Critical Essay - Stage 3.

     Are recreations of pieces of art, literature, and music ripping off originals or are they merely a homage? Before written history, clans and families would pass around stories by mouth. They became lore and were easily recited, albeit with details changed. When a written language was developed, these stories were translated and passed down again. Anyone who has studied language knows that in translating, especially from one language to another, meanings and contexts are often lost. Despite the changes, these stories were held in high regard. Recreations were often regarded as a nod to an original, a new way of looking at the original, interpreting it, and making it more interesting. However, copyright laws have developed and stifled the creativity of secondary artists, authors, and musicians. Several instances in history of art, literature, and music have suggested that remixing and recreating an original piece responds well to the situation and provides a creative outlet for authors. In other words, these secondary works often promote and give praise to the original.
     Many times in art history has a painting, carvings, or drawing been modified and remade. One of the most famous examples is the Last Supper painted by the great Leonardo da Vinci. This painting has been redone in recent years in numerous different instances. New paintings include replacing the Lord and the Apostles with aliens, IPods, Sesame Street characters, and Simpsons characters. The masterpiece has even been crafted into tattoos. Another example of paying homage to art is playing into a specific style of art. The most famous types of art are pointillism, expressionism, and pop art, just to name a few. Does the original author, the one who invented the style of art, have any claims? Is there a way to regulate who is allowed to publish art in that style? Andy Warhol is the most famous example of a pop art artist. His works includes pictures of Campbell Soup cans, electric chairs, and, most famously, Marilyn Monroe. This last work has been assimilated to other forms of modern culture, including a pair of sneakers made by Nike (1). Should these be considered a quality remake of the original or should Warhol, like all authors, be given all rights and the art not redistributed in any way?
     The argument becomes more severe and complex in literature. One of the strongest arguments lies with the most famous book in the world – the Bible. In ancient Catholic Church history, the Bible was translated in Latin only. In this way, the Church could interpret the Bible as it saw fit. Martin Luther believed the Bible should be in a person’s native tongue as to help them better understand their religion. The Church disagreed and excommunicated him. The beginning of the argument over remixing an original to better it or to leave the original piece had begun. When the Bible finally was translated, words became rearranged and new meanings took place. In more modern literature, the question is raised when unauthorized sequels are made. A sequel has been made for most popular novels, everything ranging from Gone with the Wind to The Wizard of Oz. These sequels are often unauthorized by the original author. However, if one critically analyzes these sequels, there is a distinct attempt by the secondary author to further the masterpiece of the original. Each author wants to see their favorite novel continue and will see it happen in the way they see fit. These sequels are often enjoyable and a refreshing change to modern literature studied in school situations. One famous example of reworking and integrating an original is The Canterbury Tales. Chaucer wrote this based on other important texts of his time, including the Decameron by Boccaccio (2). However, many literary pieces have since been written on The Canterbury Tales. The most famous adaptation comes from a novel most modern readers have read – Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows. J.K. Rowling used The Pardoner’s Tale as a basis for her Three Brother’s Tale (3). The Canterbury Tales has also been made into numerous theater adaptations, each one taking on its own interpretation of the literary masterpiece. Each work adds a little something different to Chaucer’s original and makes the audience reconsider how they read and interpreted the work.
     Yet another example of remixing an original to a better new piece is music. Bards were the original “songsters.” They told tales of history and poems of love. Commoners took these tales and changed them ever so slightly, until they came to the point where they barely were recognizable. In the same way, modern songsters have taken popular songs and remixed them. Cover bands and covers of popular songs are all over the radio airwaves and the internet site Youtube. Cover bands take an original song and sing it their way. Many try to emulate the original song. However, some can take a country song and transform it into a dance song. Some take hard rock and make it into a heart-wrenching love song. Are these a copyright violation or simply a means of giving a song more popularity and a wider range of audiences? Talent shows are forever popular for this. American Idol is one of the greatest examples. Contestants take an original work and sing it their way, on their terms. It is seen as a way to get music out in the public and get more recognition, not as a way of ripping off the original. One form, however, has come under much scrutiny. This would be the famous DJ Girl Talk. He takes popular songs, those of the current generation and mixes them with the songs of past generations. This may violate copyright laws, but it provides the artist a greater range of listeners and better publicity than normal radio airtime. The music is popular and consistently played. However, Girl Talk has faced threats of lawsuits. If someone actually listens to Girl Talk’s music, he has remixed an original so completely, it is almost unrecognizable. He can argue free use and would most likely win. He brings a refreshing change to modern music and generates a lot of publicity (4).
     As demonstrated, remixing, remaking, and redoing an original often has a positive effect – that being, a new, refreshing work. Art, literature, and music are made better with new ideas and thoughts. In terms of an audience, a modern student would most likely enjoy a stage adaptation of a play as opposed to reading the play itself, even if the play adaptation varies from the original. There is something to be said for reading, seeing, or hearing a great work of art and appreciating it. However, it should be recognized that not all adaptations are bad. Some enhance and further originals. They are often enjoyable and thought-provoking commentaries on the original.

