10 Things I Hate About You & Taming of the Shrew: Appropriation Essay

The historical and cultural contexts of Shakespeares The Taming of the Shrew (TTS) and the 1999 withdraw 10 Things I hatred close to You (10TIH) differ exceptionally, resulting in the deals expression of values foreign those expressed in Shakespeares original text. Shakespeares gather was written during the Elizabethan era, during which the belief that men were superior to women was prevalent. This conceit is centralised in TTS, through incorporation of a disputably misogynistic tone and the dominance of men consequently forcing Katherina into brotherhood and submission.In contrast, 10TIH, a groundbreaking film appropriation of TTS, largely challenges the values of Shakespeares play. It presents to its audience a high school love story appropriate to modern beliefs and sensibilities, emphasising the greater equality between genders and the ply of women in the characterisation of the Stratford sisters and their interaction with their respective love interests and father. TTS reflects its 16th century European context in that its central theme is the dominance of men over women and lodges bankers acceptance of it.See more Foot Binding In China essayWhether Shakespeare intended to ridicule the misogyny and patriarchy of Elizabethan society is irrelevant however, as his play is concerned with the two, it indicates that the social systems were firmly established. Katherina is forced into marriage that was hold upon by Petruchio and her father, the governing force of their household. Her objections are nullified in the face of her lesser status as a woman and the authority her father and husband holds over her in age and gender. Dissimilarly, 10TIH is concerned with the queen of women and youth.A modern film, it is directed towards a target audience of teenagers with modern views- which dramatically changed from the 1960s and onwards with the rise of feminism and youth. In this modern setting, Kat is able to exercise her non-conformist views freely. T hough this isolates her from her peers, just as Katherinas outspoken opinions isolate her, Kat is non oppressed as Katherina is. Kat is influenced by away factors that also contextualise the films setting she mentions feminists Sylvia Plath and CharlotteBronte, and is featured reading the formers novel, Bell Jar, and the film applies riot grrrl music of the angry girl variety, with lyrics such as I dont give a damn about my bad reputation to Kat in order to particularise her from the opening scene of the movie. That the film includes these elements of feminist material reflects its modern context of a society that is non unfamiliar with feminism. In this area it challenges the original text, where within the context of the Elizabethan era, Katherinas rejection of her inferiority as a woman is unaccepted and repressed.As Hortensio mocks Mates, maid? No mates for you/Unless you were of gentler, milder mould (1. 1. 59-60), he manipulates Katherinas reference to him as a mate- a cr ude man- to mean husband in an attempt to silence her. much(prenominal) repression- and that of Katherina at the hands of Petruchio- though exaggerated and outrageous, was acceptable and approved of in the context of Shakespeares play. Conversely, in the modern context of 10TIH, where there is greater equality between genders and greater liberty for children, similar repression would be unacceptable.These liberties are explored when Kat is able to overpower her father in situations such as her attendance of Sarah Lawrence College. Here the film challenges the authority of Baptista, Walters model where we see Baptista endorsing subjugation with no acceptance of objection within the Elizabethan context of TTS, Walter eventually recognises Kats will, acknowledging fathers dont like to admit it when their daughters are capable of running their own lives.The film does, however, in keeping with its modern context, suggest that the parent holds a degree of power of the children- a social role parallel to the Elizabethan context of TTS which contributes to Shakespeares rendering of Baptista as a domineering father. Nevertheless, Walter is unable to fully control his childrens love lives, with the film utilising his character as comic relief to convey this. In addition, the Stratford daughters date quite than marry these two factors are attributed to the films modern context where freedom of romance is valued.Such a value differs from the Elizabethan standard of having marital relationships set by the men involved- the husband, and the father. The concept of put martial relationships in TTS is atypical to the Elizabethan era, where dowries were also set, as seen in Baptistas offer to Petruchio half(prenominal) of my lands/Andtwenty thousand crowns. (2. I. 117-118). However, the social context of 10TIH sees the film expressing that the payment for wooing Kat is immoral- as argue to a similar payment being expected by the husband in the context of TTS.This medica l prognosis of the historical and cultural context of the Elizabethan era is made clear in Petruchios inquiry of the dowry- if I get your daughters love, what dowry shall I have? - as it is one of his rootage lines to Baptista, preceded only by his greeting. Similar to the manner in which it challenges Baptistas authority, the film challenges Petruchio. Within the context of TTS, Petruchios ludicrous metaphoric objectifications of Katherina she is my goodsmy anything (3. 2. 118-220) are coupled with a firmer I will be master of what is mine own.Here he affirms that despite his constant jovial wordplay, he intends to assert his authority. 10TIH however, in keeping with its context of a society that values respect for women, features Patricks chivalry in the face of love. He does not assert a claim on Kat as Petruchio does on Katherina and their love is corroborate at the end, whereas Petruchio and Katherinas love is debatable. The disputability of their love lies in the final spee ch of Katherina. She utilises metaphor to express her acceptance of Petruchios dominance as her husband thy husband is thy lordthy sovereign (5. . 146-147).Her taming reflects Elizabethan society women that resisted mannish supremacy were- as was appropriate to the time- acceptably quashed. Approval followed in the words of Vincentio, a representative of society Tis a good hearing. (5. 2. 182). Kats taming, on the other hand, though also portrayed in good light, is based on the compromising between her and Patrick. They are two equal members in their relationship, unlike Petruchios dominance over Katherina after subjecting her to his taming methods and silencing her with his use of anguage.Language itself is an expression of the contexts of the two texts. The members of Shakespeares play use refined speech, and utilise wordplay to reflect their level of status and intelligence. The characters of 10TIH however, speak colloquially and swear, though their usage of wordplay carries s imilar connotations. Those that manipulate language- such as Kat and Patrick- are seen as tidy and therefore good, whereas Joey eat me Donner uses simpler language, projecting a poorer image of his character.This reflects the modern day context of the film one of a society that respects and values intelligence. Furthermore, whilst characters such as Joey and Bowie Lowenstein are wealthy, they are portrayed as unattractive people, showing that the modern day society in which the film is set does not value wealth as the characters of TTS do within its context, as conveyed by Petruchios attraction to Katherinas wealth as opposed to her person- which, in the Elizabethan era, was not inappropriate as it would be in the context of 10TIH.Overall, the storyline and themes of The Taming of the Shrew underwent a significant level of adaption for 10 Things I Hate About You. The four hundred years that spanned between the publication of Shakespeares play and the premiering of the film appropri ation byword changes in social values regarding gender, status and youth that resulted in the films modifications of the original text, so as to be appropriate and entertaining to its 20th century teenage viewers just as Shakespeare expressed the values of the Elizabethan era in order to be appropriate and entertaining to his audience.