Negative space Drawing

Negative Space Reflection/Blog:

1. Photograph your negative space cut outs

2. Photograph your negative space drawings

3. Upload them to your blog

4. Answer the following questions in full sentences.

  1. What is negative space (explain this concept to a fourth grader that has never heard of it)

Negative space is the space around the artwork that is filled in. The image that is shown is negative. Meaning blank. 

  1. Explain how you found negative space in 1. your cut out?, 2. in your still life drawing? 

I found negative space in my cut out, by cutting one piece of construction paper while using the template as a guid to create the tree. Once I had the half of the cut out I had to look at which spaces would best accommodate the full picture. In my still life drawing I had to really look at the space around the objects in order to leave the drawing of the object inside of it. 


  1. Why does it help an artist to see in negative space?

Because you are not looking at only the image itself that you are drawing but it helps you look at everything around.

    D. Does seeing in negative space enhance drawings, why or why not?


Yes. It makes things more vivid because you see the curves and things that negative space makes you look for when you are coloring. 

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Lee,Othello

Donesha Lee

Journals English


Journal #1:

IAGO

That Cassio loves her, I do well believe ’t.

That she loves him, ’tis apt and of great credit.

The Moor, howbeit that I endure him not,

Is of a constant, loving, noble nature,

And I dare think he’ll prove to Desdemona

A most dear husband. Now, I do love her too,

Not out of absolute lust—though peradventure

I stand accountant for as great a sin—

But partly led to diet my revenge,

For that I do suspect the lusty Moor

Hath leaped into my seat. The thought whereof

Doth, like a poisonous mineral, gnaw my inwards,

And nothing can or shall content my soul

Till I am evened with him, wife for wife.

Or, failing so, yet that I put the Moor

At least into a jealousy so strong

That judgment cannot cure. Which thing to do,

If this poor trash of Venice, whom I trace

For his quick hunting, stand the putting on,

I’ll have our Michael Cassio on the hip,

Abuse him to the Moor in the right garb

(For I fear Cassio with my night-cape too)

Make the Moor thank me, love me, and reward me

For making him egregiously an ass

And practicing upon his peace and quiet

Even to madness. 'Tis here, but yet confused.

Knavery’s plain face is never seen till used.

 

 

Well, within this paragraph is mostly addressing the audience, as well, as himself. He gives the audience the preview of his plan to began. Where he discusses that he will"have wife for wife". He feels as though the Moor stole his wife. He says he loves Desdemona only for her ability to help carry out his plan. she is like his favorite game piece.He wants revenge on Othello so much that he says it's eating him up inside. He says that he will not be happy until his plan is carried out. He also discusses his plan using Roderigo and Cassio. Although, he is mostly using Cassio. He said he doesn't have all the details but, he has a good plan overall. His plan will be happening blindsiding the people he is using, but putting his plan in motion directly in front of him.Also, at the beginning of the paragraph he discusses and admits that Cassio is actually a great guy, however he still needs him becuase he is in the “loop”.Meaning he is close to Othello. So, saying that we find that Iago has intentions to pursue his plans using Iago.

 Journal #2:

Act 4.SC.1

 

Lodivico walks in just in time to find the pimp slap of his cousin Desdemona, by her husband General Othello.He sees the tension of the room increase. The tension sees to rise due to Desdemona as well, as himself talking about Cassio in front of Othello.He doesn't know why Othello would be so upset to know they need to go back to Venice. He ask questions about the whereabouts Cassio to have Desdemona answering them, rather than Othello. Soon Othello goes on a little temper tantrum and ends with Othello hitting Desdemona. He ask othello of why he has hurt Desdemona, but is pretty much answered with an exit of Desdemona.Othello answer him by telling him he will follow threw with the orders of the letter.Then he exits. Leaving,Lodivico to wonder why the self-controlled guy he once knew to become filled with rage.Knowing of Othello being upset he begins to question. Seeing the story threw Lodivico’s perspective it is as though your on the outside looking in, and when that happens it becomes easier to see who is doing what.


Journal #3:

Emilia was always a brave hearted women. Her mother named her Emilia Rose to represent the strong woman she wanted from her daughter. She was born into a family that was not very wealthy. Due, to the way things were, her parents put her into an arranged marriage. Knowing of this she decided she would go along with it , But she had to meet him first.She was not presented with a prince charming, but a man she had to grow to care for.She wasn't in love with him, but she respected him. Since he was close to the army. Iago helped her get a job being a maid for Desdemona.Although, she had a money,place to stay, and a husband. She never had what she really wanted, which was a child she could call her own, for her husband was always to busy with "duties".So every time it rained she would picture all the souls of the children she could never have.


Journal #4:

  • What specific actions, movements, and tone of voice are you bringing to your character during your performance?

-I bring caring and the movement of touching my cross at the exact movement she refers to the “heavens”.However, when my husband enters I get a little feisty.

  • What PROP and/or COSTUME item is your character going to have? (It is your job to brainstorm one item that you are responsible for. Some props are clear, like a handkerchief or a wine glass. Others will take a little more creativity!) 

-handkerchief

-cross tights 

-cross necklace if I can find it

- What is going to make your group's presentation stand out? What have you worked on and agreed on as a group for your scene?

-I memorized my lines, so that should help.We all get use the handkerchief.

Journal #5:


“My wayward husband hath a hundred times woo’d me to steal it, what he will do with it, Heaven knows,not I.I nothing, but to please his fantasy.”

“Do you not chide,I have a thing for you.What will you give me for the same handkerchief?”

-Emilia


These quotes was important due, to Emilia showing two different sides toward her husband. In the first one she is alone and talking to herself.She says that Iago begged her to steal it, although she doesn't know why. Also, that he only wants to “cater” to him.She goes from caring about Desdemona to wanting to please her husband.Then when he comes in her whole mood changes, she sees the person she married, and a whole different perspective than what she wants.I delivered both lines to show her change in character.My group performance  was good and went as expected. We all had props, I’m proud of memorizing my lines. It is hard to memorize Shakespeare!I wouldn’t have changed anything.I now know more about the play, and I found out a different  ending than what I thought.

Story Through Sketches

Initially I wanted to create a film with minimal character dialogue – similar to Stanley Kubrick's 2001: A Space Odyssey. Seeing as how my quarter three benchmark was an analytical essay focusing on Kubrick's works, I decided I wanted to do something different and step outside of my creative comfort zone. Recently I've developed an appreciation for George Condo's paintings (You can check out some of his work here, here, and here). Through his works I have come to appreciate paintings and illustrations as mediums to tell stories. What I wanted to with this project was tell a story simply through illustration.

I knew facades would be a focus of my story, but I was unsure of what story to tell. I decided that instead of creating a story to illustrate, I would create my story by illustrating. 

I began my story by creating a few rough sketches. First I drew a man who had an eye encompassed in a rectangle. Then a blank bottle. Finally I drew a man of utter absurdity. In these sketches I saw three themes: facades, dependence, and psychopathy. I decided that these themes would be the timeline of my story – beginning with facades, and ending with psychopathy. From there I took my rough sketches and began to give them character.

The man with the eye encompassed in a rectangle became a man of two faces in a tuxedo; the blank bottle became a bottle of bourbon. I didn't realize it at first, but I was taking pieces from Stephen King's The Shining – a film Kubrick directed, and giving it my own twist. 

I really enjoyed this project as it allowed me to push my creative comfort zones. If I were to do this project in the future, I would do a few things a bit differently. I would choose to tell a story through more sketches and color. I feel that I limited my story's potential by sticking to only three sketches – though I believe that if I had created more the quality may have suffered. In the future I would also chose to create my story before illustrating.



My sketches can be found here. My story sketches are Final_Image_1, Final_Image_2, and Final_Image_3, while my rough drafts are labeled "Rough_Draft_x" Enjoy!

Othello Journals

Journal #1

 

Bade him anon return and here speak with me,

The which he promised. Do but encave yourself,

And mark the fleers, the gibes, and notable scorns

That dwell in every region of his face.

(Look out onto the audience) For I will make him tell the tale anew

Where, how, how oft, how long ago, and when

He hath, and is again to cope your wife.

I say (whisper low to Othello), but mark his gesture. Marry, patience,

Or I shall say you are all in all in spleen,

And nothing of a man.

 

This whole soliloquy will be spoken somewhat to Othello. Iago should speak this in a low and devious voice, almost whispering to him.

 

 

Journal #2

Barbantio

In the beginning sequences of the play, Barbantio is told by Roderigo and Iago that The moor is having sex with his daughter. This makes Barbantio angry and causes him to send out a search party for his daughter and Othello. Once he finds them, Othello is taken to the duke where Barbantio expresses his disgust and anger. It may have been different had he been told that the moor “fell in love with Desdemona”.