(1). “Pop Art Sneakers.” Image. Trendhunter Magazine. October 16, 2009. March 17, 2010. < http://www.trendhunter.com/trends/nike-andy-warhol-and-marilyn-monroe.>

(2). Smith, Nicole. “Comparison of ‘The Decameron’ and ‘The Canterbury Tales’: Common Themes in Boccaccio and Chaucer.” Article Myriad. 2010. March 17, 2010. http://www.articlemyriad.com/decameron_canterbury.htm.

(3). Brian, Greg. “’The Pardoner’s Tale’ in Chaucer’s Canterbury Tales: Its Influence on J.K. Rowling and as a Complex Guide to Navigating Modern Times.” Associated Content. August 03, 2007. March 17, 2010. http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/336038/the_pardoners_tale_in_chaucers_canterbury.html?cat=38

(4). Masnick, Mike. “Why Hasn’t the Music Industry Sued Girl Talk?” TechDirt. July 08, 2009. March 17, 2010.

Critical Essay - Stage 2.

      Since before written history began, people have been passing down stories told to them by their ancestors. After a written language was developed, these stories were translated and passed down yet again. Although not until the past few centuries, people were fine with taking a story told to them and making it more interesting. However, copyright laws have developed and stifled the creativity of the secondary authors. Several instances in history of art, literature, and music have suggested that remixing and recreating an original piece responds well to the situation and provides a creative outlet for authors.
      In art, there have been many instances of remaking originals. Pre-manuscript paintings, carvings, and drawings are a good example. One of the most famous examples is the Last Supper painted by Leonardo da Vinci. This painting has been restructured to include aliens, IPods, Sesame Street characters, and Simpson characters. The masterpiece has even been crafted into tattoos. Another example of art remaking includes those who take a style of art invented by one person and play into it. There are many different styles of art, the most famous including pointillism, expressionism, and pop art. Does the original author have claims to that specific type? Is there a way to regulate this? Andy Warhol is the most famous modern example of pop art. His pictures of Marilyn Monroe, Campbell Soup cans, and electric chairs are famous in art museums and modern culture alike. His work has assimilated into all aspects of modern culture, including sneakers made by Nike (1). Should these be considered a quality remake of the original or should Warhol be given all rights and the art not redistributed in such a way?
      In literature, the argument gets more severe. One example begins with the Bible. In ancient Catholic Church history, the Bible was translated in Latin only. In this way, the Church could interpret the Bible as it saw fit. Martin Luther believed the Bible should be in a person’s native tongue as to help them better understand their religion. The Church disagreed and excommunicated him. The beginning of remixing an original to better it or to leave the original piece had begun. When the Bible finally was translated, words became rearranged and new meanings took place. In more modern literature, the question is raised when unauthorized sequels are made. A sequel has been made for most popular novels, everything ranging from Gone with the Wind to The Wizard of Oz. These sequels are often unauthorized by the original author. However, if one critically analyzes these sequels, there is a distinct attempt by the secondary author to further the masterpiece of the original. Each author wants to see their favorite novel continue and will see it happen in the way they see fit. These sequels are often enjoyable and a refreshing change to modern literature studied in school situations. One famous example of reworking and integrating an original is The Canterbury Tales. Chaucer wrote this based on other important texts of his time, including the Decameron by Boccaccio (2). However, many literary pieces have since been written on The Canterbury Tales. The most famous adaptation comes from a novel most modern readers have read – Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows. J.K. Rowling used The Pardoner’s Tale as a basis for her Three Brother’s Tale (3). The Canterbury Tales has also been made into numerous theater adaptations, each one taking on its own interpretation of the literary masterpiece. Each work adds a little something different to Chaucer’s original and makes the audience reconsider how they read and interpreted the work.
      Yet another example of remixing an original to a better new piece is music. Bards were the original “songsters.” They told tales of history and poems of love. Commoners took these tales and changed them ever so slightly, until they came to the point where they barely were recognizable. In the same way, modern songsters have taken popular songs and remixed them. Cover bands and covers of popular songs are all over the radio airwaves and the internet site Youtube. Cover bands take an original song and sing it their way. Many try to emulate the original song. However, some can take a country song and transform it into a dance song. Some take hard rock and make it into a heart-wrenching love song. Are these a copyright violation or simply a means of giving a song more popularity and a wider range of audiences? Talent shows are forever popular for this. American Idol is one of the greatest examples. Contestants take an original work and sing it their way, on their terms. It is seen as a way to get music out in the public and get more recognition, not as a way of ripping off the original. One form, however, has come under much scrutiny. This would be the famous DJ Girl Talk. He takes popular songs, those of the current generation and mixes them with the songs of past generations. This may violate copyright laws, but it provides the artist a greater range of listeners and better publicity than normal radio airtime. The music is popular and consistently played. However, Girl Talk has faced threats of lawsuits. If someone actually listens to Girl Talk’s music, he has remixed an original so completely, it is almost unrecognizable. He can argue free use and would most likely win. He brings a refreshing change to modern music and generates a lot of publicity (4).
      In short, remixing an original can produce a new and refreshing work. New ideas and thoughts are added into an artsy, literary, or musical masterpiece and the piece becomes better. It is more applicable to a modern audience. A modern audience would almost certainly enjoy a stage adaptation of a play as opposed to reading the play itself. There is something to be said for reading a great work of art and appreciating it. However, it must be recognized that adaptations are not all bad.

