. To make the play seem realistic, Shakespeare would have to describe the setting and time of each new scene to the audience through dialogue or action in the play.
- What sort of people acted in plays? What sort of people went to see them?
Men were only allowed to work in theatres as it was deemed to be an unsuitable place for women to work in. The female roles of plays were taken up by adolescent boys whose voice had not yet broke. It was only till the reign of Charles II when women were allowed to work in theatrical performances.
The royalty, nobility and commoner all went to see the plays performed in theatres. Elizabethan drama was a common recreation for many of the people during Elizabeth’s reign. Both men and women were allowed to watch plays.
- How was ‘the theatre’ viewed by society?
The City of London authorities disliked the public performances of plays. However, the Queen was a frequent patron of the plays and the theatre was supported by the Privy’s Council. The plays which the aristocrats watched were the same as those which the common peasant watched in the public theatres.
- Compare the modern day Globe Theatre in London with the theatres that Shakespeare worked in.
The globe theatre in the 16th century was a three storey octagonal-shaped open-air theatre and was made of timber. There was a central open area and a raised rectangular platform in the middle of the building for the actors to perform. A trap door was built under the platform. There was a pit in front of the platform where the commoners watched the play from. Directly opposite the pit were rows of seat on the three stories of the building for the nobility and royalty. There was a balcony where musicians were positioned. There were large columns at the sides of the stage supporting the roof above the stage. The roof was painted with clouds and the sky and was known as the “heavens”.
The modern day open-air Globe Theatre in London was built by Sam Wanamaker and opened in 1997. The modern theatre followed the physical structure of the old Globe Theatre and has a thrust stage with three stories of audiences’ seats, which are simple benches. Plays are performed in the afternoons as natural light is used to brighten the theatre. No spotlights are used, music is played there and then, and no amplification is used for the actors. The building was constructed with English Oak with no steel, similar to the old Globe Theatre. The Globe Theatre has the first and only thatched roof since the Great Fire of 1666 and is protected with water sprinklers and fire retardants to prevent the roof from catching on fire. The pit is made of concrete unlike the earthen ground in the 16th century theatre. The stage has extensive backstage support areas and is connected to a lobby, gift shop, restaurant and visitors’ centre. The seating capacity is 857 and 700 people can stand at the pit and watch. The theatre is used for educational purposes in winter and plays are performed in summer. Tours of the theatre are also conducted all year round.
Resources:
Alchin, L. Elizabethan Inn-Yards. http://www.elizabethan-era.org.uk/elizabethan-inn-yards.htm (26/6/2011)
Alchin, L. Shakespeare and the Blackfriars Theatre. http://www.william-shakespeare.org.uk/shakespeare-blackfriars-theatre.htm (26/6/2011)
Alchin, L. Shakespeare and the Globe Theatre. http://www.william-shakespeare.org.uk/shakespeare-globe-theatre.htm (26/6/2011)
Alchin, L. Performances of William Shakespeare Plays. http://www.william-shakespeare.org.uk/performances-william-shakespeare-plays.htm (26/6/2011)
Alchin, L. Elizabethan Theatre. http://www.elizabethan-era.org.uk/elizabethan-theatre.htm (26/6/2011)
Alchin, L. Elizabethan Costume. http://www.elizabethan-era.org.uk/elizabethan-costume.htm (26/6/2011)
McCurdy, P. The Reconstruction of the Globe Theatre. McCurdy & Co. Ltd. http://www.mccurdyco.com/globefab.html (26/6/2011)
Shakespeare’s Globe. http://www.shakespearesglobe.com/ (26/6/2011)
Before the construction of theatres, plays were performed in the private houses of aristocrats and noblemen and in the courthouses of inns. Balconies (for the audience of up to 500 people) surrounded the open space and platform in the centre of the courthouse where the acting took place. In 1574, the City of London started to restrict the activities in these inns. As a result, this prompted James Burbage to construct The Theatre in 1576 and this was the model for The Globe and many other theatres thereafter.
Shakespeare’s plays were performed in open-air theatres like the Globe Theatre. These theatres were mostly constructed with timber and were prone to burning down. They were three stories high, had a polygonal shape with an open space and platform in the centre for the actors, as well as inward-facing galleries on the different levels for the audience of up to 1500 people. There was also an upper level behind the stage which was used for different purposes.
From 1599 onwards, after the construction of the Blackfriars Theatre which was a smaller an indoor theatre, theatres were built based on that structure. The newly constructed Blackfriars Theatre incorporated the used of artificial lighting. The building could accommodate an audience of 700 people.
- How did the physical constraints of the theatre affect the language of Shakespeare’s plays?
The theatre was open air and there was no scenery. To make the play seem realistic, Shakespeare would have to describe the setting and time of each new scene to the audience through dialogue or action in the play.
- What sort of people acted in plays? What sort of people went to see them?
Men were only allowed to work in theatres as it was deemed to be an unsuitable place for women to work in. The female roles of plays were taken up by adolescent boys whose voice had not yet broke. It was only till the reign of Charles II when women were allowed to work in theatrical performances.
The royalty, nobility and commoner all went to see the plays performed in theatres. Elizabethan drama was a common recreation for many of the people during Elizabeth’s reign. Both men and women were allowed to watch plays.
- How was ‘the theatre’ viewed by society?
The City of London authorities disliked the public performances of plays. However, the Queen was a frequent patron of the plays and the theatre was supported by the Privy’s Council. The plays which the aristocrats watched were the same as those which the common peasant watched in the public theatres.
- Compare the modern day Globe Theatre in London with the theatres that Shakespeare worked in.
The globe theatre in the 16th century was a three storey octagonal-shaped open-air theatre and was made of timber. There was a central open area and a raised rectangular platform in the middle of the building for the actors to perform. A trap door was built under the platform. There was a pit in front of the platform where the commoners watched the play from. Directly opposite the pit were rows of seat on the three stories of the building for the nobility and royalty. There was a balcony where musicians were positioned. There were large columns at the sides of the stage supporting the roof above the stage. The roof was painted with clouds and the sky and was known as the “heavens”.