 

Journal #3

 

My Role: Othello

Othello is a Moor. The word "moor" is a word for the black people that inhabited Europe during that time period. The Moors brought over a lot of new cultures and ideas, including warfare techniques. This is was allowed Othello to serve as a general in Venice. Before, Othello was a slave of the Persian’s. The army of Venice and the Persian’s were at war, with the Persian’s losing severely. Othello was one of the last men standing, with no intentions of holding back. Barbantio took notice of this. With Othello’s blade staring down the face of one his soldiers, Barbantio commanded him to stop. He then asked Othello to stop killing his men. Barbantio offered to make him a general in the Venetian army. That was the birth of his new life in Venice.

 

Journal #4

 

The way I perceive Othello is nothing like myself. I’ll try to overcome this by standing up very tall and straight, to show his masculinity and firm build. Also, My voice is not as low as I imagine Othello’s to be, so I’m going to make my voice a little deeper. As a prop, I’m going to try and find a turban or a kufi. More than any of the props, I hope that our understanding of the lines will make our scene stand out from the others.

 

Top of Form

 

Bottom of Form

Journal #5

 

“Why, why is this? Think’st thou I’ld make a lie of jealousy, to follow still the changes of the moon with fresh suspicions? No, Iago; I’ll see before I doubt; when I doubt, prove, and on the proof, there is no more but this,-- away at once with love or jealousy!”

 

 I said this line as if I was telling Iago he was jumping the gun. He was making too many assumptions. Our scene went exactly as planned. We all played our parts as we rehearsed. If I had more time, I’d have memorized my lines so that I could make contact with the other actors. The language in the book is a little hard to read so, acting it out gave me a sense of what the characters’ words actually meant.

 

Q4-BM: Othello Journal

Journal # 1: Find a soliloquy in Othello when Iago might be addressing more than one of the possible audiences discussed today. Write out / copy and paste the soliloquy, and add your own "director's notes" indicating where Iago would switch delivery techniques to appeal to a higher power, and then to himself, etc. Indicate how his line delivery and physical movement might change to show he is changing audiences.

“I have rubbed this young quat almost to the sense,

And he grows angry. Now, whether he kill Cassio

Or Cassio him, or each do kill the other,

Every way makes my gain. Live Roderigo,

He calls me to a restitution large

Of gold and jewels that I bobbed from him

As gifts to Desdemona.

It must not be. If Cassio do remain

He hath a daily beauty in his life

That makes me ugly. And besides, the Moor

May unfold me to him—there stand I in much peril.

No, he must die. But so, I hear him coming.”


Here, Iago is speaking to himself about his plan. He is speaking is a low, hushed tone because if someone overheard him, his plan would get out and be ruined. Towards the end Iago says “But do, I hear him coming,” He could either be talking to himself, realizing to himself that someone is approaching or he could be talking to Rodrigo to warn him. If he were talking to Rodrigo his voice would raise slightly so that Rodrigo could hear him. Also when he says “That makes me ugly,” he would say this in a disgusted, or sneaky tone. This whole speech is sneaky because he's scheming and plotting against people, and thinking to himself how he will do it.


Journal # 2: Choose another secondary character from Othello (that is, not Othello or Iago or Desdemona) and investigate the play for his/her perspective. Answer the following prompts in paragraph format (150-200 words.)

Name a couple of important scenes that this character appears in. (You'll have to look them up, and include the act and scene numbers.)

- What does this character observe first hand? (What do they see personally?)

- What does this character observe second hand? (What are they told by other characters?)

- How can we understand this character's motivations better when we concentrate only on their scenes?

Scenes:

Act 1, sc 3: Emilia first appear in the book.

Act 3, sc 4: Othello questioned Desdemona about the handkerchief after Emilia took the handkerchief and give it to Iago.

Act 4, sc 2: Emilia help proof Desdemona is inderstion  

Act 4, sc 3: Emilia discuss with Desdemona about how men use women

Act 5 sc 2: Iago kill Emilia.

What Emilia sees happen is that Othello  is angry with Desdemona. Emilia does not know why he is angry, she just thinks that he is jealous of her. As the scenes go on, she also sees Iago wanting Othello’s handkerchief, but she doesn’t know why. She see’s Othello get angrier and angrier, for some reason, and Desdemona getting more and more worried about Othello. At the end, she see’s Desdemona dead, Othello kill her, and Iago was the one who lied all along. Emilia’s husband Iago leaves Emilia in the dark for most of the book. He tells her to give him the handkerchief, which is why she picked it up, but he never gave a reason for needing. In addition, Othello told Emilia that Cassio and Rodrigo are dead which was true. At first, it seems that Emilia only wants to please Iago and is on his side because she steals Othello's handkerchief, and does not tell Desdemona she gave it to him later. But, later in the play, she tries to comfort her and even stands up for her. She even dies because she tried to avenge Desdemona by telling everyone the truth. At first, her motivation was to please her husband, but later in the book it was to get justice and serve desdemona.

Journal #3: Write a character background using your Character Sheet as a guide. Tell the story of the life of the character before they enter the play. Explain how these events influenced them to be the kind of person they are during the events of the play.


Othello lived with his parents until he was 13. When he turned 13, his mother died and she gave him a handkerchief. She told him it was cursed, so he had to be careful with it. He escaped slavery when he was 19. He went on many adventures after, looking for work. Later in his 20’s he became a moor and worked for Venice. While there, he met Desdemona, and told her about all of his adventures. They fell in love and married. These events influenced his actions in the play because Othello probably was worried about losing Desdemona like he lost his mother. He wanted to in control of everything, and that was why he became so jealous. Also, at that point, he’d been threw so much that he couldn’t take anymore grieve. Desdemona was special to him and the idea of losing her made him crazy.


Journal # 4:This is your last journal before your group's performance on Tuesday! Please respond to the following prompts in paragraph format (150-200 words):

- What specific actions, movements, and tone of voice are you bringing to your character during your performance?

- What PROP and/or COSTUME item is your character going to have? (It is your job to brainstorm one item that you are responsible for. Some props are clear, like a handkerchief or a wine glass. Others will take a little more creativity!)

- What is going to make your group's presentation stand out? What have you worked on and agreed on as a group for your scene?

The scene that I am playing in is when Othello gets angry with Cassio because  he thinks that Desdemona is cheating on him with Cassio. In the scene I, as Othello in the scene, hide in the shadows listening to Iago and Cassio talking to each other. The tone of my voice will be mad and angry. I only had a few line to say but through those lines I will express a lot. When I stand a side I will try to do more then just stand. I will act like I am trying to hear what they really saying to each other. When I see the handkerchief I will express madness with my face. My voice will be strong and I will stand tall because Othello is strong man. For the performance I will wear all white. I had a hard time picking what should I bring for my character. Some of the suggestion that my group had was to wear what Othello had in the film. I went online and google Othello most of the characters were wear white. I thought it would be a good idea to wear white. I also decided to bring a toy gun. The reason is because he is a soldier and of course all soldiers have guns with them. I also could use the gun during my scene when I say my line “ How should I murder him, Iago.....” I can show my madness through the prop that I bring.

One of the thing that our group agreed on is to show a lot of expression and stay true to the character during the scene. The presentation will be more interesting when the we express our feeling out without being afraid to speak low and clear. We have a very small scene therefore every emotion needs to be expressed in words and in actions. For example when Liza and Wendy suppose to run they were really running not acting or just stand . This will help to bring an intensity to the scene and make it more realistic.

Journal # 5:

- Analyze one of your lines from your scene. Quote it directly and then explain why it is important to the play, and how you showed its importance in your performance. How did you deliver this line?

- How did performing the play change your understanding of it?

- Did your group's performance go as you expected and planned? Now that it is over, what are you proud of? What would you have done differently in your performance?

Othello-

“How should I murder him. Iago, a fine woman, a fair women a sweet women”

This quote shows that at that point in play Othello was crazy. Even though he loved his wife, he was driven to kill her. He even knew she was fair and sweet because he said “ fine woman, a fair women a sweet woman”. This was important to the play because it tells the audience that Othello is about to kill Desdemona, and that Othello has finally gone crazy. This also shows that Iago’s plan is working. I showed it was important by sounding angry, because in my mind, it seemed like Othello would be angry. He'd be mad about the handkerchief and even madder at his wife I delivered this by showing my anger and taking out my gun to show I was angry.

Our group performed better than I would expected. During the morning practice at the beginning of the class we changed a lot in the scene. I change how I speak and how to use my hand for emotion. We were able to look at each other more then the paper the performance went so well then I though. Wendy also was able to express more feelings and be true to the character. I’m really proud that my group was able to perform and express our characters as well as we did. The little small detail when Loyd start to laugh or when Wendy give the handkerchief to Liza it took a couple line scene to a whole new level. If we could do the performance different I would want our group to do the scene without the script because then more expression and eye contact can be shown.

When I performed this, I understood how Iago was smart enough to make Othello think Cassio had Desdemona’s handkerchief. Also, Othello was so crazy and jealous he couldn’t think straight and by acting like this I could see how angry and crazy he was. Also, I could see how angry Bianca was. Before I thought she was angry, but now I saw she was. It helped me understand why Othello was mad and why Bianca was. She thought Cassio was cheating on her, and Othello thought Cassio was with Desdemona.



