Module A – Textual Conversations – Richard III and Looking For Richard

Resource Description

Module A: Textual Conversations

From the syllabus
In this module, students explore the ways in which the comparative study of texts can reveal
resonances and dissonances between and within texts. Students consider the ways that a
reimagining or reframing of an aspect of a text might mirror, align or collide with the details of
another text. In their textual studies, they also explore common or disparate issues, values,
assumptions or perspectives and how these are depicted. By comparing two texts students
understand how composers (authors, poets, playwrights, directors, designers and so on) are
influenced by other texts, contexts and values, and how this shapes meaning.

A conversation between two different worlds – Four central ideas

Student Notes
1) General observations about the texts and the unit
a) Richard III in the news (picture)
b) Complexity of the text – politically and practically
c) His villainy (or otherwise)
d) Long history of performance
e) Pacino’s (self-indulgent) labour of love
2) A conversation across time
Anything in Shakespeare that made you think
it’s not close to you…
– …or connected to you in any way?
– Yeah, it’s boring.

Who’s gonna say, “Action”?
Should I say it, or should you?
It has always been a dream of mine…
… to communicate how I feel
about Shakespeare to other people.
So I asked my friend Frederic Kimball,
who is an actor and a writer…
… and also our colleagues
Michael Hadge…

… and James Bulleit, to join me.
And by taking this one play,
Richard III…
… analyzing it, approaching it
from different angles…
… putting on costumes,
playing out scenes…
… we could communicate
both our passión for it…
… our understanding
that we’ve come to…
… and in doing that…
… communicate a Shakespeare
that is about how we feel…
… and how we think today.