The modern day open-air Globe Theatre in London was built by Sam Wanamaker and opened in 1997. The modern theatre followed the physical structure of the old Globe Theatre and has a thrust stage with three stories of audiences’ seats, which are simple benches. Plays are performed in the afternoons as natural light is used to brighten the theatre. No spotlights are used, music is played there and then, and no amplification is used for the actors. The building was constructed with English Oak with no steel, similar to the old Globe Theatre. The Globe Theatre has the first and only thatched roof since the Great Fire of 1666 and is protected with water sprinklers and fire retardants to prevent the roof from catching on fire. The pit is made of concrete unlike the earthen ground in the 16th century theatre. The stage has extensive backstage support areas and is connected to a lobby, gift shop, restaurant and visitors’ centre. The seating capacity is 857 and 700 people can stand at the pit and watch. The theatre is used for educational purposes in winter and plays are performed in summer. Tours of the theatre are also conducted all year round.
Resources:
Alchin, L. Elizabethan Inn-Yards. http://www.elizabethan-era.org.uk/elizabethan-inn-yards.htm (26/6/2011)
Alchin, L. Shakespeare and the Blackfriars Theatre. http://www.william-shakespeare.org.uk/shakespeare-blackfriars-theatre.htm (26/6/2011)
Alchin, L. Shakespeare and the Globe Theatre. http://www.william-shakespeare.org.uk/shakespeare-globe-theatre.htm (26/6/2011)
Alchin, L. Performances of William Shakespeare Plays. http://www.william-shakespeare.org.uk/performances-william-shakespeare-plays.htm (26/6/2011)
Alchin, L. Elizabethan Theatre. http://www.elizabethan-era.org.uk/elizabethan-theatre.htm (26/6/2011)
Alchin, L. Elizabethan Costume. http://www.elizabethan-era.org.uk/elizabethan-costume.htm (26/6/2011)
McCurdy, P. The Reconstruction of the Globe Theatre. McCurdy & Co. Ltd. http://www.mccurdyco.com/globefab.html (26/6/2011)
Shakespeare’s Globe. http://www.shakespearesglobe.com/ (26/6/2011)
5. Religion: Jews vs. Christians
- What was the dominant religion in England and Venice in the 15th and 16th century?
The dominant religion in England and Venice in the 15th and 16th century was Roman Catholicism.
- Why was there such animosity between Jews and Christians?
Anti-Semitism started in the early years of Christianity probably due to a difference in beliefs and for Christians to protect Christianity from Judaism. Judaism and Jews were seen as threats to Christianity and were often prejudiced against and discriminated for many centuries. Jews were also discriminated for political and financial issues. The New Testament rejected Judaism and criticized the Jews which led to further hatred and hostility between the two religions. In addition, rulers often prosecuted and exiled Jews as they were seen as threats to the political stability of the nation. They were expelled from England in 1290 and from Spain in 1492. Due to the lack of understanding between the believers of the two religions, Christians see Jews as inferior and should be ostracised due to their religion.
- In what ways did Christians discriminate against Jews in 15th and 16th century Europe?
In the 15th and 16th century, Jews were expelled and restricted in many countries across Europe, including England, Spain, Austria and Portugal. In countries which allowed Jews, they were forced to live in a certain part of the city (ghettos) and could only engage in certain occupations that were deemed as socially inferior, like tax and rent collecting, peddling and money lending. Jews were forbidden to own land and had restrictions on dress.
References:
Author unknown. A Calender of Jewish Persecution. http://www.hearnow.org/caljp.html (26/6/2011)
Pawlikowski, J. T. Introduction to Gerald S. Sloyan’s article on Christian Persecution of Jews Over the Centuries. Christian Persecution of Jews over the Centuries. http://www.ushmm.org/research/center/church/persecution/ (26/6/2011)
The dominant religion in England and Venice in the 15th and 16th century was Roman Catholicism.
- Why was there such animosity between Jews and Christians?
Anti-Semitism started in the early years of Christianity probably due to a difference in beliefs and for Christians to protect Christianity from Judaism. Judaism and Jews were seen as threats to Christianity and were often prejudiced against and discriminated for many centuries. Jews were also discriminated for political and financial issues. The New Testament rejected Judaism and criticized the Jews which led to further hatred and hostility between the two religions. In addition, rulers often prosecuted and exiled Jews as they were seen as threats to the political stability of the nation. They were expelled from England in 1290 and from Spain in 1492. Due to the lack of understanding between the believers of the two religions, Christians see Jews as inferior and should be ostracised due to their religion.
- In what ways did Christians discriminate against Jews in 15th and 16th century Europe?
In the 15th and 16th century, Jews were expelled and restricted in many countries across Europe, including England, Spain, Austria and Portugal. In countries which allowed Jews, they were forced to live in a certain part of the city (ghettos) and could only engage in certain occupations that were deemed as socially inferior, like tax and rent collecting, peddling and money lending. Jews were forbidden to own land and had restrictions on dress.
References:
Author unknown. A Calender of Jewish Persecution. http://www.hearnow.org/caljp.html (26/6/2011)
Pawlikowski, J. T. Introduction to Gerald S. Sloyan’s article on Christian Persecution of Jews Over the Centuries. Christian Persecution of Jews over the Centuries. http://www.ushmm.org/research/center/church/persecution/ (26/6/2011)
4. The (historical and cultural) Setting of Venice
- What was Venice like during the 15th and 16th century? Comment especially on its demographics and culture.
Venice in the 14th and 15th century was fighting and acquiring islands and various territories on the way to the Middle East. Venice started declining in the 16th century after various attacks like the Kingdoms of France and Spain. However, Venice flourished and was an important trading centre and art centre due to its stable political climate. There were over a 100000 people living in Venice in the 15th and 16th century. Venetian craftsmen produced various decorative arts, including sculptures, lace, glassworks, paintings and ceramics. Merchants traded wool and silk and various other products.
At the beginning of the 16th century, theatres appeared and were welcomed. Groups of actors performed in the houses of nobles and even they charged admission.
- Why was Venice important during the 15th and 16th century?
Venice was a centre for Renaissance culture in the 15th and 16th century. Architecture, art, music and literature flourished in Venice. The printing of books in the Italian language was initiated in Venice and contributed to the Italian Renaissance. The Venetian School polychoral compositions were famous throughout Europe in the late 16th century.
Trading was also very important in Venice as it was along one of the main trading routes during the Renaissance. More is mentioned in my response to the previous question.