Negative Space Reflection

Negative Space is the space around and between an image. It's used to be presentable in 3D.
I found negative space in my cut out when it was all put together & I could see the image come out at me. I was able to understand the story that the image was trying to to me through negative spacing. In my still life drawing, I found negative space after i shaded around and inside the spaces of the image.
It helps an artist too see in negative space because it helps identify the real subject in the image.
Seeing in negative space enhances drawling because you can easily tell the main subject of the image.
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Negative Space Pictures

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    A. What is negative space (explain this concept to a fourth grader that has never heard of it)

Negative space is basically just the space in between whatever the object is that is not the object itself. When you draw the negative space, the thing you are drawing will appear. 

    B. Explain how you found negative space in 1. your cut out?, 2. in your still life drawing?

I found in my cutout by cutting around the template with the paper behind it. Once I had all the pieces cut, it was easy to find the negative space and make the bird's shape. I found the negative space in my still life drawing by looking at the object I was drawing and one by one drawing the spaces in between it. 

    C. Why does it help an artist to see in negative space?

It helps an artist to see in negative space because they can make the drawing more detailed and it will look better/more realistic. 

    D. Does seeing in negative space enhance drawings, why or why not?

Seeing in negative space does enhance drawings because it makes the details stand out and overall it makes the picture more interesting than if it was drawn normally.

Negative Space Reflection

A. What is negative space.
Negative space is the area of a picture that is blank. The negative space doesn't have any detail, it's just the silhouette.

    B. Explain how you found negative space in 1. your cut out?, 2. in your still life drawing? 
I found negative space in my cut out by using the template to trace. I found it in my still life by drawing the items, erasing any detail and then shading the spaces in-between.

    C. Why does it help an artist to see in negative space?

By focusing on the spaces in between objects, you can more clearly see the negative space.
    D. Does seeing in negative space enhance drawings, why or why not?

Yes, because it let's you see what you are drawing, painting etc. in it's simplest form. The better you understand what you are replicating through art, the better your art will turn out to be.

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SLA home to one of Philly's top poets

Congratulations to SLA Junior Joshua Melendez for being one of only six poets in the city to make Philadelphia's youth poetry team. 

Josh will be representing Philly this summer at the International Brave New Voices Festival in Chicago, Illinois.


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Negative Space

    A. What is negative space (explain this concept to a fourth grader that has never heard of it) Negative SPace is the space that make up the the drawing and object .

    B. Explain how you found negative space in 1. your cut out?, 2. in your still life drawing? I knew that negative space was the space outside and in between the holes of the object in the drawing.

C. Why does it help an artist to see in negative space? It helps so they can see the tricky parts of the object.

     D. Does seeing in negative space enhance drawings, why or why not?

Yes because it show people all the aspects and sides of the drawing and it's another way of art without really sketching things out. 
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Negative Space

What is negative space (explain this concept to a fourth grader that has never heard of it)
Negative space is when you make objects appear. You do this by showing the space between the objects you drew.
 Explain how you found negative space in 1. your cut out?, 2. in your still life drawing?
I found the negative space by looking at the background as that is what the negative space is and the positive space is the actual cut outs I had to glue on. I had to think of it in a way where both sides were reversed and had some negative and positive to balance out both sides. In my still life drawings, I drew the object first and then colored in the negative space first in between the blanks spaces to make it appear.

Why does it help an artist to see in negative space?

Seeing in negative space allows a artist to find the object and see it better. It makes the art pop out more.

 Does seeing in negative space enhance drawings, why or why not?

Seeing in negative space does enhance the drawings because it becomes bold and stands out to the viewer. You can closely see each detail the drawing has.

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Negative Space

A. What is negative space (explain this concept to a fourth grader that has never heard of it)


Negative space is the space around or between an image. 

B. Explain how you found negative space in 1. your cut out?, 2. in your still life drawing?

I found my negative space from what open space was in between my image and around in for both the cut out and life drawing.

  C. Why does it help an artist to see in negative space?

It help because it look more pretty and it gets the artist eyes

    D. Does seeing in negative space enhance drawings, why or why not? 

Yes because It just stands out.
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Negative Space

    A. What is negative space (explain this concept to a fourth grader that has never heard of it)
The negative space is more focused on the drawling then the outline.The line is also more visible. When you draw negative space the outline of the image is more visible. 

    B. Explain how you found negative space in 1. your cut out?, 2. in your still life drawing?

I found in my cutout by cutting around the template with the paper behind it. I then looked at the two different colors and flip the negative space to look at the picture. 

    C. Why does it help an artist to see in negative space?

It helps an artist to see in negative space because they can make the picture look more real and make it pop with more details. 

    D. Does seeing in negative space enhance drawings, why or why not?

Seeing in negative space does enhance drawings because it makes the details stand out and overall it makes the picture more attractive to look at. 
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Tamira Bell Negative Space

1. Negative space is the empty space where no objects are present. It mainly pertains to the background of a pice of art.

2. In my cut, I found the negative space by looking at my template. The dark shade on the template was the negative space. I found the negative space in my drawing by shading every thing that was the background as the negative space.

3. It helps an artist to see in negative space because negative space can separate the the medium or focus from the background. 

4. The negative and positive space does enhance the drawing because it helps put the focus on what the artist is trying to portray. The contrast in colors draws attention to the main focus.
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Journals

Benchmark Journal 1

IAGO

(aside) I have rubbed this young quat almost to the sense,

And he grows angry. Now, whether he kill Cassio

Or Cassio him, or each do kill the other,

Every way makes my gain. Live Roderigo,

He calls me to a restitution large

Of gold and jewels that I bobbed from him

As gifts to Desdemona.

It must not be. If Cassio do remain

He hath a daily beauty in his life

That makes me ugly. And besides, the Moor

May unfold me to him—there stand I in much peril.

No, he must die. But so, I hear him coming.

  In this soliloquy, Iago is talking to himself. Iago is talking himself likes he really worried, and scared about what things that can happen. He wants Cassio and Roderigo to kill each other, but if they survive he's going to be worried about them. If Cassio and Roderigo dies it would favor him and his life. Iago feels scared about the golds and jewels that he stole Roderigo. He scared about the beauty in Cassio life would make him look ugly and out of his place. Also he’s worried, because the Moor might unfold him to Cassio which would make him more scared. So Iago wants Cassio to die as long with Roderigo.

Benchmark Journal 2

Emilia:

 In Act. 5. Scene. 2, Othello was in a room with Desdemona talking about the handkerchief, and what happened to it. Othello then decides to smothers Desdemona, and while smothering and talking to her he begin hearing voices and it was Emilia. Emilia says, "My lord, my lord? What ho! My lord, my lord!" When she says, this Othello thinks its Desdemona. Emilia then comes in, and sends the message to Othello telling him Cassio killed a young venetian called Roderigo. Emilia then hears a voice, and its the voice of Desdemona saying, "O falsely, falsely murdered." Emilia is then worried and see Othello smothering Desdemona. Desdemona tells Emilia that no one killed her but herself before she died but Emilia believes Othello did it. 

Benchmark Journal 3


Othello:

Hello my name is Othello. I be going through a lot my whole life. I lost my father when I was born. I was being raised by a single mother with one sibling I would have to take care all the time. I watched my mother struggle trying to get us money and put food on the table. One day I was traveling through my home town and saw the love of my life. We begin to talk, she said her name was “Desdemona”, and I look into her eyes and knew she was going to be the love of my life.


Benchmark Journal 4


  During the performance as Othello I am bringing out a furious act in Othello. He will sound very angry act moments during the scene, and also act very confused on whats going on. He gets on his knees looking to the sky with an angry emotion. He also grabs Iago during the scene to show his angry.  Othello also clutches his heart while talking in the scene like he heartbroken about something he found out. A prop, or costume I will have in my scene is a cape and a sword. Things thats would make my group presentation is the actions that happens during the scene, or the way we talk out and show emotion.

Benchmark Journal 5


     In scene 5 Othello and Iago, is talking about Othello love Desdomona. Iago and trying to prove he seen Desdomona with the handkerchief, and Cassio wipe his beard with it. While they still talk about it Othello gets mad, and more mad and takes his angry out on Cassio, and let his words follows his action. During the scene Othello says, "Now, by yond marble heaven, within these three days let me hear thee say that Cassio's not alive."  This line was important to the line, because with the believing of the Desdomona, handkerchief, and the Cassio, Othello wanted Cassio to be dead. During the play I deliver this line in a angry voice because Othello actually wants to happen. My group performance went as expected and planned. We brought in all the props we were going to bring in. We did the actions that were going to do during the whole scene. We changed the voice of or character, and made it seem actually real so the audience can image it really happening while looking at our scene. Now that its over Im proud of all the hard work I put in the scene by actually trying to follow and image that I was the actual character. Now that its over I would have tried to act like a different Othello to see how it would had flowed during the scene. The performing of the play changed my understanding, because it was way different seeing the play then reading it and now I understand what was going on during them different scenes by watching it.


