"Le Cid" Presentation Response
Firstly, thank you for sharing your presentation, Rebecca. The use of supplementary images and slides were a wonderful addition, and I see how it really helps to keep the presentation focused in a way I did not achieve with my own presentation. At times, the slides were cut off by the embedded video, but it was of no consequence to the understanding of the slide and added far more to the presentation than it took away.
I did not realize there were any modern adaptations of Le Cid, (and with Charlton Heston no less!) so I will be sure to check those out, and I thank you for your suggestion to listen to the play; I will be sure to do so.
Also, as an English speaking person, I found myself learning all sorts of ways I was pronouncing things incorrectly—the name of the play being at the top of that list (Me: le kid...) so, thank you for that auditory correction.
Within your contextual section, I personally found myself agreeing more with Georges de Scudery and his review, but I appreciate your acknowledgement of both sides and picking apart Scudery’s probable aim at such a review (jealousy) and stating that despite any shortcomings, it was still enjoyable. I find I do agree with you there.
The notion of censorship and stiff rules is something I find very interesting, and I find I am reminded by Milton’s “Areopagitica” and his thoughts of the censorship and the detrimental effects of it and the plea for freedom of speech. I think that artists have an absolute right to poetic license, and it’s intriguing to me to learn more about the journey over time to how we have gone as far as we have. The fact that Aristotle’s ‘Poetics’ still has such relevance in how plays are to be portrayed is quite incredible. Your point about including immoral acts in a play is a poignant one: including murder does not necessary condone such behaviour, but can, instead, explore the detrimental effects of such an action instead.
The only constructive critique I have would be this: I would have liked to have seen a bit more of a thesis developed where your own personal thoughts were shared more, or some open ended questions about the plays for ‘food for thought’. As it is, there was commentary about controversies of the day and some problematic plot beats within the play, so there is the element there, but I would have liked to hear more about your thoughts on the matter is all. Once again, thank you for sharing, and I will be sure to look out for the modern reproductions you included as well as perhaps hearing a recording or performance if I can find one.