“Pop Art Sneakers.” Image. Trendhunter Magazine. October 16, 2009. March 17, 2010. < http://www.trendhunter.com/trends/nike-andy-warhol-and-marilyn-monroe.>

Smith, Nicole. “Comparison of ‘The Decameron’ and ‘The Canterbury Tales’: Common Themes in Boccaccio and Chaucer.” Article Myriad. 2010. March 17, 2010. http://www.articlemyriad.com/decameron_canterbury.htm.

Brian, Greg. “’The Pardoner’s Tale’ in Chaucer’s Canterbury Tales: Its Influence on J.K. Rowling and as a Complex Guide to Navigating Modern Times.” Associated Content. August 03, 2007. March 17, 2010. http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/336038/the_pardoners_tale_in_chaucers_canterbury.html?cat=38

Masnick, Mike. “Why Hasn’t the Music Industry Sued Girl Talk?” TechDirt. July 08, 2009. March 17, 2010.

Critical Essay - Stage 1.

Is there ever a time when remixing or reusing someone else's work is actually a better response to the rhetorical situation or a better use of creative energy than starting over from scratch and creating something totally new and original?

I. Thesis: Several instances in history of art, literature, and music have suggested that remixing and recreating an original piece responds well to the situation and provides a creative outlet for authors.
II. Art
      a. Pre-manuscript (printing)
            i. Carvings
            ii. Drawings
            iii. Paintings
      b. Middle Age-modern art
            i. Paintings
            ii. Sculpture
            iii. Remakes
      c. Art styles
            i. Expressionism, pointillism, etc.
            ii. Does the original artist have claims to that type of art?
            iii. Pop art – Andy Warhol and its use in modern media
III. Literature
      a. “Old” literature
            i. Revisions of the Bible
            ii. Circulations
            iii. Handwritten copies = changes
      b. Modern Literature
            i. Unauthorized sequels
            ii. “page to screen” adaptations
            iii. Visual art interpretations
            iv. translations
      c. The Canterbury Tales
            i. Original works
            ii. Theater adaptations
            iii. interpretations
IV. Music
      a. Old music
            i. Poems
            ii. History
            iii. Bards
      b. Cover songs
            i. Cover bands
            ii. Youtube
            iii. Talent shows (American Idol, etc.)
      c. Girl Talk
            i. Mix DJ
            ii. Lawsuits
            iii. Popularity of music
V. Conclusion

Holy Sonnet Presentation

Recasting The Canterbury Tales - Stage 4.

Reflection.

      My composition evolved greatly from draft to draft. I took into account my peer's suggestions, particularly on how to redo my video. Matias and Colin were instrumental in giving me advice in regards to how my video should work. They gave great ideas and input, particularly on how fast my video should scroll, what pictures to include, what to leave out, and the background music.
      My final draft is set up in such a way where a viewer sees the video first and then reads my essay. My essay follows a pattern that clearly explains to a reader the differences and similarities between Chaucer's character of the Clerk and my character of an average Georgia Tech student.
      In composing this essay, I learned that it is easier for a reader to read ideas in a way where you get one idea out (the analysis of Chaucer's character) and then switch to the other idea (my character) as opposed to flipping back and forth between Chaucer's character and my character in the same paragraph. Although this may not always be the case, such as in a research paper, it works for this paper and analysis.