- What was the dominant religion in Venice? How were Jews treated and regarded?
The dominant religion in Venice was Roman Catholicism.
Jews were evicted from England in the 1290s and were forced out of many countries in Europe in the 15th and 16th century. They were allowed in only certain countries like Venice because they had value and were beneficial to the country.
Jews were discriminated by the Christians in the 16th century in Europe, especially in England and Venice. Christians saw Jews as a threat to Christianity and that they were inferior and were excluded from society. In Venice, Jews were restricted from working in certain sectors like in manufacturing. They were not allowed to be bankers, lawyers, doctors or merchants and could only be moneylenders, which were important to the Venetian economy. However, in 1516, there was a set up of a Jewish ghetto in Venice where several thousands of Jews were crammed into the small walled area and were restricted from moving to other parts of the city.
- How is Venice a choice setting for the plot of this play?
Though William Shakespeare of Stratford-upon-Avon never visited Venice, other candidates for Shakespeare authorship including de Vere did visit Italy. The personal travels to Venice allowed Shakespeare to gain a better understanding of life in Venice.
The Merchant of Venice had to be set in a place where Jews were allowed, and could not be in countries where Jews were forbidden to live in (most countries in Europe). Venice, however, allowed Jews and there were many instances where those who borrowed from Jewish moneylenders fail to repay their loans. Trading was also common in Venice with Antonio being the merchant.
References:
Westland Network. Venice History. http://www.westland.net/venice/history.htm (26/6/2011)
Esaak, S. The Renaissance in Venice – Art History 101 Basics. About.com http://arthistory.about.com/cs/arthistory10one/a/ven_ren.htm (26/6/2011)
History of Venice. History World. http://www.historyworld.net/wrldhis/PlainTextHistories.asp?ParagraphID=gii (26/6/2011)
The Renaissance Secret Team. (29 March 2005). The Jewish Ghetto of Renaissance Venice. open2.net http://www.open2.net/historyandthearts/history/venice_ghetto.html (26/6/2011)
Venice in the 14th and 15th century was fighting and acquiring islands and various territories on the way to the Middle East. Venice started declining in the 16th century after various attacks like the Kingdoms of France and Spain. However, Venice flourished and was an important trading centre and art centre due to its stable political climate. There were over a 100000 people living in Venice in the 15th and 16th century. Venetian craftsmen produced various decorative arts, including sculptures, lace, glassworks, paintings and ceramics. Merchants traded wool and silk and various other products.
At the beginning of the 16th century, theatres appeared and were welcomed. Groups of actors performed in the houses of nobles and even they charged admission.
- Why was Venice important during the 15th and 16th century?
Venice was a centre for Renaissance culture in the 15th and 16th century. Architecture, art, music and literature flourished in Venice. The printing of books in the Italian language was initiated in Venice and contributed to the Italian Renaissance. The Venetian School polychoral compositions were famous throughout Europe in the late 16th century.
Trading was also very important in Venice as it was along one of the main trading routes during the Renaissance. More is mentioned in my response to the previous question.
- What was the dominant religion in Venice? How were Jews treated and regarded?
The dominant religion in Venice was Roman Catholicism.
Jews were evicted from England in the 1290s and were forced out of many countries in Europe in the 15th and 16th century. They were allowed in only certain countries like Venice because they had value and were beneficial to the country.
Jews were discriminated by the Christians in the 16th century in Europe, especially in England and Venice. Christians saw Jews as a threat to Christianity and that they were inferior and were excluded from society. In Venice, Jews were restricted from working in certain sectors like in manufacturing. They were not allowed to be bankers, lawyers, doctors or merchants and could only be moneylenders, which were important to the Venetian economy. However, in 1516, there was a set up of a Jewish ghetto in Venice where several thousands of Jews were crammed into the small walled area and were restricted from moving to other parts of the city.
- How is Venice a choice setting for the plot of this play?
Though William Shakespeare of Stratford-upon-Avon never visited Venice, other candidates for Shakespeare authorship including de Vere did visit Italy. The personal travels to Venice allowed Shakespeare to gain a better understanding of life in Venice.
The Merchant of Venice had to be set in a place where Jews were allowed, and could not be in countries where Jews were forbidden to live in (most countries in Europe). Venice, however, allowed Jews and there were many instances where those who borrowed from Jewish moneylenders fail to repay their loans. Trading was also common in Venice with Antonio being the merchant.
References:
Westland Network. Venice History. http://www.westland.net/venice/history.htm (26/6/2011)
Esaak, S. The Renaissance in Venice – Art History 101 Basics. About.com http://arthistory.about.com/cs/arthistory10one/a/ven_ren.htm (26/6/2011)
History of Venice. History World. http://www.historyworld.net/wrldhis/PlainTextHistories.asp?ParagraphID=gii (26/6/2011)
The Renaissance Secret Team. (29 March 2005). The Jewish Ghetto of Renaissance Venice. open2.net http://www.open2.net/historyandthearts/history/venice_ghetto.html (26/6/2011)
3. Customs & Lifestyle
- Health:
There was a rather low standard of health in England even in its large and developing cities. Due to the lack of proper sanitation, diseases like measles, smallpox, malaria, typhus and chickenpox were common among the populace and were spread by pests, fleas and lice which were free to roam the streets. Sewers were often blocked and there was garbage along the streets and in the river.
- Diet:
Due to the social structure in England, different classes had different types of food. The higher classes, the aristocrats, ate all kinds of meats including lamb, beef, pork, and fowl including peacocks and goose. They ate different kinds of fish like salmon, shellfish and eel and fruits and vegetables including turnips, carrots, radishes, apples, plums, and woodland strawberries. They also ate Manchet, a kind of bread, and pastries like tarts and cakes.
On the other hand, the poor often had vegetables and rye or barley bread in their diets. They seldom had meat, unlike the rich who had meat as their main food component.
- Recreation:
Both the nobility and the poor participated in various sports, including cock fighting and football and archery (hunting). Dice and card games were commonplace and were used as forms of gambling. Elizabethans enjoyed watching theatre, music and dance, and the era is also known as the age of Shakespeare. There were many playwrights including William Shakespeare and Christopher Marlowe.