Journals :)

Journal#1

Iago:

(aside) I have rubbed this young quat almost to the sense,

And he grows angry.

Now, whether he kill Cassio

Or Cassio him,

or each do kill the other,

He calls me to a restitution large

Of gold and jewels that I bobbed from him

As gifts to Desdemona.

It must not be. If Cassio do remain

He hath a daily beauty in his life

That makes me ugly. And besides, the Moor

May unfold me to him—there stand I in much peril.

(Looks down to his hands)

No, he must die. But so, I hear him coming. 

 

Iago looks and gestures to the audience his plan. He looks to the sky/ceiling about not giving Desdemona the gifts from Rodrigo. He looks down to speak to himself when saying Cassio must die. He walks off when he hears them coming.  

 

 

 

Journal#2

            Cassio is Othello’s lieutenant, he plays a big role in the play. Iago uses Cassio to his advantage to take him out of his lieutenancy and trick Othello. Cassio wants to get his job back. He goes to talk to Desdemona in hope that she could convince her husband to give him his job back as lieutenant. Cassio wouldn’t do anything purposely to hurt his General. Though hes told that he can get his job back by speaking with Desdemona. She gave him her word she would help him get his job back. (Act 3 Scene 3)

 

Journal#3

Desdamona was young when her mother died. At a young age she had to learn how to clean and cook so she could take care of the house while her father worked. She wanted a little sister but never had one. She wished she had siblings growing up because she was lonely. Even when she had time with her father it wasn't much because he was always working. She grew bored very quickly with home life. As she got older she tried to escape the house as much as possible without her father knowing. She felt locked up in that old house. When she met Othello she knew that her father wouldn't like him. Though she fell in love with moor and didn't want anything to ruin it. Even if she had to stand up to her father. Though sweet and delicate Desdemona was determined for her love, for Othello. 

 

 

Journal #4

My characters tone of voice is gentle and isn’t in the scene very long. She comes in has four lines and then she leaves. She doesn’t very many movements but talking to her husband about Cassio. My prop is going to be a lap scarf as my handkerchief. My group has worked on different movements that can be done in the scene to make it look better and more convincing. A lot of the movements happen between Othello and Iago. We agreed on certain movements like Iago is moving around a lot whispering lies to Othello.

 

 

Journal#5

 

“Why your lieutenant Cassio, good my lord if I have any grace or power to move you, his present reconciliation take, I prithee call him back”

 

This is an important line for Desdemona because she is standing up for Cassio. Shes trying her best to guarantee his spot back as Othello’s lieutenant. Though that’s not what Iago has been telling Othello. So it changes how Othello sees her and how he feels about her when all she does is talk about Cassio. I think I did my best for this line. I tried to sound like I was trying to convince him to speak with Cassio. For the group performance I think it went really well. I’m proud of the fact that everyone in my group did there best even thought we all didn’t have our lines memorized and that’s one thing I would change so we could be more into the scene but I think it went really well. I think seeing the performances and performing part of the play helped better with the understanding of because some things registered that I might not have understood before. I think it gave everyone a better understanding of the play because we got to look at it in different ways and tones.

 

Othello And the massacre of Problems

Ahaji Koita                                            A-band                                                              


Journal 1

In this soliloquy, Iago is having a moment with himself. The scene is to produce the moment of fear in Iago eyes. Like he must not be caught and he must allow his plan to go accordingly. If Iago wanted to talk to the audience he might have looked up. Or say things to the side. All in all the point in which he should move his delivery is when someone is talking to him about the situation and he could continue to look at the audience. This also could be for a higher power when Iago gives reference to how he's lacking this plan way to long now its time to go forth with it.

IAGO


(aside) I have rubbed this young quat almost to the sense,

And he grows angry. Now, whether he kill Cassio

Or Cassio him, or each do kill the other,

Every way makes my gain. Live Roderigo,

He calls me to a restitution large

Of gold and jewels that I bobbed from him

As gifts to Desdemona.

It must not be. If Cassio do remain

He hath a daily beauty in his life

That makes me ugly. And besides, the Moor

May unfold me to him—there stand I in much peril.No, he must die. But so, I hear him coming.





Journal 2

I am choosing the character, Emilia because she has a moment in the end of the book where she has full control over the men in the story. Spilling all the secrets. In act 5 scene 2 the scene where Othello shows and gives out what people have been lying about. They see the all the things that happen in the story but they don't speak about it. Emilia is like the audience but she knows everything. She is told lies but they are unknown to her until the following acts. We can concentrate more if we were able to see how she can change throughout the story. This character is very quiet throughout the novel and is more and more talkative in the final act she was in. That act took her life.

Journal 3

My name is Othello of the Northern Tribe of Morocco. I have been through much in my life. I have seen my brother killed right in front of my eyes. My mother was a bare woman. I loved her. She was my guardian angel. When I was younger my father said, you're going to have great promise and an even better lover. When I first heard this I told my father I am warrior I have not time for such chaotic social ideals. I met her on my way back to the homeland. She was ravishing, my eyes couldn't stop to bare her beauty. Her hazel brown hair, took my heart away. I saw love within her. She changed my life and how I view. I asked her, her name. She replied, My name is Desdemona. My heart sank. That divine name was the deal breaker for the start of my new life. She was going to be my wife. And I swear on it. Othello was a very strict and spiritual man that never would give someone pain for his wife.


Journal 4

In the performance I plan on be being very scary and horrific to the crowd. This is because my scene consists of attempting on killing Desdemona with a pillow. The prop I plan on bringing in tomorrow is a crown of some sorts. This can be very difficult to pull off but I will try my best. Our group's presentation will stand because we have focused so well on making it the best it can be. Even though it can be a little nerve racking the "Death and all". But Nikki and I are very proud of the piece will be performing for the class. We have agreed that will push each other to doing anything that the other is not comfortable with doing. This led to an awesome scene for the two of us to share with our classmates.






OTHELLO

It is the cause, it is the cause, my soul.

Let me not name it to you, you chaste stars,

It is the cause. Yet I’ll not shed her blood,

Nor scar that whiter skin of hers than snow

And smooth as monumental alabaster.

Yet she must die, else she’ll betray more men.

Put out the light, and then put out the light.

If I quench thee, thou flaming minister,

I can again thy former light restore

Should I repent me. But once put out thy light,

Thou cunning’st pattern of excelling nature,

I know not where is that Promethean heat

That can thy light relume. When I have plucked thy rose

I cannot give it vital growth again,

It must needs wither. I’ll smell thee on the tree.

Oh, balmy breath, that dost almost persuade

Justice to break her sword! One more, one more.

Be thus when thou art dead and I will kill thee

And love thee after. (kissing her) One more, and that’s the last.

So sweet was ne'er so fatal. I must weep,

But they are cruel tears. This sorrow’s heavenly,

It strikes where it doth love. She wakes.

Journal 5


In this quote Othello is contemplating his ordeal with his dear, Desdemona he has no idea what the truth is. But Othello is going to take her life anyway. The young warrior loved her so much, when heard this he was crushed. Pulling him straight into denial and revenge. Othello wanted use different ways to cancel out his emotions and find a more accurate reason for killing his honest lover. The reason he chose was that if he did not kill her, she would end up betraying other men. In the quote he says, "Yet she must die, else she’ll betray more men". Here is a clear example of why othello has completely lost his heart and cherish for her. Another major sentence in the quote is when he uses personification to explain two actions that he is going to complete. Othello says," Put out the light, and then put out the light". Othello is saying that he is going to put out the actual light in the room that he is in. And then put out the light in Desdemona's heart. When I said this quote in my performance I sounded sad and angry at the same time. This was a very emotional time for Othello. He was on the verge of killing his wife.  I believe that this was the most important scene in the book. Without this scene there would be no story. This is the climax of the story and can only be told like this. My scene turned out the way I wanted it.



Benchmark Journals for Othello

Jasmine Nieves

Journal #1:


Iago

Good my lord, pardon me,

Though I am bound to every act of duty,

I am not bound to that all slaves are free to.

(Shows and give an example of why slaves need to be free say too)



Utter my thoughts? Why, say they are vile and false?

(says they are not vile and false)

 

As where’s that palace where into precious and expensive things.? 

(says precious and expensive things)

 

Sometimes intrude not? Who has that breast so

pure?

Where in uncleanly apprehensions?

(says scary thoughts of what will or going to happen)

 

Keep leets and law-days and in sessions sit. 

(says arose)

 

With mediations lawful?