Holy Sonnet Annotation

View more presentations from msingleton3.

Sorry it took me so long, I couldn't figure out how to upload a slideshow onto here.

Holy Sonnet Annotation - Stage 2.

Holy Sonnet XII.
Why are we by all creatures waited on ?
Why do the prodigal elements supply
Life and food to me, being more pure than I,
Simpler and further from corruption ?
Why brook'st thou, ignorant horse, subjection ?
Why dost thou, bull and boar, so sillily
Dissemble weakness, and by one man's stroke die,
Whose whole kind you might swallow and feed upon ?
Weaker I am, woe's me, and worse than you ;
You have not sinn'd, nor need be timorous.
But wonder at a greater, for to us
Created nature doth these things subdue ;
But their Creator, whom sin, nor nature tied,
For us, His creatures, and His foes, hath died.

Annotation 1:
Barnes, David. Holy Sonnet XII. By John Donne. Librivox. Audio download. Date uploaded: October 07, 2007. Date accessed: March 02, 2010. http://librivox.org/holy-sonnets-by-john-donne/.

This sound recording by David Barnes allows listeners to distinguish pauses and stops as John Donne intended them. It exemplifies the meter and the rhyme scheme. This is a credible source. It is not necessarily credible by literary scholars as it is simply a reading of Donne’s sonnet, but it does follow Donne’s structure of the poem, thereby instating its credibility. I plan to embed a Quicktime link in my annotation that a listener can pause and stop the recording at will.

Annotation 2:
Bromberg, Howard. “Holy Sonnets.” Masterplots II: Christian Literature. Pasadena, California: Salem Press Inc. 2008. Accessed online: March 02, 2010. http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=lfh&AN=MOL9830002025&site=lrc-live.

In this essay from Christian Literature, there is a shore, one line summary of the sonnet. I plan to place this annotation at the beginning of the sonnet to give the reader, whether they be well-versed in Donne’s poetry or a beginner, an aid to understanding the overall idea of Holy Sonnet XII. I plan on specifically using the line that states : “He [Donne] marvels that the Creator of all creatures died for humans, the most corrupt of his creations.”
As this is a journalistic effort and published in a noted literature compilation, it is a credible source and usable in this annotation.

Annotation 3:
Williamson, George. "Donne's Satirical Progresse of the Soule." ELH, Vol. 36, No. 1 (Mar., 1969), pp. 250-264 Published by: The Johns Hopkins University Press. http://www.jstor.org/stable/2872153

This source is an examination of Donne’s theme of original sin. It provides some background on his opinion. As Williamson has written multiples of books on Donne and done extensive research on the metaphysical poet, his work is considered credible. Adding to the notability of his work is the fact that it has been published by Johns Hopkins University. I plan on inserting this annotation to help the reader understand that this sonnet is not the first, nor is it the last, occurrence of Donne’s original sin theme.

Annotation 4:
Fenner, Arthur. "Donne's 'Holy Sonnet XII'." Explicator 40.4 (1982): 14-15. MLA International Bibliography. EBSCO. Web. 2 Mar. 2010.

This small essay written specifically on Holy Sonnet XII also goes in depth into explaining the main themes and ideas presented in the sonnet. Although Explicator is not the most reliable source, Fenner has written numerous other papers on literature and is considered to be a credible, noteworthy source.
I plan on placing this annotation at the end of the sonnet. It gives a chance to reread the sonnet and consider the ideas that Fenner puts forth, including the idea of the hierarchy of the people or animals mentioned in the sonnet.

Annotation 5:
Evans, Gillian R. "John Donne and the Augustinian Paradox of Sin." Review of English Studies: A Quarterly Journal of English Literature and the English Language 33.129 (1982): 1-22. MLA International Bibliography. EBSCO. Web. 2 Mar. 2010.

One of the major ideas presented in Holy Sonnet 12 is the paradox of sin and the idea of original sin. It is a recurring theme with Donne and is most certainly present in the sonnet I am annotating. I have decided to devote a page to the idea of original sin, John Donne’s assessment of it, and later scholars’ critique of Donne’s said assessment. The author is clearly reliable, having been published in the Quarterly Journal of English Literature and the English Language. This helps cement the ideas and attitudes she presents concerning Donne and original sin.

