That's what I thought the entire time I was reading Manga Shakespeare. I love the concept, but I just couldn't handle it. The first few pages give a guide to show us who the characters are, but the guide is in color. The rest of the book? Black and white. Thanks for being so helpful. It essentially took me more than half of the novel to keep a few of the characters straight (of course, with some of the illustrations, not even I could keep them straight--kudos to those drawing it for keeping that aspect of Shakespeare's works). I think reading this is analogous to watching the awful 1996 movie in that it's just so difficult to follow. And a bit ridiculous at times (then again, when isn't Billy completely over the top?).
Like I said, I love the concept. I think being able to visualize Shakespeare's works is much easier than having to try to set everyone up yourself. I just didn't like the execution. This doesn't make it less confusing, it makes it more confusing. Maybe you disagree, but I think it's much easier to follow when there are names and text side-by-side, and there's never a doubt who's who because of it. The lack of color is also disappointing for two reasons: we're teased in the front by being shown amazing pictures, then 4 pages in it's all black and white. On top of that, black blood just doesn't have any feeling to it. Who cares if there's a pool of black blood on the ground? It doesn't even look like blood. Why should I feel bad?
I really don't think I'd ever use this in class, at least not without going through it a couple more times. I'd certainly have to work hard to convince myself to use it. I'm in Shakespeare right now and have no problems reading the majority of the stuff, so if I'm confused by this, I don't think that will benefit my future students.
"I think it's much easier to follow when there are names and text side-by-side, and there's never a doubt who's who because of it."
ReplyDeleteI absolutely agree with you. The manga version really confused me especially with it being black and white.
That's hilarious you mentioned the movie then had the pleasure of getting to watch a few minutes in class. But I would also like to point out that I, too, found the black and white illustrations to be confusing when trying to keep track of who is who. Eventually I just started trying to identify characters by who they were addressing or something of that sort rather than trying to decipher it through the illustrations.
ReplyDeleteI definitely agree that it was difficult to keep up with the characters. That is something I definitely missed from traditional Shakespeare plays, because the graphics are hard to tell apart at times. The illustrations were beautiful, but it might cause more confusion than not for some students.
ReplyDelete"...it makes it more confusing. Maybe you disagree, but I think it's much easier to follow when there are names and text side-by-side, and there's never a doubt who's who because of it. The lack of color is also disappointing for two reasons: we're teased in the front by being shown amazing pictures, then 4 pages in it's all black and white. On top of that, black blood just doesn't have any feeling to it. Who cares if there's a pool of black blood on the ground? It doesn't even look like blood. Why should I feel bad?"
ReplyDeleteAll I really have to say in this case is AMEN. I hated it. I am, however, on the search for adaptations of this variety that ARE useful.
I think you are a great example of a student who may not enjoy the manga version of a text. I too did not really enjoy the fact that rest of the novel was in black and white.
ReplyDeleteI'm glad you won't use a text in class which you don't enjoy or understand. It is definately important for all of us to know what we are comfortable using in our classroom!
Not crazy about the manga version either. I think there's a lot of other creative stuff you can do with text that won't detract as much and isolate the beauty of Shakespeare's writing to images that just don't do it justice. Just my two cents.
ReplyDelete