I couldn't find a trailer of Gillian Anderson's performance of Nora, but here are two images -- and a link to an article by A.S. Byatt about her response to the play and its protagonist over the years:
http://www.theguardian.com/stage/2009/may/02/ibsen-a-dolls-house Ms. Byatt also provides important context to the play.
http://www.theguardian.com/stage/2009/may/02/ibsen-a-dolls-house Ms. Byatt also provides important context to the play.
Good evening :)
It was wonderful to meet everyone this evening, and I'm glad that we were able to watch *and* discuss the beginning of A Doll House.
For next week, please read chapters 21, 22, and 23 in our book (excluding Trifles) and A Doll House. We will meet on the first floor of Macklin outside the library doors in order to attend Ms. Niyati Pandya's presentation on researching on literary topics. I will be posting the library tutorials for the class at MyMC. We should be returning to our classroom in SB between 7:30 and 8 pm. There we will finish up our discussion of A Doll House, watching some later scenes.
Here are a few questions for your journal. You may end up writing your paper on one of these topics!
- What did today's scenes add to your understanding of A Doll House? performance? theater?
-- How did today's scenes complicate your understanding of A Doll House? Nora? the characters' relationships? the actors' performances?
-- Discuss A Doll House as a film. How do the extra scenes (the opening credits, the scenes outside of the house, especially Krogstad's scene with his sons) add to your understanding of the play?
-- We've been focusing on characters' psychology and actors' performances. How do other elements (set design, camera angles, composition of shots, sound, costumes) add to your understanding of the play?
-- If you've had a chance to read the play in our anthology or online, how do the stage directions add to your understanding of the play? How do they limit it? Does the film ignore any of the playwright's guidelines?
-- What do you make of the coincidence that Mrs. Linde and Krogstad used to know each other? Why?
-- What do you make of the way that Ibsen introduces his characters and their stories? why?
-- Try out this website: http://www.pbs.org/manorhouse
The men below from 1905 are wearing "informal beachwear."
What would your life have been like in 1905? How does this knowledge help you understand A Doll House a little better? Why?
Watch some of the following performances of A Doll House. What seems to be the underlying emotion that grounds the actors' performances? How do they compare to Claire Bloom, Anthony Hopkins, et al's performances?
We'll start with Jane Fonda's, also from 1973. Mrs. Linde is played by French actor Delphine Seyrig.
We'll start with Jane Fonda's, also from 1973. Mrs. Linde is played by French actor Delphine Seyrig.
Here are even more recent trailers from various productions, some modern dress. (The one depicted above is from a Chicago production.)
-- Discussing one or two of these videos, compare the film and stage versions. What seems to be the significant differences?
-- Compare the newer versions with the 1973 versions. What do we seem to see in A Doll House, Nora, and Torvald now?
-- Many have used feminist thought and theory to discuss A Doll House. Is the play a feminist play? Why? Why not?
-- Discuss Nora and Torvald's marriage further. How do the videos from other productions and your reading of Ibsen's play help you to understand their marriage more fully?
-- Do you sympathize with Nora? with Torvald? why? why not?
I'm looking forward to seeing you next week and hearing more of your thoughts on A Doll House!
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