Annotation 6:
Augustinian Spirituality and the Holy Sonnets of John Donne
Patrick Grant
ELH, Vol. 38, No. 4 (Dec., 1971), pp. 542-561
Published by: The Johns Hopkins University Press
Stable URL: http://www.jstor.org/stable/2872265

Patrick Grant examines all of Donne’s sonnets, including Holy Sonnet XII, and makes commentary on each one. He chooses to show how the sonnets are interrelated and connecting in various ways. He focuses on how original sin started and how affects John Donne’s writing style. This differs a bit from my other sources because Grant connects the sonnets together and shows the recurring theme. Grant, like Williamson, is published by Johns Hopkins and is a credible source. His works are full of research notes and citations, providing a way to check his sources.

Annotation 7:
Renaker, David. "Do Donne's Holy Sonnets Tell a Story?" The Atheist Seventeenth Century Website. N.p., 2002-2004. Web. 4 Mar. 2010. .

Renaker examines all of Donne’s sonnets in an attempt to make sense of the “story” that the sonnets tell. He analyzes each sonnet in turn. This is especially helpful as Holy Sonnet 12 is not as widely analyzed as other sonnets. I plan on using the information in this annotation in conjunction with other resources on both original and Donne’s writing style. Renaker provides an extensive section on his notes and sources. He has also analyzed many Donne works and critiqued fellow researchers’ work.

Annotation 8:

http://www.poetrycast.net/Donne/?p=17
http://www.luminarium.org/sevenlit/donne/sonnet12.php
Margaret Edson, Wit: A Play. Faber & Faber. (1999) ISBN: 10-0571198775

In Margaret Edson’s play, the main character, an intense scholar of Donne, participates in a memorable scene in which she is taught that the spelling and punctuation of Donne’s poetry has significant meaning to how the poem in accepted. In relating to this, I have chosen to take two forms of Holy Sonnet XII, the version at the top of the post and another, and analyze how the two are different, yet similar as far as message goes. Margaret Edson is certainly a credible source. She gained her degree in Renaissance History from Smith College and her master’s in English Literature from Georgetown University. Although “Wit” was her first published work, she used her background in English literature and as a hospital worker to ensure her play was factually correct.

Annotation 9:
Grant, Patrick. "Donne, Pico, and Holy Sonnet XII". Humanities Association Review (1973): 39-42. MLA International Bibliography. Web. 4 March 2010.

I have cited Grant above and believe he is a thoroughly credible source on Holy Sonnet XII. For this reason, I am using his work again. This journal article goes through each line of Holy Sonnet XII, breaking it down so a reader can easily understand and analyze the poem. He cites connections throughout the poem and also shows how important Donne’s word choice is. I plan on using this as an annotation specifically on how Donne wrote this sonnet. He uses different language and a different writing style in his sonnets than he does in his other poetry.

Annotation 10:
Bellette, Anthony F. "Little Worlds Made Cunningly: Significant Form in Donne's 'Holy Sonnets' and 'Goodfriday, 1613'". Studies in Philology, Vol. 72, No. 3. University of North Carolina Press: 1975. 322-347.

Adding to the above annotation, I plan on using this source to further investigate and analyze how Donne used and manipulated the English language in his sonnets. He discusses the language, the structure of the sonnet itself and its form. Although these are not normally analyzed by other critics, it is especially important to understand these. Bellette is a scholar of philology, the study of linguistics and literary studies. Due to his background in this and the fact that the University of North Carolina published him, he is considered a credible and knowledgeable source.

Holy Sonnet Annotation - Stage 1.

Holy Sonnet XII.
Why are we by all creatures waited on ?
Why do the prodigal elements supply
Life and food to me, being more pure than I,
Simpler and further from corruption ?
Why brook'st thou, ignorant horse, subjection ?
Why dost thou, bull and boar, so sillily
Dissemble weakness, and by one man's stroke die,
Whose whole kind you might swallow and feed upon ?
Weaker I am, woe's me, and worse than you ;
You have not sinn'd, nor need be timorous.
But wonder at a greater, for to us
Created nature doth these things subdue ;
But their Creator, whom sin, nor nature tied,
For us, His creatures, and His foes, hath died.

Source 1:
David Barnes audio recording. Allows listener to distinguish pauses and stops as John Donne intended them. Exemplifies the meter and the rhyme scheme. Credibility – unsure. This is a recording that Barnes made to help listeners understand the sonnets written by Donne.

Source 2:
Christian Literature Essay. To be used to form a short, one line summary of the sonnet to aid readers. Specifically, the line : “He [Donne] marvels that the Creator of all creatures died for humans, the most corrupt of his creations.” Credibility –

Source 3:
Donne’s Satirical Progresse of the Soule. Examines Donne’s theme of original sin and provides some background on his opinion. Credibility – author is highly credible. Written many books on Donne. Published by Johns Hopkins University.