- Accommodation:
The smaller houses at that time continued to evolve from the Tudor-style houses and included fireplaces, staircases and chimneys. In most of the floor plans, there were a central hall, kitchen, and the rooms.
The larger houses, also known as the Elizabethan Manors, had a long gallery on the upper floor of the main hall for entertainment and recreation. The houses were usually symmetrical, had gardens and followed the E-plan, that of an “E” shape. The longest rooms were the main hall and the long gallery, while the shortest protrusion was the main entrance. The other two longer protrusions were the kitchens and living area.
- Dress:
The fashion of the upper class was very much influenced by the English Renaissance with an increased interest and development in Mathematics and Science and their clothes were influenced by geometrical shapes. Women wore elaborate dresses and gowns which emphasised their small waists. They were often stiffened with whalebone or buckram. Men wore tight-waist and stiffened doublets, breeches and cloaks.
References:
Thomas, H. (15 June 2011). Queen Elizabeth I. http://www.elizabethi.org/ (26/6/2011)
Alchin, L. Elizabethan Era. http://www.elizabethan-era.org.uk/ (26/6/2011)
Ross, D. Elizabethan Architecture in England 1550-1625 http://www.britainexpress.com/architecture/elizabethan.htm (26/6/2011)
There was a rather low standard of health in England even in its large and developing cities. Due to the lack of proper sanitation, diseases like measles, smallpox, malaria, typhus and chickenpox were common among the populace and were spread by pests, fleas and lice which were free to roam the streets. Sewers were often blocked and there was garbage along the streets and in the river.
- Diet:
Due to the social structure in England, different classes had different types of food. The higher classes, the aristocrats, ate all kinds of meats including lamb, beef, pork, and fowl including peacocks and goose. They ate different kinds of fish like salmon, shellfish and eel and fruits and vegetables including turnips, carrots, radishes, apples, plums, and woodland strawberries. They also ate Manchet, a kind of bread, and pastries like tarts and cakes.
On the other hand, the poor often had vegetables and rye or barley bread in their diets. They seldom had meat, unlike the rich who had meat as their main food component.
- Recreation:
Both the nobility and the poor participated in various sports, including cock fighting and football and archery (hunting). Dice and card games were commonplace and were used as forms of gambling. Elizabethans enjoyed watching theatre, music and dance, and the era is also known as the age of Shakespeare. There were many playwrights including William Shakespeare and Christopher Marlowe.
- Accommodation:
The smaller houses at that time continued to evolve from the Tudor-style houses and included fireplaces, staircases and chimneys. In most of the floor plans, there were a central hall, kitchen, and the rooms.
The larger houses, also known as the Elizabethan Manors, had a long gallery on the upper floor of the main hall for entertainment and recreation. The houses were usually symmetrical, had gardens and followed the E-plan, that of an “E” shape. The longest rooms were the main hall and the long gallery, while the shortest protrusion was the main entrance. The other two longer protrusions were the kitchens and living area.
- Dress:
The fashion of the upper class was very much influenced by the English Renaissance with an increased interest and development in Mathematics and Science and their clothes were influenced by geometrical shapes. Women wore elaborate dresses and gowns which emphasised their small waists. They were often stiffened with whalebone or buckram. Men wore tight-waist and stiffened doublets, breeches and cloaks.
References:
Thomas, H. (15 June 2011). Queen Elizabeth I. http://www.elizabethi.org/ (26/6/2011)
Alchin, L. Elizabethan Era. http://www.elizabethan-era.org.uk/ (26/6/2011)
Ross, D. Elizabethan Architecture in England 1550-1625 http://www.britainexpress.com/architecture/elizabethan.htm (26/6/2011)
2. Elizabeth I and the Politics of the Elizabethan Era
- Elizabeth I: who was she?
Elizabeth I was born in 1533 and was the second child of Henry VIII and was heir presumptive to the throne of England at birth. However, her mother was executed two and a half years after her birth and she was declared illegitimate, and could not receive the title of princess. When Henry VIII died in 1547, Edward VI, her half-brother, succeeded the throne. Subsequently, Lady Jane Grey and Mary I held the throne till 1558 when Elizabeth became the queen at the age of 25. She reigned for 44 years and 4 months and never married nor had children.
Queen Elizabeth I was well educated and could speak five languages fluently. She enjoyed all kinds of sports and the Arts, including dancing and music. Moreover, she was a frequent patron of plays. Under her reign, England grew from an impoverished country to a powerful and prosperous one.
- What were England’s international relations like during Elizabeth’s reign?
In the early years, England was military engaged with Scotland and France. Relationships grew friendly with Scotland after the overthrow of Mary, Queen of Scots, and a military treaty was signed. Relationships soon worsened with Spain and Elizabeth sent an army to Netherlands in 1585 to put it under her protection. In 1588, Philip II of Spain responded by sending the Spanish Armada of over 100 ships to go to war with England. However, the English defeated them. Further Armadas sent in 1596 and 1597 proved unsuccessful.
The population of Ireland often rebelled against the authority of the queen. There were many rebellions in the 1570s to 1590s. In the Nine Years War from 1594-1603, the Irish defeated the English in 1598, but were defeated in 1603, after Elizabeth’s death. A peace was then signed between the two nations.
There were friendly diplomatic and trade relations between England and the Barbary States, the Ottoman Empire and Japan during her reign.
- What was Shakespeare’s relationship with Elizabeth I?
Elizabeth I was a frequent patron of plays. Although the plays of Shakespeare’s were published during the Elizabethan era, there was never any evidence that the Queen ever visited The Globe Theatre, associated with William Shakespeare where his plays were commonly performed. Queen Elizabeth did watch some of Shakespeare’s plays which were famous throughout England.
- Compare Elizabeth I to Portia. How is Portia’s character a tribute to Elizabeth I?
Portia is seen as a witty, rich, powerful, beautiful, romantic, strong-willed, independent and strong-headed individual, much similar to Elizabeth I’s character.
Portia is heiress to Belmont, similar to Elizabeth I who was heiress to the England throne. Elizabeth I controlled the English empire and allowed it to prosper and lead many victorious battles, demonstrating her resourcefulness and independence as a queen.
