Description
Book SynopsisShakespeare''s three political tragediesHamlet, Macbeth, and King Learhave numerously been presented or adapted on film. These three plays all involve the recurring trope of madness, which, as constructed by Shakespeare, provided a wider canvas on which to detail those materials that could not be otherwise expressed: sexual desire and expectation, political unrest, and, ultimately, truth, as excavated by characters so afflicted. Music has long been associated with madness, and was often used as an audible symptom of a victim''s disassociation from their surroundings and societal rules, as well as their loss of self-control. In Shakespeare, Madness, and Music: Scoring Insanity in Cinematic Adaptations, Kendra Preston Leonard examines the use of music in Hamlet, Macbeth, and King Lear. Whether discussing contemporary source materials, such as songs, verses, or rhymes specified by Shakespeare in his plays, or music composed specifically for a film and original to the director''s or compo
Trade ReviewThe resource is easily accessible and allows the unique ability to be read as a complete text by casual readers or to be used as a reference work by scholars. Those interested in literature, music, or film could all benefit from this resource. Shakespeare, Madness and Music has a well-defined scope, is intelligently written, and provides numerous helpful indexes. * American Reference Books Annual *
Those with special interest in Kurosawa's film music should find the book a rare example catering to their tastes, and should want to pick up the volume. Similarly, I would definitely recommend the book to anyone interested in the subject of Shakespeare and cinema. * Akira Kurusawa Film Club Blog *