Source 4:
Donne’s ‘Holy Sonnet XII’. Examines the main themes and ideas presented in Holy Sonnet XII. Credibilty – unsure. Taken from Explicator.

Source 5:
John Donne and the Augustinian Paradox of Sin. Examines deeper the idea of original sin in Donne’s works. May be able to tie into Holy Sonnet 12? Credibility – credible. Published in English Literature journals.

MLA Citations for Sources:

Barnes, David. Holy Sonnet XII. By John Donne. Librivox. Audio download. Date uploaded: October 07, 2007. Date accessed: March 02, 2010. http://librivox.org/holy-sonnets-by-john-donne/.

Bromberg, Howard. “Holy Sonnets.” Masterplots II: Christian Literature. Pasadena, California: Salem Press Inc. 2008. Accessed online: March 02, 2010. http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=lfh&AN=MOL9830002025&site=lrc-live.

Williamson, George. "Donne's Satirical Progresse of the Soule." ELH, Vol. 36, No. 1 (Mar., 1969), pp. 250-264 Published by: The Johns Hopkins University Press. http://www.jstor.org/stable/2872153

Fenner, Arthur. "Donne's 'Holy Sonnet XII'." Explicator 40.4 (1982): 14-15. MLA International Bibliography. EBSCO. Web. 2 Mar. 2010.

Evans, Gillian R. "John Donne and the Augustinian Paradox of Sin." Review of English Studies: A Quarterly Journal of English Literature and the English Language 33.129 (1982): 1-22. MLA International Bibliography. EBSCO. Web. 2 Mar. 2010.

Recasting The Canterbury Tales - Stage 4.

      Recasting any work of literature as important as The Canterbury Tales is risky. You run the risk of changing the author’s original intention and message. But, that’s what parodies and satires do in general. In recasting The Canterbury Tales I would update the character of the Clerk. The Clerk is described as a quiet, wise man. He is a student at Oxford and currently lacking in a job. His education has taken most of his money, leaving him impoverished. He is educated, but has spent so much time in school that his chances of finding a job are slim. He tells a tale of a humble woman named Griselde who marries a rich, powerful Marquis in northern Italy. He cruelly tests her love and devotion to him by taking her children away from her and telling her they must be killed because of her birth into a low social status, all the while actually sending them to live with his sister. His final test to her is a counterfeit order that he may divorce Griselde and marry a woman of higher social status. She accepts this news quietly, not arguing his decision. The Marquis’ test is complete when he writes to Griselde and asks her to help him plan his wedding to his new wife, which she patiently and readily agrees to. She asks that he not treat or trick his new young wife, but says this in a kind tone. The Marquis responds by telling her that she has always been his wife and the new young bride is actually her daughter. Griselde gathers the children in her arms tightly and is brought to live at the palace. She is given fine clothes and endures a happy peaceful marriage for the rest of her life.
     The Clerk’s moral to this story does not have anything to do with Griselde’s humility. He does not believe there there is a woman able to follow in Griselde’s example – a woman that humble is impossible to find. Rather he encourages people to remain constant in adversity and accept whatever God sends their way. The tale ends with a warning note to husbands –do not attempt to test your wife’s patience and humility. The husband will lose every single time. Women are advised not to hold their tongues through all adversity, but to take governance for themselves.
     In recasting this tale, I would choose to update the Clerk from a medieval student at Oxford to a modern-day student here at Georgia Tech. I have heard many a student remark that “Georgia Tech sucks the money and life right out of you.” Most students here are quiet and must be wise in order to get through Georgia Tech without failing (too much…). So many students are involved in their education here that we do have job prospects coming out, but most choose to stay in school. These various reasons include grad school, research, and a general feeling of loss without having a legitimate reason to complain all the time due to the insane amounts of work and tests expected of every student. The student would appear as a normal student around school – male, a bit on the gawky side, tall, pale, with glasses. He would carry a book bag full of books and his computer at all times. At any point in time, you can borrow a calculator, engineer’s paper, a scale, or a compass for him. If necessary, highlighters, pens, and pencils are available from his pocket protector. His clothes are worn and threadbare, as most college students do not have the extra money necessary to continually buy new clothes. Rather, this college student chooses to spend his money on books for school. These books surround him, helping and guiding him to a better education and, hopefully, one day, a better life.
     If that student were to retell the tale of Griselde and the Marquis, he would tell it much the same way, but change a few things. He would update the setting from medieval Saluzzo, Italy to modern day United States. The Marquis would be represented by Donald Trump and Griselde would be represented by an average American girl. She would have the children and he would insist they be sent to boarding school, instead of dying, because his high society doesn’t approve. Instead of submitting to his tests, the wife would choose divorce in an effort to live her life her own way. The moral would reflect today’s societal views on cruel treatment, like the way the Marquis treated Griselde. In today’s society, women do not necessarily stand for such treatment and choose to rather focus on their own lives and the lives of their children if necessary.