References:
Eakins, L. E. (23 April 2011). Elizabeth I Queen of England. http://tudorhistory.org/elizabeth/ (26/6/2011)
Thomas, H. (15 June 2011). Queen Elizabeth I. http://www.elizabethi.org/ (26/6/2011)
Jokinen, A. (3 June 1996). Queen Elizabeth I (1533–1603). http://www.luminarium.org/renlit/eliza.htm (26/6/2011)
Elizabeth I was born in 1533 and was the second child of Henry VIII and was heir presumptive to the throne of England at birth. However, her mother was executed two and a half years after her birth and she was declared illegitimate, and could not receive the title of princess. When Henry VIII died in 1547, Edward VI, her half-brother, succeeded the throne. Subsequently, Lady Jane Grey and Mary I held the throne till 1558 when Elizabeth became the queen at the age of 25. She reigned for 44 years and 4 months and never married nor had children.
Queen Elizabeth I was well educated and could speak five languages fluently. She enjoyed all kinds of sports and the Arts, including dancing and music. Moreover, she was a frequent patron of plays. Under her reign, England grew from an impoverished country to a powerful and prosperous one.
- What were England’s international relations like during Elizabeth’s reign?
In the early years, England was military engaged with Scotland and France. Relationships grew friendly with Scotland after the overthrow of Mary, Queen of Scots, and a military treaty was signed. Relationships soon worsened with Spain and Elizabeth sent an army to Netherlands in 1585 to put it under her protection. In 1588, Philip II of Spain responded by sending the Spanish Armada of over 100 ships to go to war with England. However, the English defeated them. Further Armadas sent in 1596 and 1597 proved unsuccessful.
The population of Ireland often rebelled against the authority of the queen. There were many rebellions in the 1570s to 1590s. In the Nine Years War from 1594-1603, the Irish defeated the English in 1598, but were defeated in 1603, after Elizabeth’s death. A peace was then signed between the two nations.
There were friendly diplomatic and trade relations between England and the Barbary States, the Ottoman Empire and Japan during her reign.
- What was Shakespeare’s relationship with Elizabeth I?
Elizabeth I was a frequent patron of plays. Although the plays of Shakespeare’s were published during the Elizabethan era, there was never any evidence that the Queen ever visited The Globe Theatre, associated with William Shakespeare where his plays were commonly performed. Queen Elizabeth did watch some of Shakespeare’s plays which were famous throughout England.
- Compare Elizabeth I to Portia. How is Portia’s character a tribute to Elizabeth I?
Portia is seen as a witty, rich, powerful, beautiful, romantic, strong-willed, independent and strong-headed individual, much similar to Elizabeth I’s character.
Portia is heiress to Belmont, similar to Elizabeth I who was heiress to the England throne. Elizabeth I controlled the English empire and allowed it to prosper and lead many victorious battles, demonstrating her resourcefulness and independence as a queen.
References:
Eakins, L. E. (23 April 2011). Elizabeth I Queen of England. http://tudorhistory.org/elizabeth/ (26/6/2011)
Thomas, H. (15 June 2011). Queen Elizabeth I. http://www.elizabethi.org/ (26/6/2011)
Jokinen, A. (3 June 1996). Queen Elizabeth I (1533–1603). http://www.luminarium.org/renlit/eliza.htm (26/6/2011)
1. Can the real William Shakespeare please stand up?
- Why is William Shakespeare of Stratford-upon-Avon an unlikely candidate for the authorship of Shakespeare’s works;
Anti-Stratfordians, believers who support the various other authorship theories other than William Shakespeare of Stratford-upon-Avon is the real Shakespeare, all agree on two base arguments. One is that the poet and playwright of all the productions published under the name of “William Shakespeare” is an educated and well-rounded aristocrat, and the second, that William Shakespeare’s education was incompatible with the true identity of the author.
In all of Shakespeare’s poems and plays, they undoubtedly display a vast knowledge of the royal courts, Italy, the Classics, and the law, in addition to the extensive vocabulary which the real Shakespeare has. Shakespeare has to a certain extent some knowledge of the royal courts. For instance, in the English royal courts, there were often professional fools who entertained the rulers of the court, and in Shakespeare’s work Twelfth Night (Feste the Fool). Knowledge of Italy’s culture and way of life can be found in The Merchant of Venice, like the different social classes and the attitudes of masters towards servants. References to classical literature are present in Shakespeare’s works, like the many references to mythological characters and their stories. Shakespeare is also seen to use several legal terms in his works, and like the trial scene of The Merchant of Venice. Through his works, we can claim that the real Shakespeare should have been well-educated to have his superb grammar, vocabulary and knowledge in the Classics, at least travelled to Italy to know about its society, educated in the law or worked as a lawyer, and was an aristocrat.
Little is known about the personal life of William Shakespeare of Stratford-upon-Avon. Shakespeare was born, married and buried in that same town of approximately 1500 population back then and there was no historical evidence that he ever travelled to Italy throughout his life. The town was a centre for the slaughter and distribution of sheep and wool trading. He was born into an illiterate family and received an incomplete grammar education at the free King’s New School near Stratford till the age of 13 or 15. He had no further education and did not specialise in the Classics or law. With regards to his vocabulary, a labourer at that time would have a vocabulary of 300 words, scholars with 4000-6000 words, and Shakespeare, 15000-29000, more than 50 times of the ordinary peasant at that time. With his background, one wonders how Shakespeare had such a huge vocabulary with the education he received and the society he lived in, and how did Shakespeare create such great works without formal education of the law and Classics. Most importantly, he was not born into a family of aristocrats, so how did he get to know about the royal court and its occupants?
With this historical evidence that William Shakespeare of Stratford-upon-Avon was not the real Shakespeare, there is one final mystery of his will. The language of his will was un-poetic and ordinary, and has no mention of any of his poems, plays or personal papers.
- Who are the possible candidates?
In the previous section, we mentioned why William Shakespeare is unlikely to be the real Shakespeare. Among the various theories of who the real Shakespeare is, there are over 70 candidates who fit the role but there are a few which have gain large numbers of supporters. They are:
- Sir Francis Bacon – He was a lawyer, philosopher, scientist and essayist born into an aristocrat family. In the early days, he was home schooled and later on went to Trinity College and the University of Poitiers. Queen Elizabeth was impressed by his giftedness as a young child. He went on to travel widely including Italy and Spain, and studied civil law and language. He entered parliament in 1584 and joined the Queen’s Council in 1596 and was subsequently knighted in 1603, and became Lord Chancellor in 1618.
