Homework, Tuesday, March 15

You must bring in your permission slip tomorrow for the Othello performance. Attendance is required. If you do not have a printer, you can have your parents email me the necessary information.
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Seniors - Work on your exhibitions

AP Language - Blog post due tonight by 10:00 pm (200-250 words) 
*Announcement
Tomorrow, you will receive an entire practice test for the AP exam. You should choose the essay you feel most confident writing and begin with that one. Use the entire period to write tomorrow. On Thursday, you will be excused from study hall early to finish the practice test.

Homework:
Yesterday we discussed how various productions of Othello emphasize different themes through costumes, editing, and other stylistic choices. Tonight, write a brief review of the play that asserts which theme was emphasized in this particular production. Use at least three details from the performance to support your interpretation. Position your interpretation in relation to one of the themes below. This does not mean you need to agree with one of them, but you should position your interpretation as an agree/disagree/little bit of both.

They Say...

-Some productions of Othello emphasize the relationship between Iago and Othello as the central concern of the play. They argue that Othello is ultimately about masculine aggression and competition.

-Other productions emphasizes the racial dynamics of  Othello. Some scholars believe that Iago would not have been able to manipulate Othello so effectively if it were not for the racism in the larger culture. Some critics argue that the play in itself a racist  because it characterizes the one character who is not white as vulnerable to manipulation and ultimately, violent.

-Still others emphasize the romantic notions of the play. They focus on the love story between Desdemona and Othello and see this as the heart and soul of the play. In these productions, the most tragic element is the corruption of the love between Desdemona and Othello.