     Citations:

     Hooper, W.D. “The Clerk.” Photo of woodcut. The Geoffrey Chaucer Page. November 28, 2000. February 16, 2010.
     “Italy.” Cartoon image. Enchanted Learning. 2009. February 16, 2010. <>
     “Woman Milking Cow.” Cartoon image. Medieval Women. 2010. February 16, 2010. <>
     “Marquis.” Manuscript on vellum. Medieval Studies Course Union: Florilegium. February 25, 2008. February 16, 2010. <>
     "Baby Boy Blocks." Image of napkin. Your Complete Part. 2010. February 16, 2010.
     "Divorce Decree." Photo. Cafe Darkness. June 25, 2009. February 16, 2010.
     "Medieval Marriage." Image of painting. Harvard Law School. February 20, 2008. February 16, 2010.
     "Happy Ever After." Cartoon. Dreamstime. 2010. February 16, 2010.
     "Praying Hands." Cartoon. Royal City Church. 2009. February 16, 2010.
     "Purple America." Cartoon. Princeton. 2008. February 16, 2010.
     "Donald Trump." Photo. ENTMoney.com. January 4, 2010. February 16, 2010.
     "Baby Girl." Photo. My Random Thoughts. July 2, 2008. February 16, 2010.
     "Baby Boy." A Brooklyn Life. April 3, 2008. February 16, 2010.
     "Boarding School." Tonbridge School. February 16, 2010.
     "Divorce Papers." Hubpages. 2010. February 16, 2010.

Resetting The Canterbury Tales - Stage 5.

As I rewrote my final draft I looked at the ideas I put in my first draft and looked at the ideas laid out by other in my peer review comments and attempted to incorporate all of those into one cumulative piece. Reesha and Jeanne had really good thoughts about how my essay should be laid out and what would be better to help my reader’s fully understand where I was going with the resetting of The Canterbury Tales to the Kessler Campanile on Tech’s campus. When I attempted the audio clip, they were constructive in their ideas that maybe the sounds I collected from Einstein Bro.’s Bagel Shop weren’t particularly in tune with the idea I had for the Campanile. As this was assigned in winter and I wasn’t able to capture the multitude of students usually surrounding the Campanile, I had to find another sound that would work well. They were very helpful in suggesting songs to use, rather than trying to piece together the sounds of students talking and gathering. My final draft attempts to explain what I saw in the Campanile and how it related Chaucer’s setting of the public house in his work. It worked well for me to take as many words needed to fully explain my ideas rather than trying to compact into 500 words exactly. I know that at times I will have to limit myself in the amount of words I compose, but having the liberty to write what I willed, I was able to get all of my ideas out.

Recasting The Canterbury Tales - Stage 2.

Recasting the Canterbury Tales - Stage 1.

Recasting any work of literature as important as The Canterbury Tales is risky. You run the risk of changing the author’s original intention and message. But, that’s what parodies and satires do in general. In recasting The Canterbury Tales I would update the character of the Clerk. The Clerk is described as a quiet, wise man. He is a student at Oxford and currently lacking in a job. His education has taken most of his money, leaving him impoverished. He is educated, but has spent so much time in school that his chances of finding a job are slim. He tells a tale of a humble, gentle woman named Griselde who marries a rich, powerful Marquis in northern Italy. He cruelly tests her love and devotion to him by taking her children away from her and telling her they must be killed because of her birth into a low social status, all the while actually sending them to live with his sister. His final test to her is a counterfeit papal order that he may divorce Griselde and marry a woman of higher social status. She accepts this news quietly and humbly, not arguing his decision. The Marquis’ test is complete when he writes to Griselde and asks her to help him plan his wedding to his new wife, which she patiently and readily agrees to. She asks that he not treat or trick his new young wife, but says this in a kind tone. The Marquis responds by telling her that she has always been his wife and the new young bride is actually her daughter. Griselde gathers the children in her arms tightly and is brought to live at the palace. She is given fine clothes and endures a happy peaceful marriage for the rest of her life.
The Clerk’s moral to this story does not have anything to do with Griselde’s humility. He does not believe there there is a woman able to follow in Griselde’s example – a woman that humble is impossible to find. Rather he encourages people to remain constant in adversity and accept whatever God sends their way. The tale ends with a warning note to husbands –do not attempt to test your wife’s patience and humility. The husband will lose every single time. Women are advised not to hold their tongues through all adversity, but to take governance for themselves.
In recasting this tale, I would choose to update the Clerk from a medieval student at Oxford to a modern-day student here at Georgia Tech. I have heard many a student remark that “Georgia Tech sucks the money and life right out of you.” Most students here are quiet and must be wise in order to get through Georgia Tech without failing (too much…). So many students are involved in their education here that we do have job prospects coming out, but most choose to stay in school. These various reasons include grad school, research, and a general feeling of loss without having a legitimate reason to complain all the time due to the insane amounts of work and tests expected of every student. If that student were to retell the tale of Griselde and the Marquis, they would tell it much the same way, but change the moral. They would encourage women to be humble and submit to them. Although, if this student were the average Georgia Tech student, they wouldn’t necessarily have an idea of how a woman would react to that to begin with…

