Call it being a bit immature, but while searching youtube for a video to post for the final exam, I could not refrain from posting a clip from Monsterpiece Theater. Aptly title "The Monsters of Venice", it's a Sesame Street spoof on the play. As you will see from the video (only 3:20, a bit shorter than stated on the requirements), Grover delivers a moderately similar version of Shylock's "Hath not a Jew eyes..." speech.
Of course being from a syndicated children's show, there's a happy ending, and instead of a pound of flesh the focus is on cake and balloons, but what made me submit this video for my final blog is because it shows that The Merchant of Venice (and Shakespeare's plays in general) can be adaptable throughout different age ranges and issues from the play can still be addressed in current times, such as prejudice and naivety. And finally, I wanted to submit this video because it was a different portrayal of the play than those we have seen in class (and because it's from Sesame Street, a favorite show of mine when I was a child). Enjoy!
2 comments:
This is such a great video, Sesame street is the best. Do you think that Sesame Street could have done a better job incorporating other elements of the scene, or is simply using it for morality purposes and building kids familiarity with classical literature enough?
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