 

          For Iago to think more positively, he should show an example of why the slaves need to be free and he was saying as one of his lines from the book. He can also explain to the Duke why he wanted to be free. If he could have done this, the Duke would have probably made him and other people free. People are not vile and false.  Sometimes people are the mean and nasty person they should never be, but it depends on the person. Even though people have their own opinions, he shouldn’t think negatively about things. Foul things is no way to speak of things. Iago wants to describe the things in a palace and say they are foul in front of the Duke, but the Duke might make him move out of the country for good. He should say they are precious and expensive things because thats what they are meant to be. Not all things are foul around us, we live with them and they are around all us.  When Iago is saying something creepy is about to happen. he should have just reworded it saying “...scary thoughts of what will or is going to happen”. What I’m trying to say here is that, he shouldn’t say uncleanly apprehensions. When you work on something you, are also earning something at the same time. Iago’s opinion could have been a little bit different and could have said, “My work continues which will keep rising and rising until the Duke’s time for me to work, is over. This is nothing he said though, it is just a thought of how he could have reworded it differently. ”The rest of what Iago was saying was fine. Another thing he should do is not have run on sentences. He should have questions and not commas and a bunch more of it. He should make the thoughts go on but with the right punctuation, and what he says has to flow as if he were reading or writing a poem. Thoughts go on but there are still good words to use and good punctuation. The thought of the rest of it all, sounds good. He just needs to work on it more.

          The way this is said could change and show the audience is that Iago should be positive all the time. If he wants to be a leader of the city, or master one day, he would have to show it. He, Iago, should show his maturance Othello. Othello is the one who had gotten to be chosen in front of him. Iago just has to think positively to get what he wants, which is getting his ideas about being a soon to be master and his thoughts on Desdemona, Othello, Cassio and the Moor. Another way Iago could be more positive is by saying right things about the right things to the one they are speaking to. He has a right to speak his mind so why can't he use it with the other right he has which is freedom of speech. He is smart so he also should show it. If he wants to be approved by the Duke or Othello later on like to take the place of Othello, he has to start working on that now and start using it the right way like he's been doing except more so. He should think of what he's going to say, like he said to when it was suppose to say too.


Journal #2:

Act 1
Rodrigo: (SCENE 1)

          For the beginning of this scene, both Iago and Rodrigo, his friend, were wondering why they couldn't be a ruler just like Othello was. Roderigo said instead of what he was working as in the book, he would have been a hangman that does things for their masters whenever they say to do it. Roderigo really wanted to be the high position that Othello was, one day. Then all of the sudden, Rodrigo tells Brabantio in the middle of the Act, that he has found out or has already known, that Othello had an affair with his daughter. He is telling him in his own words but Iago is with him. After Brabantio finds out, he thinks he has lost his daughter for good. He disagrees the marriage between Othello and Desdemona should never be and should never happen. First, Brabantio says that the act that has been done, was evil and now he has said that he feels his daughter has been abused. Rodrigo made it worse when he said that he thinks that they were married. Brabantio wanted Desdemona to have a nice life with a nice man but not like Othello. They both then set a plan to see if it is true. Rodrigo was supposed to be sneaky and see if its true then tell Desdemona's father if it was the truth or not.

Act 2
Rodrigo: (SCENE 1)

          Rodrigo was then talking to Iago and their sightings of Cassio and Desdemona and they wanted to talk it over with Desdemona’s father, Brabantio. This time they were talking about the fact that Iago has already seen Desdemona and Cassio, in love, together. Rodrigo couldn't believe what Iago was saying. Since now that he knows, he wants or needs to go back to Venice. Iago then told him he was going to tell her father. Rodrigo couldn't believe the story Iago was telling even though Iago thought it was true. It's like both Roderigo and Iago, know that she was cheating on Othello. First Desdemona wants to be with the Moor, then Cassio, and then Othello. So, Rodrigo also feels that she has developed a love for her as well as the other men that want to get with her. A little before Scene 1 was over, Rodrigo then tells Iago, that he too, saw Cassio with Desdemona just out of nowhere. The next time Cassio speaks with Rodrigo, Iago's advice to Rodrigo is to lie to him and provoke him so that Desdemona's father would take him off the list of good guys Desdemona should marry and love. Since this little act was done by Cassio and Desdemona, they want to throw away all the things that are necessary to him so he can realize what he has done to Desdemona now that her father is upset with her. They both agreed to the plan that same day.

Act 4
Rodrigo: (SCENE 2)

          Rodrigo is already happy after Iago and Roderigo that they both know who was with Desdemona. Rodrigo was also happy Iago had already told Brabantio what he and Rodrigo has seen about her and Cassio. He thinks he is unkind with his words because he has thought that he was going to hear another story about Cassio and Desdemona. Rodrigo after Iago speaks, says that he was still waiting on the jewels from Desdemona. This was totally a lie because it hasn't said anything that Desdemona had the jewels. Since Iago didn't see Desdemona but saw her father, Rodrigo, was going to see her in action but in a sneaky way or face to face and tell her what is on his mind or what she does. Towards the end of the Act, they talk about have a party for Cassio to be removed or banned from the country by Othello. Rodrigo didn't know all the information about it, but Iago let him know as soon as he got more info. What I know now already about Rodrigo is an unpatient man since being the Moor and getting Desdemona is all that he thinks about and an unfair man because he didn’t allow Othello to be the more, under his terms, meaning what he wanted just the time that people were deciding who to be the Moore. There are still plenty of other days that he could try to get a chance at being the Moore again and again.

          Rodrigo and Iago thinks that letting the Moor (Othello) is shameful. They thought they finally had their time to shine to be the Moors they wanted to be.  For this reason at first, they wanted to kill Othello but then, the plan failed them.They had also noticed that Desdemona is becoming a cheater to Othello with Cassio since Othello was already the Moor and with Desdemona. Rodrigo and Iago really wanted to be with Desdemona and be the Moor but again, that failed them. They should have wished, dreamt and thought a little more harder and their dream could have come true. What I can also know about Rodrigo now is that he doesn’t care about Othello, he just wants to win Desdemona over all the men that are starting or have already started to be with her and starting to like her. 

          What Rodrigo observes second hand was about Desdemona's love to Cassio. He heard enough talk that he didn't want Iago to keep talking about it. All they planned to do was try to kill Cassio which happened a few days later. They were both getting a little antsy but at the end, everybody was happy, sort of, and they agreed on the plan together. Rodrigo was seeking for revenge.


Journal #3:

Iago before the play:

He was a truthful man. All he wanted at the beginning of the story is that if he can’t be the Moore be his lieutenant, but that didn’t happen because Othello already picked and officer (Michael Cassio). He was the unfair man still about being with Desdemona. He was like a protector because in one part of the story he wanted to to Desdemona’s father what has been happening before he found out himself and Desdemona’s heart would be broken. He has been a hater throughout the whole book because he doesn’t like Othello from getting everything, he Iago, wanted. Even though he has had these descriptions about him, he is still a nice person until the end of the story when he kills his wife Emilia. From the beginning of the book to the end, I could tell he is friendly and gives good advice. What him Iago, feel like the person who should be with Desdemona because he thinks they are meant to be together forever and she shouldn’t hook up with Othello. He is also honest because he also speaks his mind because what is in his mind, in the ultimate truth.


Journal #4:

          The actions I will bring to the play are I will read my lines and with enthusiasm as if was us in the book. The story will be brought to life because of the way we would act. We would try to have such great force in our voices as the people in the story would. We would use lots of feeling and try to make it flow rather than stop and mess up. It is okay to mess up, but just keep going with the acting and what you were doing. The movements I will bring to the play is that I'm going to pretend to actually kill somebody in my scene. Its going to be like a soap opera. It’s like something you would want to see over and over and over again. I will do whatever the paper tells me so I could get it right. The tone of voice I will bring is with passion as Romeo and Juilet. We are going to try to make it flow as possible but if we can't, its okay because all of us in class, are all acting our scenes from the book.

          The prop I will bring is a paper sword so it would look like I'm killing someone. What's going to make our groups presentation stand out is say it like it was on the paper and we would have to read it as we were Shakespeare. Even though all eyes are going to be on us, we have to pretend they are not even there, focus on your lines and who is in the group. We also can think, this is a classroom in which we performed before and we just also have to think we are in a different room different from the one's we are usually in. There are lots of things to think about when pretending to be on stage in front of your classmates. But we can also think of them as if they were not even there or in their underwear, as some people say. We agreed I was going to bring in a paper sword, not dressing all fancy as they would. 


Journal #5:

          Iago said “I did”, to Emilia in the play about calling Desdemona a villainous whore.. When Emilia was talking to him about Othello, she thought and was talking about telling Othello that his wife was false. Desdemona is not a complete villainous whore. She just didn’t pay no mind to what she was doing and did what ever she wanted to do. By that means, Iago was talking with Othello when Desdemona was alive. Probably he didn’t necessarily mean it, but it was he was actually feeling to have a need to have a say in. He wasn’t thinking of what he was saying either. This is important to the play because it showed that he was a lier about Desdemona and a lier about Emilia taking the handkerchief and gave it to Iago, which he didn’t have. Emilia thought she had given it to him but he didn’t. This was showing the importance of the performance because he tried to kill Emilia he first didn’t because she was talking then she died because he stabbed her. He wanted and felt the need that he needed to kill his wife.