- Edward de Vere, 17th Earl of Oxford – He was heir to one of the earldom in England and was educated by some of the finest tutors, many with prestigious education backgrounds. At the age of 12 in 1562, he became the 17th Earl of Oxford and Lord Great Chamberlain of England. He went on to study French, Latin and writing among many others. He was especially interested and talented in drama and poetry. In 1567, he was admitted to Gray’s Inn and in 1571, took his seat at the House of Lords. He left England in February 1575 and travelled to various cities in Italy including Venice and returned in April the same year.
- Christopher Marlowe – He was born to a village cobbler and attended The King’s School before moving on to Corpus Christi College where he studied on scholarship. He received his Bachelor of Arts degree in 1584 and wrote several successful plays and poems. However, he was said to have died in 1593 at the age of 29, much earlier than when Shakespeare wrote his works. As a result, Marlovians believe that his death was faked and he published his works under the name of Shakespeare thereafter.
- William Stanley, 6th Earl of Derby – He was born in 1561 as an English nobleman as his mother was heir to Queen Elizabeth. He attended St. John’s College and was known for his travels to various countries, including France, Italy, Egypt, Turkey, Moscow and Greenland. He became a member of the Privy’s Council in 1603, received the Order of the Garter, and was appointed Lord Chamberlain of Chester.
- Who is the most likely candidate for the authorship of Shakespeare’s works? Provide reasons to support your view.
Although it is possible that all of the candidates including the man from Stratford-upon-Avon could be the real Shakespeare, I believe that Oxford (i.e. Edward de Vere) is the most likely candidate for the authorship of Shakespeare’s works, who is currently the most popular candidate for the authorship of Shakespeare’s works.
Oxford was an aristocrat who was gifted in being a poet and a playwright; he had connections with Queen Elizabeth I and had knowledge of the royal courts, well educated in various languages and travelled to France and Italy, which were the settings for many of Shakespeare’s works. There were many parallels between his biography and Shakespeare’s plays, poems and sonnets.
For example, Oxford went in bond for £3,000 to support an unsuccessful Northwest passage expedition in 1577 and supported equally unsuccessful Northwest expeditions in 1584 and 1585, like Antonio in Merchant of Venice who signed a bond for 3000 ducats. In addition, the playwright of the same play should have experienced life in Italy to be able to know that a dish of baked doves was an honoured gift and that there was a penalty in the novel which stats “forfeiture of half an estate to the Republic and half to the wronged party, plus a discretionary death penalty, to any foreigner (including Jews) who attempted to take the life of a Venetian citizen,” similar to the penalty given to Shylock in the play.
Technically, character distribution tests, word length analysis, and the proportion of unique words test were performed on Shakespeare’s works and those of Marlowe’s, Bacon’s and de Vere’s. The tests showed and concluded that de Vere’s works were most similar to that of Shakespeare’s.
The education, background and personal experiences of Oxford are all needed to produce Shakespeare’s plays and poems, and he is likely to be the real Shakespeare.
References:
Kathman, D. Shakespeare’s Knowledge of Italy, the Classics, and the Law. http://shakespeareauthorship.com/italy.html (25/6/2011)
Kathman, D. Were Shakespeare’s Plays Written by an Aristocrat? http://shakespeareauthorship.com/aristocrat.html (25/6/2011)
Beauclerk, C. http://www.whowroteshakespeare.com/index-2.html (25/6/2011)
Jarvis, B. Rogues, Vagabonds and Sturdy Beggars. http://www.shakespeare-authorship.org.uk/ (25/6/2011)
Seletsky, O., & Huang, T., & Frost, W. H. (12 December 2007). The Shakespeare Authorship Question. http://www.cs.dartmouth.edu/~datamining/Final.pdf (25/6/2011)
Anti-Stratfordians, believers who support the various other authorship theories other than William Shakespeare of Stratford-upon-Avon is the real Shakespeare, all agree on two base arguments. One is that the poet and playwright of all the productions published under the name of “William Shakespeare” is an educated and well-rounded aristocrat, and the second, that William Shakespeare’s education was incompatible with the true identity of the author.
In all of Shakespeare’s poems and plays, they undoubtedly display a vast knowledge of the royal courts, Italy, the Classics, and the law, in addition to the extensive vocabulary which the real Shakespeare has. Shakespeare has to a certain extent some knowledge of the royal courts. For instance, in the English royal courts, there were often professional fools who entertained the rulers of the court, and in Shakespeare’s work Twelfth Night (Feste the Fool). Knowledge of Italy’s culture and way of life can be found in The Merchant of Venice, like the different social classes and the attitudes of masters towards servants. References to classical literature are present in Shakespeare’s works, like the many references to mythological characters and their stories. Shakespeare is also seen to use several legal terms in his works, and like the trial scene of The Merchant of Venice. Through his works, we can claim that the real Shakespeare should have been well-educated to have his superb grammar, vocabulary and knowledge in the Classics, at least travelled to Italy to know about its society, educated in the law or worked as a lawyer, and was an aristocrat.
Little is known about the personal life of William Shakespeare of Stratford-upon-Avon. Shakespeare was born, married and buried in that same town of approximately 1500 population back then and there was no historical evidence that he ever travelled to Italy throughout his life. The town was a centre for the slaughter and distribution of sheep and wool trading. He was born into an illiterate family and received an incomplete grammar education at the free King’s New School near Stratford till the age of 13 or 15. He had no further education and did not specialise in the Classics or law. With regards to his vocabulary, a labourer at that time would have a vocabulary of 300 words, scholars with 4000-6000 words, and Shakespeare, 15000-29000, more than 50 times of the ordinary peasant at that time. With his background, one wonders how Shakespeare had such a huge vocabulary with the education he received and the society he lived in, and how did Shakespeare create such great works without formal education of the law and Classics. Most importantly, he was not born into a family of aristocrats, so how did he get to know about the royal court and its occupants?
With this historical evidence that William Shakespeare of Stratford-upon-Avon was not the real Shakespeare, there is one final mystery of his will. The language of his will was un-poetic and ordinary, and has no mention of any of his poems, plays or personal papers.