Stage 4.

When we were assigned to reset Geoffrey Chaucer’s The Canterbury Tales, I immediately began to think of places on campus that seemed to fit the general idea of a public house and tavern. Coffee shops like Starbucks, Jazzman’s, and Einstein Bros. came to mind first since most college students do not congregate in bars, the literal modern setting of Chaucer’s public house. Specific to Georgia Tech, students tend to congregate more in an outdoor setting – the Kessler Campanile on Skiles Walkway. This common meeting place has almost all the qualities of Chaucer’s original setting.
Chaucer chose his tavern very carefully. In the times in which he was writing The Canterbury Tales the citizens of England were experiencing deep schisms between social classes. The First Estate consisted of the clergy, the higher ups in society and power. The Second Estate consisted of the nobility and the knights. The Third Estate consisted of everyone else. Even in these Estates, there were deeper schisms. Women were always considered socially inferior and inept, despite how much money and land she may have. Anyone who made their fortune through work was looked down upon by those who came by their money the “old way” – family riches. Chaucer threw these social stereotypes away in his setting. The tavern was a place where all these people could meet with those of other societal status. The tavern was not Chaucer’s only commentary on social classes mingling – he set the tavern outside of London itself. Outside of London, the laws and regulations do not apply and no person is more important than another.
Here at Tech, I chose the Kessler Campanile because it holds many of the same values that Chaucer incorporated into his setting. At the Campanile, on days with nice weather, students gather because the multitude of seating and open space provides an ideal place to hold study sessions and group meetings. At this place, social class and other defining features do not matter. Indians mingle with the French and Americans talk with the Spanish. There are some people who have more money than necessary and some here who are taking every bit of financial aid they can. Our society is defined a bit differently today as compared to the time of Geoffrey Chaucer, but there are still some similarities.
The audio track I chose is by a band called Kings of Leon. The song is titled “My Party.” The opening lines of the song describe people on a journey, which I thought fit considering that is the idea behind The Canterbury Tales. The song contains a line that says “We wipe away frowns in the most crowded place,” which I believe fit the idea of people sitting around telling tales. Chaucer made his tales purposely humorous and full of satire to make people laugh. The crowded place obviously refers to a place like a tavern or a public house.
Geoffrey Chaucer set The Canterbury Tales in a public house in England. This setting brought together various social classes in a setting that was neutral to all. I chose to reset The Canterbury Tales to Kessler Campanile on Georgia Tech’s campus. This is a common meeting ground for many diverse students. It is a place with wide, open places to sit and hold conversations.

Stage 3.

Geoffrey Chaucer set The Canterbury Tales in a public house in England. This setting brought together various social classes in a setting that was neutral to all. I chose to reset The Canterbury Tales to Kessler Campanile on Georgia Tech’s campus. This is a common meeting ground for many diverse students. It is a place with wide, open places to sit and hold conversations.
• Analysis of the setting of the Canterbury Tales
• Analysis of the setting of the Campanile
• Analysis of the characters in the Canterbury Tales intro
• Analysis of the general people in the Campanile
• Conclusion.

I'll end up adding more details and such, but I figured this would suffice for a rough draft. I'll probably end up posting a more in-depth post later.

The sound clip was gathered in Einstein Bros. Bagel Restaurant. The weather has been really cold lately and as a result, not many students have taken to gathering around the Campanile. As this is located close to the location I originally picked and is another gathering place for diverse students, I thought that the ambient noise in the cafe would suffice.