          The performance sort of went as was planned and expected. I was supposed to have a sword, but instead I used a pencil since I couldn’t find a fake sword use. I was planning to use one of my friend’s, but before our part, somebody had it. When they were done with it, they gave it to another person in the play. Some of us stopped and laughed a little when we were performing our part of the play. There was a few stutters but the play and our part, sounded good as it should have been. I am proud of that I was confident and so with my group members because they were also confident in the play. Everything flowed and I’ve seen some parts of the play as the way it was written and read while hearing the audio. It was like the audio we heard but it was acted out. This was a nice role play we all did together. What I would have done differently in the performance was just bring a printed version of the sword or used a brush at the end of it not where the bristles are and pretended to stab somebody 

          The way I understand it now after seeing the play come to life, is that everybody felt emotional  Emilia wasn’t a witness of the killing after Othello killed Desdemona. The play is suppose to be a little more serious than funny and it was supposed to have a great amount of energy and eagerness as the book did.  Emilia, during the end of the story, had just entered after Iago, Cassio, and Rodrigo were trying to kill each other. They wanted to tell Othello and Desdemona what had happened at the very last part of the story. Othello didn’t like the news very much because who they were fighting for so he ended up killing Desdemona and Iago to Emilia because he didn’t like the way she explained it either. Emilia believes she was telling the truth. But in the end, it became that she was untruth to the people she was around. She wasn’t a villainous whore but just a sore liar. 

Benchmark Journals

Journal #1


Act 5, Scene 1

Original Text:

(aside) I have rubbed this young quat almost to the sense,

And he grows angry. Now, whether he kill Cassio

Or Cassio him, or each do kill the other,

Every way makes my gain. Live Roderigo,

He calls me to a restitution large

Of gold and jewels that I bobbed from him

As gifts to Desdemona.

It must not be. If Cassio do remain

He hath a daily beauty in his life

That makes me ugly. And besides, the Moor

May unfold me to him—there stand I in much peril.

No, he must die. But so, I hear him coming.


In this scene Iago and Roderigo enter the scene. Iago starts to talk about how he's going to commit something that he won't regret. In the stanza above Iago said "Now, whether he kill Cassio Or Cassio him, or each do kill the other, Every way makes my gain.", ; he was basically meaning that he would be happy if either of them die because in his future they will no longer be able to exist. In this short meaningful stanza Iago gives of a couple of hints of who he could be talking to. In the beginning of him talking he starts to talk to himself, but then at short periods he tends to look up and or glance at his surroundings such as Roderigo. The punctuation affects me as the reader because it shows how he feels about the situation happening. While Iago is talking and Roderigo stands near, but not so much close by to hear his full conversation Iago's ego and voice determines that he is serious about killing Cassio. For Iago to describe the situation if it goes wrong shows that he wants to do right and get rid of someone , accurately Cassio at this point; if he messes up, then his life is in danger and it'll cause Othello to have more problems to worry about, since he won't have his right man to take out duties for him.

 


Journal #2


Brabantio (Desdemona's father)

Important scenes:

Act 1, Scene 2: accuses Othello of using magic against his daughter to gain love

Act 1, Scene 3: he brings Othello to trial before the Duke

Act 5, Scene 2: died of grief after losing his daughter.

Personally Brabantio see's that Othello is a man who is taking his daughter out of her young teen days into her woman days. Brabantio thinks at first that Othello is not the best person fit out for Othello, even though they're close and have done work together.On the second hand Brabantio seems to start to like Othello because he makes his daughter happy then she normally is. Brabantion, then gets close  to Othello to call him his son and his brother labeled him as their nephew. For Othello that was a big honor to feel welcomed by your wife's father who despite you for the person you are (the moor of Venice). From my perspective I think you can understand Brabantio especially from his appearances in scenes because in all the scenes that he's in something major happens. For example, in the last scene he appeared in, Act, 5, Scene 2 he died from the sadness from the death of his only child, Desdemona. Other scenes that Brabantio involves in has to do with Othello and his relationship to Desdemona or to the Duke's of Venice to try to make sure the marriage is positive of no problems.

Journal #3


Character- Iago

Reason- Anger/ Misunderstanding

Effect Scene: Iago's "I hate the moor speech" towards Othello that shows how much Iago despise and truly feel for Othello.

Cause Scene:

Iago just departed from seeing his dearly lovely wife Emilia to start his wonderful day at work. It was a typical Monday, but by time the day would end no one would be the same again. Iago went to Othello's office to see if he was their, but of course Othello wasn't at work yet because he would be so busy completing deeds for his wife Desdemona and doing other good things benefiting the city. At lunch time Iago talked among the other workers, employees, and people who did things for the kingdom. He noticed something strange also. Usually around the time of 1:20 each day his wife would call and tell him good news or about he mail he received about bills and advertisements. Iago then skipped lunch to go see his wife and hopefully make a little love before he has to go back and do work in the office. When he got inside his house his wife was on the couch crying, holding a piece of paper in her hand. Iago then read it and came to find out that Othello laid him off and he wouldn't be commanded to the next rank. Their wasn't any reasons given, but Iago felt his own rage and decided to make a poem to release his anger out. "I, hate, the moor . . .", THE END.

Journal #4


1. In my performance I will be acting as Iago. I will have to be loud, bold, taunting back and forth, and show my emotion towards the moor. My hand gestures and facial emotions should show how I feel and or who I am talking to in the scene.

2. In my part of the scene we're performing my character Iago will be having a satchel or knife. To be and have more creativity to the scene Iago will have a type of weapon to use it to make hand gestures and show how he's feeling towards the moor.

3. To make my groups performance stand out we will show emotion and good acting skills when presenting by facing the audience when talking and speaking loud with confidence. For a group each individual person worked as a good person to each study their part each and become dedicated to their parts of the scene.

Post performance journal: 


Lines in my scene that I were reading from was based from Iago’s perspective. One quote that I would like to analyze is “he hath a person and a smooth dispose to be suspected, framed to make woman false”. In my own point of view this quote means a lot and pertains to this play. The quote is important to the play because it has more then one meaning to Othello.  The quote is trying to say that Othello is a man that happens to be wrong at times and accuses woman of false things. By Iago saying that in his part of the scene it made the scene more exciting because it explained a little of a part why he has hatred, knowing that he works under the control of Othello he’s a person with the intentions of being a betrayal or outgoing person towards the situations that occur farther in the book. In the performance I gave the audience a hint that it was a good and important part of the scene by adjusting my voice to a different and much lower tone of voice, I had a weapon in my hand, and the way I was pasting back and forth could tell that Iago (me) either had a thought or concern of Othello for woman and his cares. When I delivered this quote it made me think to myself about how performing the scene made me get a better understanding of why Iago hated the moor, then when I was individually reading the book or listening to the audio.  


My groups performance went as expected because we put a lot of free time during school and english class into our scenes. Now that it is over I am proud that I know how to act better to let the audience realize who the character is talking to. If we did the performance over again I would try tom memorize my lines by heart, so I wouldn’t have to read off a paper and it could seem more creative.


Performing the play live in front of a audience changed my understanding of the book because it became more easier to view as a reader. By me and my group coming together and rehearsing our parts it gave me the idea that the story helped me learn more and become more interesting about what was going on.

Hiller, Othello Journal

Journal #1

I do beseech you,

Though I perchance am vicious in my guess,

As, I confess, it is my nature’s plague

To spy into abuses, and oft my jealousy

Shapes faults that are not, that your wisdom,

From one that so imperfectly conceits,

Would take no notice, nor build yourself a trouble

Out of his scattering and unsure observance.

It were not for your quiet nor your good,

Nor for my manhood, honesty, and wisdom

To let you know my thoughts.

 

In this quote, Iago is saying that it seems that Iago is indirectly telling Othello not to listen to him.

“I do beseech you,

Though I perchance am vicious in my guess,”

Though this is just apart of his plan, by telling Othello not to listen to him, this is going to subconsciously going to make Othello want to listen to him more. With Othello weakness, believing that most men are wise, especially Iago, this just makes more vulnerable in Othello's beliefs and confidence. This goes back to the plan that Iago has in stored by Iago maintaining his "innocence" and "trust" whatever Iago says such as:

Nor for my manhood, honesty, and wisdom

To let you know my thoughts.

Othello will support it and stand behind it 100%. Through this paragraph, Iago continues to test how far he can push Othello to believe him and how long he will continue to believe in his lies. This is paragraph, this makes Iago smarter, more cleaver, and even more powerful than Othello because it shows how much control he is able to maintain on him throughout the story. 

Journal #2

In Act 5 Scene 2, Emilia discovers that Iago set up everyone in the play. After her lady, Desdemona is killed but Othello, she realizes that she was unknowing, apart of Iago's plan.

As for her first hand observation, Emilia is seen as a woman who caters to her lady and seems to be a loyal servant to Desdemona. She is a considerate wife to Iago and doesn't show a sign of dishonesty nor dishonor towards Iago. She seems to be just an ordinary servant and loyal wife. 

