Playing with styles is fun. This is like the fourth one I've tried, and I think I've settled down. Now am anticipating my paid journal time so I can do some in depth tweaking, and
Mandy has said she'll create a style for me if I'd like. =)
I shall now share some non-OotP tidbits about my past few days.
I've got a job! Finally! I'm working at a gas station. It's for the prestige, you understand. Fuck it, at least it's a job and there's money involved.
Also got the last few items for my Amazon order.
* Two
Hamlet items. I got Kenneth's
Hamlet - it obviously used to be a rental 'cos it came in the rental box, but for five bucks, who's complaining? Hint: Not me. It doesn't need to be pretty, it just needs to function so it can tide me over til the DVD. The other item was the actual play. Sure, I got Kenneth's screenplay, but that doesn't cut it. Besides, I purchased a very specific edition. Yes, I have a preferred edition of
Hamlet. Get the pointing and laughing out of your system now, okay?
Okay. The reasons why I like this one: First, the editor, John F Andrews, is great. The notes are clear as a bell and take up a full page; the play is on the right side and the notes on the left, so there's space for the notes to be really in depth. It could not possib;y be easier to read the play. Also, he's used the Second Quarto's text; most editors use the First Folio (there's a difference, it's complicated) and Andrews notes when the Quarto differs from the Folio and tells what the Folio says. In case you're still with me (and if you are reply to this entry with the word potato embedded somewhere in your message): It's the Second Quarto because the First Quarto sucks hard and is referred to as the "Bad Quarto." From what I've read, the best guess is that it was put together from the memory of an actor, possibly Marcellus's (I think), and what actor memorizes the entire script? It's really, really, laughably wrong. What I'm not clear on is what exactly the difference is between a quarto and a folio; I totally tuned out whenever that came up in English class. It doesn't matter, no one's reading this paragraph anymore anyway. Potato.
The second reason I like it is the introduction by Derek Jacobi, who is one of the great Hamlets of the century, and also played Claudius in Kenneth's
Hamlet. I love Jacobi and I love his Claudius and I
really love the things he says in his introduction. He says he sees the "to be or not to be" bit not as a soliloquy to an empty stage, but as a speech to Ophelia, which for me made it so much more understandable and relatable. I give a crap about Hamlet complaining to himself yet again, but the idea that what he is saying he is saying to Ophelia - essentially baring his soul to her - makes it much more meaningful. For me, anyway. Your mileage may vary.
Okay, Philistines, you can start reading again. ;)
* Also got
Substitute 2: School's Out. Which completes my set, and yes, that subtitle does indeed mean that they blew their music budget on the Alice Cooper(?) song. Which in turn means that it feels like the entire rest of the soundtrack consists of generic hiphop. The movie itself was surprisingly good, although I'm sure the fact that three and four lowered my standards so much only worked in its favour. Plus, Treat was a joy to watch. He obviously likes playing Karl.
That's about it; must continue work on my flash fic. Won't you be glad when I post the thing tomorrow and stop talking about it? ;)
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