Analysis and Evaluation

In my appropriation it shows a gun biting a thumb, based off Sampson biting his thumb at Abram from Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet. The quote 'Do you bite your thumb at us, sir?' from my appropriation is also from Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet, and is Abram's initial response to Sampson biting his thumb.
In my appropriation I have used visual techniques including vectors, salience and symbolism. The main vectors in my appropriation are the hand and the gun. The hand starts with the arm towards the bottom left of the image and then makes you follow it up towards the thumb. The gun does the same, but from the top right and then down towards the teeth of the gun. The salience in this image is the teeth of the gun biting the thumb, located in the center, being large and more detailed than the rest of the image. The symbolism shown in the image is the opposite colours and the letters on the gun and the hand. The gun being red and the thumb being blue shows that they both represent a different family. Also the gun being red, red symbolising the violence and anger from Abram. The C and the M shown represent their houses Capulet and Montague and that their actions will affect their families not just themselves.
I have combined my quote and my image by the quote being Abram's initial response, a response of him being offended by Sampson's actions. The gun showing that what Sampson is doing will cause violence and fighting, as Abram continues to question him 'Do you bite your thumb at us, sir?'. The image and quote both resemble tensions building and the eventual violence that breaks out, all with a simple action starting it all.
I have successfully appropriated the original text for a new audience by using an image of a gun, a modern symbol for violence, instead of a person's mouth biting the thumb, to immediately deliver the message to the modern audience. The message being that Sampson should not have done that as it has infuriated Abram but also shows that violence is to come.

My Appropriation

Scene differentiation-Shakespeare and Baz Luhrmann

Scene differentiation-Shakespeare and Baz Luhrmann 

The opening scene of Romeo and Juliet (Act 1, Scene 1) written by Shakespeare is considerably different to Baz Luhrmann's opening scene from his appropriation of Romeo and Juliet.  During Shakespeare's version of the scene Gregson and Sampson two servants from the Capulet household, encounter Abram and a servant of the Montague household. After much banter the scene escalates with Sampson aggravating Abram with more people from each household coming into the scene. They get into a fight and
the Capulet's eventually withdraw with the Prince nearby. Baz Luhrmann has taken this scene but diverted it into modern context. Luhrmann has made the setting at a gas station in America in the 1990's, but still having the same base story line with the two households arguing and then eventually fighting.
 The main themes in this scene are foolishness and the theme of mortality. This can be seen as the main characters foolishly pull out their weapons and start to fight while innocent civilians are nearby, Tybalt even lighting a cigarette at a gas station in Luhrmann's version, with all characters fighting as if they are immortal.
"What, drawn, and talk of peace? I hate the word, as I hate hell, all Montagues, and thee.Have at thee, coward!" Tybalt declares during the opening scene. This shows the absolute hatred between the two family's, Tybalt saying that he hates all Montagues as much as he hates hell, showing no mercy towards them.

   

"http://noglitternoglory.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/a34-e1444655121108.jpg"

This image is from the opening scene of Romeo and Juliet from Baz Luhrmann's appropriation. It show's Tybalt during the fighting at the gas station, taking off his cloak, exposing his bulletproof vest and his weapons. Luhrmann also uses techniques such as a long shot, high angle and symbolism. The reason Luhrmann has used a long shot in this scene is to show Tybalt's positioning , taking cover behind a taxi, whilst still showing his expression of determination and fierceness. Luhrmann has also used a high angle shot to make Tybalt look weak but preparing for his next move, as he is located on the ground taking cover behind the taxi. But the most important technique in this shot is the symbolism of Tybalt removing his coat, to reveal his bulletproof vest. This vest shows an image of Jesus, implicating Tybalt's devotion and sacrifice for his religion. It even shows the type of family and tradition he has been brought up in, a very Catholic and righteous family.

What is Appropriation?

What is Appropriation?

Appropriations definition is "Taking an object or text from one context and using it in another context. The process can allow new insights into the original text or object and emphasise contextual differences. Appropriation also gives extra insight into the newly created or used text or object. Texts can be appropriated for a range of purposes, including satirical criticism, consideration of existing ideas in a new context and exploration of cultural assumptions.",(According to NSW English Syllabus). I think this means that an appropriation is something that is based on something else but is changed to suit a new or different audience.
There have been many appropriations of Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet over the centuries, two popular versions are Baz Luhrmann's version and Gnomeo and Juliet. Both of these appropriations are based on the original Romeo and Juliet by Shakespeare.The two are completely different, one set in 1990's Verona Beach and another an animated version set in two gardens with gnomes playing the characters. Baz Luhrmann's appropriation of Romeo and Juliet is much different to Shakespeare's  as he basses it in modern day America. Luhrmann replaces swords with guns and horses with swords, representing gang warfare. Meanwhile Gnomeo and Juliet is also much different to Shakespeare's using garden tools for swords and lawn mowers for fighting, but still keeps the main storyline.