Through second observation, Iago deceives everyone in the story by taking advantage of his known honesty and the trust they put in him. Iago deceived his wife by putting her in on the plot without her unknowingly helping her husband, to get Desdemona murdered. It began with the handkerchief, when she gave it to Iago, in order to set Desdemona up as if she was cheating on Othello, which made her look like a bad guy. Giving the impression that Iago that set up his wife.

As the story goes on, we begin to understand that Emilia's intention weren't as we suspected. They were the totally opposite. All Emilia was as loyal as she can be and she had a lot of love towards Desdemona, in a way that she didn't mind working for her and Desdemona treated her like a person and not so much a servant, which she loved about her. But in the particularly sense we see that she went against her husband, when she had the chance to stand by him, she instead remained loyal to her lady and sacrificed dieing by her side. In many ways her character is a lot like Desdemona's.

 

Journal #3

When Othello was growing up, he was the type of person that didn't have very much and wasn't acknowledged for his well beings because he grew up in the slave type environment. Though he may not have had the silver spoon lifestyle, Othello managed to maintain a leader like mind-set. This came from seeing how the men lived their lives. Meaning, since he grew up a slave environment, he learned how to become a leader from the male slave owner, sense men were known for being slave owners, unlike women. He saw how much power and control men were able to have over people and he admired this. He saw them as honest, true and dominant amongst the people. This is where, honest, true and dominant, which motivated him into becoming the general of the army and he can now dominate over those who once dominated him. 

 

Journal #4           

In my performance for Othello, the kind of tone of voice that I'm going to bring to my performance is going to be an intense voice because my scene is a scene where Othello has to kill Desdemona. One of the most important actions I have to do is strangle Desdemona. In this scene I have to have self- control and I have to bring intensity to the table. 

I'm not bringing a prop and/ or no specific costume.

One of the things that should make my scene stand out is the fact that I have a killing scene and this isn't just a quick stab or gun shot, but I have to strangle somebody and when you kill somebody with you bare hands, this is something that takes a lot of will power and a lot a strength (in reality). I was told that in order for my scene to stand out I had to maintain a

serious face, gesture and actions. With these tips, I think I can do okay with my part.

 

Journal #5

Yet I shall not shed her blood, nor scar that whiter skin of hers than snow, and smooth as monumental alabaster. Yet she must die, else she’ll betray more men. Put out the light, and then put out the light.

This quote held a very valuable moment in the whole story because this is the scene where Othello is having a really deep debate with himself about wheatear or not he should kill Desdemona or not. This line separates the difference between Desdemona’s life and how the rest of the story will end. Through the decision of Othello choosing to kill Desdemona he, subconsciously, killed everyone else around him and involved in the lie that Iago told and Othello chose to believe. Throughout the whole play and story, this line was the most and important and was the key to everything. This sense proved that Iago had won and gained power over everyone.

During this line I thought that I delivered it the way Othello would have, with much uncertainty but understanding that this is the way it must end.

Over all I think that my group did a really good job, given the fact that we had such a powerful scene, which meant that we had to really give it our all and that we had to show that we can do our part the way it was meant to be portrayed. I think we delivered the best we could and I am proud of what we did, though I do think that if this part was memorized it would have been an even better piece of work because since this was such an intense sense, intensity can be really seen and deliver through eye contact, which would have really gave the audience something amazing. But even though that wasn’t portrayed, our tone of voice was set even on each scene that needed a specific voice and I thought that we did a pretty good job on the strangulation scene.

After doing this, it made me understand that Othello was tied between two decisions and two separate words, his wife against a man he put so much trust into. I understand that this wasn’t just a choice that could have been made up in seconds, but a choice that took time to understand and a very difficult decision. It made me see that Othello loved Desdemona as much as she loved him and him doing this made him have a constant battle with himself and his inner self. I’m glad I got to play the ending of Othello as Othello because thins made me get a clear and deep understanding of love and war that people will do to break others apart from each other and themselves. 

Petty Othello Journals

#1

"Here, stand behind this bulk, straight will he come.

Wear thy good rapier bare, and put it home.

Quick, quick! Fear nothing. I’ll be at thy elbow.

It makes us, or it mars us. Think on that,

And fix most firm thy resolution."

~Iago

 

In this part by Iago he seems to speak in a load tone. He speaks to Rodrigo about Desdemona. He does not speak in this way because he is angry. He dose this to make his point. He says "Quick, quick!" He was tell Rodrigo to move quickly. He is not angry his just wants to make points. Iago does this many times in this book. When Iago dose get mad in this book he dose not yell, he keeps calm and says mean things. Nothing more, he will yell to make a point but never when being mad or upset. He also tends to yell when things don't go his way.


#2

Emila Act 4 Sc 2 pg: 199-203


- Though out the whole book Othello, Emilia she has been caught in the middle of other peoples problems. Expect the time she gave Desdemona's handkerchief to Iago. But other that she is always around when Desdemona and Othello are having some kind of argument. She is just standing there while they go back and forth. 

-She finds out in the end why Iago wanted a belonging of Desdemona so bad. He wanted to frame her and Cassio, to make it seem as if they are in some find of romantic relationship. She knew what he needed but did not know what for. She just later found out what her deed, had been for.

Emilia Act 3 Sc 1 pg:113-114

  • You can also tell from this scene that Emila is a tad bit of a kiss up. I know that it is her job with Desdemona, and partly Othello, but she does the same to Iago and Cassio. Yes, Iago is her husband but she does everything he wants, without question. Emilia just handed over Desdemona’s handkerchief, and she had no idea what it was for. I some way I think she knew what was going on, but she just did what everyone told her to do, until the end of 
    the book.

  


#3

Iago was born into a high up family, his father was a general, and provided his family’s every need. Iago and his sister grew up having all the best toys and had the best holidays. When Iago got older he knew that he wanted to provide like his father did with his family, that’s is when he decided he wanted to become a general like his father. He told his father we wanted no more thing handed to him, that he would no earn for him self. He made good money do whatever he could. Until he meet a women named Emilia, she had big blue eye’s that put the sea to shame. He knew he would marry this women have a family and provide for them. He asked her to marry him and she did. She told him he was to become a general after they where married. She told him the next person in line after his father dies is a man named Othello. Iago had got so upset he swore his revenge on Othello.


#4

In my scene I play Iago with one other person who plays Othello. There is not much going on in the scene. This is the scene where Iago puts his plan into action by tell Othello the whereabouts of his wife’s handkerchief. So the most we can do is put a lot movement in it. As much as we can with out over doing it. Like hand motions and walkabouts. Things of that sort.

For Peter who plays Othello, he will turn his hoodie into a cloak. He will be stand as he starts off. I who plays Iago, on the other hand will be siting with a cup in my hand, seeming not to give a care in the world. 

I am not sure that our scene will stand out the most but we will try. Put the thing we will try is to put a lot of drama in the scene, faces and things like that.


#5         

“He is dead by your tis done by your request, but let her live”

Iago

-This is that line that makes Iago seem as if he care what happens to Desdemona. The way I said this was with much concern. As if I really cared what happens to her, or let alone any one it this play. I am tried to play this character as self absorbed as I can, because that is what he is.

- I think that my groups performance turned out pretty well. The other person in my group was Peter Ricker and is not really an outspoken person, so I was unsure how he would deliver his lines. Of course you practicing is always different than how it actually turns out. But I think it came out fairly well.

-To me it really did not change my understanding at all. When reading the book Othello I pretty much understood it, and if I did not get it the class discussion helped me understand. They thing that my scene did help me do was look at the book differently. I saw Othello as a slow book that at some active scene, but the class presenting a scene made me look at them differently. Any part in Othello can be put in to something really dramatized when you add actions. 

Ziheng Liu's Journals

Journal #1 4/23

(At the beginning of this part of soliloquy, Iago talks to Othello with slow speed and loyal tone. While he is talking, he puts his hand on his breast to show how loyal he is and all the stuff that he says is from his heart.)

That Cassio loves her, I do well believe ’t.

That she loves him, ’tis apt and of great credit.


(Iago talks to Roderigo with slow and deep voice in order to show how smart he is and how correct he is. Iago wants to persuade Roderigo to support his plan. While he is talking, he puts his right hand on Roderigo’s right shoulder in order to indicate the deep friendship between him and Roderigo.)

The Moor, howbeit that I endure him not,

Is of a constant, loving, noble nature,


(Iago talks to himself with evil and vicious tone, and he smiles a little bit, when he talks. He touches his own face during his talking, so that we all can know how evil and horrible he is.)

And I dare think he’ll prove to Desdemona

A most dear husband. Now, I do love her too,

Not out of absolute lust—though peradventure

I stand accountant for as great a sin—

But partly led to diet my revenge,


(Iago talks to his wife, Emilia, with angry and excited voice, because he suspects that both Othello and Cassio have sex with her wife. He needs to show how deeply he hates Othello and Cassio and how jealous he is, and he wants to find a fantastic excuse for his evil plan.)