- Who are the possible candidates?
In the previous section, we mentioned why William Shakespeare is unlikely to be the real Shakespeare. Among the various theories of who the real Shakespeare is, there are over 70 candidates who fit the role but there are a few which have gain large numbers of supporters. They are:
- Sir Francis Bacon – He was a lawyer, philosopher, scientist and essayist born into an aristocrat family. In the early days, he was home schooled and later on went to Trinity College and the University of Poitiers. Queen Elizabeth was impressed by his giftedness as a young child. He went on to travel widely including Italy and Spain, and studied civil law and language. He entered parliament in 1584 and joined the Queen’s Council in 1596 and was subsequently knighted in 1603, and became Lord Chancellor in 1618.
- Edward de Vere, 17th Earl of Oxford – He was heir to one of the earldom in England and was educated by some of the finest tutors, many with prestigious education backgrounds. At the age of 12 in 1562, he became the 17th Earl of Oxford and Lord Great Chamberlain of England. He went on to study French, Latin and writing among many others. He was especially interested and talented in drama and poetry. In 1567, he was admitted to Gray’s Inn and in 1571, took his seat at the House of Lords. He left England in February 1575 and travelled to various cities in Italy including Venice and returned in April the same year.
- Christopher Marlowe – He was born to a village cobbler and attended The King’s School before moving on to Corpus Christi College where he studied on scholarship. He received his Bachelor of Arts degree in 1584 and wrote several successful plays and poems. However, he was said to have died in 1593 at the age of 29, much earlier than when Shakespeare wrote his works. As a result, Marlovians believe that his death was faked and he published his works under the name of Shakespeare thereafter.
- William Stanley, 6th Earl of Derby – He was born in 1561 as an English nobleman as his mother was heir to Queen Elizabeth. He attended St. John’s College and was known for his travels to various countries, including France, Italy, Egypt, Turkey, Moscow and Greenland. He became a member of the Privy’s Council in 1603, received the Order of the Garter, and was appointed Lord Chamberlain of Chester.
- Who is the most likely candidate for the authorship of Shakespeare’s works? Provide reasons to support your view.
Although it is possible that all of the candidates including the man from Stratford-upon-Avon could be the real Shakespeare, I believe that Oxford (i.e. Edward de Vere) is the most likely candidate for the authorship of Shakespeare’s works, who is currently the most popular candidate for the authorship of Shakespeare’s works.
Oxford was an aristocrat who was gifted in being a poet and a playwright; he had connections with Queen Elizabeth I and had knowledge of the royal courts, well educated in various languages and travelled to France and Italy, which were the settings for many of Shakespeare’s works. There were many parallels between his biography and Shakespeare’s plays, poems and sonnets.
For example, Oxford went in bond for £3,000 to support an unsuccessful Northwest passage expedition in 1577 and supported equally unsuccessful Northwest expeditions in 1584 and 1585, like Antonio in Merchant of Venice who signed a bond for 3000 ducats. In addition, the playwright of the same play should have experienced life in Italy to be able to know that a dish of baked doves was an honoured gift and that there was a penalty in the novel which stats “forfeiture of half an estate to the Republic and half to the wronged party, plus a discretionary death penalty, to any foreigner (including Jews) who attempted to take the life of a Venetian citizen,” similar to the penalty given to Shylock in the play.
Technically, character distribution tests, word length analysis, and the proportion of unique words test were performed on Shakespeare’s works and those of Marlowe’s, Bacon’s and de Vere’s. The tests showed and concluded that de Vere’s works were most similar to that of Shakespeare’s.
The education, background and personal experiences of Oxford are all needed to produce Shakespeare’s plays and poems, and he is likely to be the real Shakespeare.
References:
Kathman, D. Shakespeare’s Knowledge of Italy, the Classics, and the Law. http://shakespeareauthorship.com/italy.html (25/6/2011)
Kathman, D. Were Shakespeare’s Plays Written by an Aristocrat? http://shakespeareauthorship.com/aristocrat.html (25/6/2011)
Beauclerk, C. http://www.whowroteshakespeare.com/index-2.html (25/6/2011)
Jarvis, B. Rogues, Vagabonds and Sturdy Beggars. http://www.shakespeare-authorship.org.uk/ (25/6/2011)
Seletsky, O., & Huang, T., & Frost, W. H. (12 December 2007). The Shakespeare Authorship Question. http://www.cs.dartmouth.edu/~datamining/Final.pdf (25/6/2011)
Wednesday, June 22, 2011
The Bondmaid by Catherine Lim
The Bondmaid is set in the 1950s in Singapore which captures the tradition and culture of a Chinese household and narrates the story of Han, a child from an impoverished background to an adult bondmaid whose love for the master meet its frightening climax. The novel is written by Catherine Lim, a best-selling Singaporean fiction author known for writing about Singaporean society and themes of the traditional Chinese culture. She has written several novels, a book of poems, and hundreds of articles as a writer.
Han is sold as a young bondmaid to the House of Wu at a tender age. With the grief of leaving her mother and her siblings and the unfamiliar strangers around her, she is comforted by the young Master Wu. They soon become playmates and the best of friends. Despite being look down upon by the other bondmaids, especially the head bondmaid, Choyin, and the futile attempts made by the lustful male relatives and guests of the house to claim their share of pleasure, Han falls in love with Master Wu. Nevertheless, Master Wu grows up to be an adult and travels overseas for further studies and marries Li-Li from the House of Chang. Undaunted, Han meets up with Master Wu once a month where they share their love for each other. Not long after, they are discovered and the matriarch has no other choice but to send Han away. She went to the House of Flowers, where her Older Brother worked. The Master Wu would come for her, and both Li-Li and Han get pregnant. Master Wu tells Li-Li and the matriarch that he wants to marry Han. Li-Li, enraged and Choyin, swear to have their revenge. Later on, the son of Han is taken away from her by Choyin and given to Li-Li who bore a daughter. Devastated, she goes to the Forgetful Goddess and drowns herself. Before her death, she encountered the goddess and Sky God, whom Han felt had betrayed her. The Master Wu manages to see Han just before she dies.
