OSCAR WILDE, part 3

 THE BALLAD of the READING GAOL, the poem

1. Watch the video on the ballad from an Italian program Cult Book. It's in Italian, but very interesting for the interpretation of the famous drama critic Masolino D'Amico

• Try to find the common points of the scenes in the video
• Would you consider this ballad a tribute against the death penalty?

We will discuss in class!

The following is a version of the Ballad according to Gavin Friday, released in 1989 and is the debut album after his exit from the Virgin Prunes : they made the history of rock!!!

I hope you remember that Oscar Wilde wrote the beautiful classic tale The Happy Prince.

Unfotunately it is so rare to see it on tv or to find it! But now you can enjoy listening to it, so sit down and relax!

Choose between one with captions and one without but read by the great Stephen Fry.

Anyway, here's the link to the whole text.....just in case!!!😉

We haven't talked about Wilde's plays.....fantastic! I will deal with them sooner or later with students!

But one thing is interesting to tell you: look up who Salomé was in history and what she is famous for.

Just to let you know more, Al Pacino made a movie on Wilde's Salomé, that is a play.

In the short video below, you will see Wilde's home in Dublin. 

Hope you can go there soon: if you do, don't miss it!

Hope you've enjoyed this post! 

If you feel like, leave your own comment!

Prof

OSCAR WILDE part 2

"THE PICTURE of DORIAN GRAY": the novel

Let's keep on with Wilde's famous work, The Picture of Dorian Gray.

You should have read this novel as a summer book, but....who knows! But  I'm sure you know there's a portait which has something to do with beauty and youth of the main character.

Now check the video "10 things you should know about The Picture of Dorian Gray"

As usual, take down the 10 notes to report to the class. Did you know any of them?

The following videos are three different trailer versions of the movie based on the novel:

• choose the one you like best giving reasons for your choice; I would appreciate if you campare  it to the novel (you are supposed you have read!)

• Be ready to report to the class

1945: adaptation : directed by Albert Lewin; screenplay by Albert Lewin

2004: adaptation by David Rosenbaum; screenplay by David Rosenbaum; starring Josh Duhmael as Dorian Gray

2009: adaptation directed by Oliver Parker; screenplay by Toby Finlay; starring Ben Barnes as Dorian Gray; Ben Chaplin as Basil Hallward; Colin Firth as Henry Wotton

Last but not least, here's the NOVEL, as an  e-text. Just in case......

If you want to know more than what you find in your text book Peformer Heritage 2,  pg 126, about the themes of  The Picture of Dorian Gray,  you can check Spark Notes

Moreover, I suggest and would like you to read this interesting article from The Guardian about Wilde's last work, De Profundis: in my opinion one of the greatest love letters ever written.

As usual, enjoy!