For that I do suspect the lusty Moor

Hath leaped into my seat. The thought whereof

Doth, like a poisonous mineral, gnaw my inwards,

And nothing can or shall content my soul

Till I am evened with him, wife for wife.

Or, failing so, yet that I put the Moor

At least into a jealousy so strong

That judgment cannot cure. Which thing to do,

If this poor trash of Venice, whom I trace

For his quick hunting, stand the putting on,

I’ll have our Michael Cassio on the hip,

Abuse him to the Moor in the right garb

(For I fear Cassio with my night-cape too)

Make the Moor thank me, love me, and reward me

For making him egregiously an ass

And practicing upon his peace and quiet

Even to madness. 'Tis here, but yet confused.

Knavery’s plain face is never seen till used.


Journal #2 4/24

I choose Roderigo to investigate. In the Act II, Scene I, Roderigo thinks that Desdemona doesn’t fall in love with Cassio, and Desdemona is a noble and pure lady. Iago tells him that Desdemona does fall in love with Cassio. Othello is too old for Desdemona, and Desdemona does need a handsome and young man instead of Othello. Iago tells this to Roderigo in order to persuade Roderigo to help him with his plan. We know that Roderigo loves Desdemona, and his motivation is his love to Desdemona. The words that Iago tells Roderigo affects Roderigo a lot. He trusts Iago and believes that Desdemona falls in love with Cassio. Therefore, Roderigo hates Cassio and it is easier for him to kill Cassio. In the Act IV, Scene II, Roderigo thinks that Iago cheats him and doesn’t help him get Desdemona. Iago tells Roderigo that he does help him and Othello and Desdemona will leave. He tries to persuade Roderigo to kill Cassio and tells him that this is the only way to make Desdemona remain, and Cassio believes Iago again. Roderigo’s motivation is also his love to Desdemona, and he wants Desdemona to remain, so he agrees Iago to kill Cassio.


Journal #3 4/25

Roderigo is a Venetian gentleman. He meets Desdemona once, and he falls in love with her. He is attracted by her beautiful appearance and noble temperament, and he really wants to get her. He is a person who is easy to believe in others. He trusts Iago and gives him a lot of jewelry and money in order to let Iago persuade Desdemona to love him. He wants to have sex with Desdemona, but he doesn’t reach his goal yet. Therefore, he is suspicious about Iago, and he asks Iago whether Iago has already told Desdemona about his plan or not. Iago cheats him again, and he trusts Iago again. He wants to have sex with Desdemona as soon as possible, and the only person who can help him with his plan is Iago who is good at cheating. His impatience makes his judgement gone, and Iago’s skills of cheating also makes him in a mess. He is a mediocre gentleman, and he doesn’t have the alert to others. It is impossible for him to identify Iago’s evilness immediately because of his mediocrity.


Journal #4 4/29

At the beginning of the scene, Roderigo is very angry at Iago, because he suspects that Iago cheats him. I need to use the body language such as pointing my finger at Iago and speak aloud in order to show Roderigo’s anger. After Iago persuading Roderigo, Roderigo calms down. I need to use a smooth tone to talk to Iago in order to show the convert of Roderigo’s emotion. When Roderigo talks to Brabantio, he is scrupulous, because he regards Brabantio as a signior and respects him. I need to speak these lines slowly in order to show Roderigo’s respect to Brabantio. I want to gesticulate, when Roderigo promises Brabantio in order to show Roderigo’s certainty. The item that my character is going to have is a set of keys, because Roderigo is a gentleman and rich, and a set of keys can show his wealth. Also, I want to wear a scarf to show Roderigo’s noblility. Using real emotion to work on our presentation will make it stand out. As a performance, we can be a little exaggerated, and I think that will make our performance look better. All of us memorized our lines and practiced over and over again. We talked about when Iago should exit and Brabantio should enter the scene, we also talked about what kinds of tones should we use when we present. All of use agreed on these.


Journal #5 4/30

“If she be in her chamber or your house let loose on me the justice of the state for thus deluding you.”(Scene 1A) This line is said by Roderigo, and he is talking to Brabantio. He promises Brabantio that Desdemona, who is Brabantio’s daughter, is living with Othello, and they have already fallen in love. If he is lying, he will be damned and punished. This line is important, because it makes Brabantio trust Roderigo and confirm that he will go along with Roderigo in order to check whether her daughter falls in love with Othello or not. I emphasized this line and struck my crutch during the performance in order to show this line’s importance. The tone of this line is steady, because this is a promise.

Our performance went as we expected and planned, and I think we did a good job on it. I’m so proud of our properties, for example, we had a scarf, a set of keys, a crutch, and a light. I want to mention that the crutch is really important to our performance, because when I wanted to emphasize something, I just stuck my crutch, so that I could show the importance of this point. If I had an opportunity to do it again, I would speak my lines more loudly and clearly, and I would express more emotion just like the performance of Haji and Nikki. Performing our scene more exaggeratedly could make our performance look funnier and better.

I understood better about the the relationship of different characters by performing it. For example, I was really confused about the relationship between Iago, Roderigo, and Brabantio at first, but after the practice and performance, I knew that Brabantio knows that Iago is a bad guy, and that’s why Iago needs to hide when Brabantio appears. Roderigo respects Brabantio, because Brabantio is a signior. Also, I understood more about Roderigo. Roderigo is a Venetian gentleman, and he is polite and his brain is easy. That’s why he is cheated by Iago over and over again. He is a rich man, so he gives his money and jewelry to Iago in order to get Desdemona, and that’s why I needed a set of keys when I performed.

Journals for Othello

Journal #1


Act 3 Scene 3

Good my lord, pardon me,

Iago should bow down his head as to ask for something from Othello. This could not be interpreted as talking to the audience, because the dialogue is designed to address Othello.

Though I am bound to every act of duty

I am not bound to that all slaves are free to.

Iago should start speaking with a high defensive voice as a gesture of defending his thoughts so that he may speak further.


Utter my thoughts? Why, say they are vile and false,

Iago should raise his eyebrows and put up his hands in a questioning gesture to indicate to Othello, that he is asking a question.

 

As where’s that palace whereinto foul things

Sometimes intrude not? Who has that breast so pure

Wherein uncleanly apprehensions

Iago should point his finger at Othello so as to indicate that he is trying to make a point to Othello because Iago is trying to tell Othello something important.

Keep leets and law-days and in sessions sit

With meditations lawful?

This one should be directed to the audience where Iago should turn to the audience, face them and speak.


Journal #2

Roderigo is in love with Desdemona and will do anything to get her. he lusts after Desdemona and goes to sell his land to follow her. He ends up killing Cassio in a jealous rage when he thinks that Desdemona is cheating on Othello with Cassio. 

Rodrigo hears a lot from Iago, such as a lot of lies from Iago. He gets the idea to kill Cassio from Iago.

Rodrigos motivations are pretty clear. He is blindly in love with Desdemona and will do anything to get her and he ends up wounding Cassio in a jealous rage and gets killed at the hands of Iago after he wounded Cassio. 

Journal #3


Iago grew up in a lower middle class family. As a kid, he quickly figured out that he could use mental tricks to get his way. He did alright in school, he had a few friends who essentially followed him. He used lying and played mental tricks on other kids to get them to stop picking on him. When he got older, he joined the military as a soldier. He fought in many battles. He used his brain and tricks to slowly go up the chain of command to get to where he was at the beginning of Othello.


Journal #4


When I speak about Bianca, I should lower my voice when saying her name so as not to alert Othello that I am saying something different. It should be calm and not overanxious like I am expecting something.

I cannot really decide on a prop that Iago would have. I mean something like a knife or a weapon would make no sense. I'm guessing a cane might work. However I am not quite sure on this one. I cannot think of a prop that he would need. However for his costume I am thinking maybe a nice jacket would do because he is in the military.

I think that one thing that will make it stand out will be Bianca's monologue. If it is presented right will be entertaining.


Journal #5


“Now I will question Cassio of Bianca. It is a creature that dotes on Cassio.”

This quote is essentially describing part of Iago’s plan.

What this quote is, is that Iago has this plan to drive Othello nuts and he is going to use Bianca as a pawn to help make Cassio look more and more like he is the one whom Desdemona is cheating with. This line is important because Iago is explaining his plan and if he did not use this line to communicate with the audience, then we would not have a good idea of what is happening.


My groups performance did fine. I mean, it wasn’t a Tony award winning performance but it did well and it got the story through to the audience and everyone understood what was going on. I think that I was mostly proud of Reggie’s performance because he seemed to be the one person that was the most in character. I liked how Bianca’s monologue was done.


I have to say that doing the performance did not really change my understanding of it. I don’t actually get how acting it out would change my understanding of it. I understood the play of Othello and the meanings behind it. One of the meanings of them is sometimes if you talk things out openly you can solve so many problems. Any way, acting out the play did not really change my views on Othello.