In the epilogue, a few years after her death, stories spread of the good fortune of people who drank water from the pond in which the Goddess resided in. A shrine was erected in remembrance for the Goddess with Eyes and Ears for her compassion. Not long after, the Reverend who was one of the lustful guests disappeared mysteriously; the two children of the house die of a mysterious fever; Li-Li almost goes insane with grief; the patriarch dies peacefully; the matriarch grows silent; Spitface, an imbecile working in the House of Wu dies of natural causes in his woodshed; and Older Brother disappears to a foreign country. The Houses of Chang and Wu attributed all these misfortunes to the curse of the bondmaid and consulted fortune tellers and mediums and geomancers. With no luck, they left Singapore and decided to settle in China. Only Master Wu stayed behind to look after the shrine. He believed that he will be reunited with Han in the splendour of fire and not in rain and storm. Decades later in 1992, the hut in which the Master Wu lived in caught fire and was dead by the time he was pulled out. The shrine was eventually demolished to make way for a petrochemical complex which now stands at the place where the Goddess with Eyes and Ears now stands.
We have to first understand the culture of Singapore in the 1950s to fully appreciate this book; the author has indeed a certain understanding of the Chinese culture and Singapore’s history to be able to make the setting realistic. In the past, patriarchs and matriarchs had hundreds of bondmaids at their service and they can be either treated as slaves or used to fulfil the lust of male members of the household. In the book, we see many instances of this extreme use of power on other bondmaids, like Chu, Lan, Goldern Fern and Po Po. Many of the bondmaids who lived in these houses died pitifully and lonely, while some other were lucky enough to find a husband and borne children. It was a common tradition that only those of the higher class should marry someone else of a similar background and not a lowly bondmaid as it would be deemed as inappropriate. Places like the House of Flowers, were set up in Singapore to entertain rich guests who wanted to have their pleasures fulfilled. The Chinese believed in their own gods and goddesses who gave them These elements allowed the readers to relate to the book, and even the younger generation who might not have lived through that period of time in Singapore can get a better understanding of the society back then.
The main storyline, which is the love between Han and the Master Wu is unshaken despite the many attempts by the other characters to separate the both of them. Although Han drowned at the end, Master Wu remains loyal to her and the final scene with the death of the Master Wu in fire is a touching one as the both of them can be seen as reunited in the magnificence of fire. Other sub-plots include the changing relationships between Han and the other bondmaids as well as the matriarch as she gets to understand the others’ backgrounds. Han even pities Spitface who is the imbecile in the House of Wu and becomes a friend to him. Another main plot is the relationship between Han and Sky God, whom she felt had failed to answer her prayers, and the Forgetful Goddess, who brought the two lovers together. The plots are interweaved together marvellously to form a beautiful story.
However, I feel that there are some things which could be improved upon. For example, there were many instances in the book where I was a little confused as to what was going on. The scenes shift from reality to dream and back to reality again, and the dreams were only distinguishable by the mix-up of characters and events. Nevertheless, characterisation and the development of events are well done and the use of symbols like the song Han sings throughout the novel reminds us of the relationships between Han and her family and the Master Wu.Sunday, June 12, 2011
Singapore Biennale 2011 (SB2011)
This year, the Biennale featured over 150 artworks by 63 artists from 30 countries at 3 (or 4) venues, the Singapore Art Museum (SAM), the National Museum of Singapore (NSM), the Old Kallang Airport, and Marina Bay (where the Merlion Hotel is). This year, I have noticed that many of the exhibits are a collection of various items, ranging from furniture, household items, currencies, magazine covers, newspapers, sketches, toys, fridges, films, videos, raw building materials, drawings to boxes. I was certainly a little disappointed with some of the exhibits as they seemed to be assembled in a rush and carried no special meaning. With no intention to lower the value of the artwork, there were two exhibits by Ceal Floyer which I felt were unnecessary. Construction (2007), as it was called, was an empty room periodically interrupted by construction noises from the construction site next door; Overhead Projection (2006) was an image of a common incandescent light bulb from a projector.
For most of the exhibits which were collections, I did not see how they qualified as artworks; neither do they provoke thoughts nor inspire people. For the more successful and interesting ones, they may be a collection of random items we can find everywhere, but I think what is important is how the artist is able to portray the artwork in such a way so that it can convey the artist's message, which should be something relevant to the audience. There were some exhibits which were more interesting, like La Cannibale (Parody Consumption and Institutional Critique) (2008) by Mike Nelson was a collection of wooden boxes with different dimensions and with sides hacked and broken in different ways. A first look at a single box does not seem impressive, a second look at the "field" of boxes gives us a different impression; the damaged boxes seem to merge together to form a single artwork and a scene pleasant to the eyes.
Buildings Entered (1997-ongoing) are drawings by the artist, Charles Labelle, of buildings in Singapore which he has physically entered since 1997. When I entered the room during my visit to the Old Kallang Airport, I instantly saw children and adults alike trying to identify the different places on the wall and panels of drawings. These buildings are significant either in history or architecture, like the Esplanade and Lau Pa Sat. The drawings are strikingly alike to the buildings they represent. These drawings are not only of historic and artistic significance, but they also inspire people to physically visit these places to learn more of its history and architecture.
A selection from the Singapore Art Archive Project (2005) by Koh Nguang How was presented in SB2011. In a video (http://video.xin.msn.com/watch/video/episode-1/1tub5hnix), the artist demonstrates how one can trace the profile of a certain media personality through these archived newspapers. When I went on the last day of the Biennale, I saw the artist cutting up the newspapers into strip and scattering them all over the room to “turn the place into a forest”, as written on the blackboard placed in the room. Regardless of what he was doing, it certainly did look like much fun.
The list of exhibits goes on and on but I shall end here with a final exhibit which I would like to share. Office Orchitect consists of artworks of a fictitious architect called KS Wong whose plans for buildings have been rejected due to their absurdity. The buildings which he designed are indeed fascinating and allow us to take a second look. Without mentioning the intricate details of the models made out of cardboard and glue, the buildings are designed in a way we would not usually expect, only possible with imaginative thinking and designing.
Due to the lack of time, I did not visit the Merlion Hotel which I would have loved to do so. Through this exhibition, I believe that the 900,000 over people who visited the Biennale no longer have the common stereotype of art just being mediums on paper. In the next Biennale, I do wish to see more interactive and innovative exhibits of artworks.
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