New Poll - Something To think about
Thu, 2 Sept 2004, 07:18 pmcrgwllms4 posts in thread
New Poll - Something To think about
Thu, 2 Sept 2004, 07:18 pmCouldn't resist this when I read it in the new poll suggestion list...
SOMETHING TO THINK ABOUT
How many plays have you understood the first time you saw them?
Every one I've seen
Most I've seen
About half
Very few
None
I'm still thinking about it
I don't understand the question
...?
The Poll-tergeist
[%sig%]
crgwllmsThu, 2 Sept 2004, 07:18 pm
Couldn't resist this when I read it in the new poll suggestion list...
SOMETHING TO THINK ABOUT
How many plays have you understood the first time you saw them?
Every one I've seen
Most I've seen
About half
Very few
None
I'm still thinking about it
I don't understand the question
...?
The Poll-tergeist
[%sig%]
Walter PlingeFri, 3 Sept 2004, 10:39 am
Re: New Poll - Something To think about
crgwllms wrote:
> SOMETHING TO THINK ABOUT
> How many plays have you understood the first time you saw them?
The problem with this question is the word understood...
How many plays have I had a decent grasp of some or most of the themes the first time I saw them? Pretty much all of them.
This can be described as understanding.
HOWEVER
How many plays have I got more and more appreciation of the depths and layers of the themes with repeated viewing or thinking? Some of them.
This could be desribed as total understanding.
For example:
I 'understood' Ros & Guil the first time I read it, and yet with each subsequent viewing or reading I get a little bit more out of it. Even while directing it there were hidden and obscure jokes and meanings that I clicked to during the final dress rehearsal.
For example, the following exchange occurs in the opening scene:
"Now, if I have this right, the theory of probability states that if I throw six monkeys in the air they will land on their tails as often as they will land on their..."
"Heads"
The joke here is that the classic example of the theory of probability involving monkeys is that if you lock six monkeys in a room with a typewriter, just hitting the keys at random, they will eventually write "Hamlet". However, R&G cannot know this as they are characters IN "Hamlet". I wet myself when I clicked onto this one, but I know also understand why some of my friends describe Stoppard as "too clever by half".
I don't think has ever been a show where I have come out of it thinking, "What the...?"
But, there have been shows that have demanded repeated viewings to fully appreciate layers and nuances.
The only theatrical experience I can remember where I didn't understand it the first time was possibly Kubrick's film "2001: A Space Odyssey". I didn't understand it but I loved it. On repeated (and repeated and repeated) viewing, I am slowly coming to a basic understanding of the film, and I feel that in many years, when I have watched the film many many more times, I may actually come close to a fuller understanding and appreciation of this masterwork.
Paul Treasure
who is currently thinking way too much about this question
> SOMETHING TO THINK ABOUT
> How many plays have you understood the first time you saw them?
The problem with this question is the word understood...
How many plays have I had a decent grasp of some or most of the themes the first time I saw them? Pretty much all of them.
This can be described as understanding.
HOWEVER
How many plays have I got more and more appreciation of the depths and layers of the themes with repeated viewing or thinking? Some of them.
This could be desribed as total understanding.
For example:
I 'understood' Ros & Guil the first time I read it, and yet with each subsequent viewing or reading I get a little bit more out of it. Even while directing it there were hidden and obscure jokes and meanings that I clicked to during the final dress rehearsal.
For example, the following exchange occurs in the opening scene:
"Now, if I have this right, the theory of probability states that if I throw six monkeys in the air they will land on their tails as often as they will land on their..."
"Heads"
The joke here is that the classic example of the theory of probability involving monkeys is that if you lock six monkeys in a room with a typewriter, just hitting the keys at random, they will eventually write "Hamlet". However, R&G cannot know this as they are characters IN "Hamlet". I wet myself when I clicked onto this one, but I know also understand why some of my friends describe Stoppard as "too clever by half".
I don't think has ever been a show where I have come out of it thinking, "What the...?"
But, there have been shows that have demanded repeated viewings to fully appreciate layers and nuances.
The only theatrical experience I can remember where I didn't understand it the first time was possibly Kubrick's film "2001: A Space Odyssey". I didn't understand it but I loved it. On repeated (and repeated and repeated) viewing, I am slowly coming to a basic understanding of the film, and I feel that in many years, when I have watched the film many many more times, I may actually come close to a fuller understanding and appreciation of this masterwork.
Paul Treasure
who is currently thinking way too much about this question
crgwllmsFri, 3 Sept 2004, 02:47 pm
Re: Poll Problems - Something To think about
Thanks Paul, interesting comments.
Unfortunately, I have to report that the poll is not working. I have no idea why not. 20 people voted so far, and only one result has registered....this seems to be a regular occurance with activating new polls, and I don't understand the mechanics of it ----GRANT ! --- please fix it again?
The Poll-tergeist
[%sig%]
crgwllmsWed, 22 Sept 2004, 03:55 pm
Poll Results - Something To think about
Poll results:
SOMETHING TO THINK ABOUT
How many plays have you understood the first time you saw them?
246 participants in 3 weeks
I don't understand the question 67 votes 30%
Most I've seen 63 votes 28%
About half 59 votes 26%
Every one I've seen 17 votes 7%
I'm still thinking about it 6 votes 2%
Very few 5 votes 2%
None 3 votes 1%
This poll appealed to me when it was submitted, referring to a TS Eliot quote you may have seen a fair bit around the website: "A play should give you something to think about. When I see a play and understand it for the first time, then I know it can't be much good."
According to the poll, most of us don't understand what the hell TS was on about. The majority (60%) seem to understand most plays, and most of the rest (30%) don't understand why the question's being asked in the first place.
Maybe, according to T.S., EVERYTHING we're seeing is not much good?
Or then again, maybe that explains why people in another thread have dismissed the musical CATS as not really meaning anything..?
The Poll-tergeist
SOMETHING TO THINK ABOUT
How many plays have you understood the first time you saw them?
246 participants in 3 weeks
I don't understand the question 67 votes 30%
Most I've seen 63 votes 28%
About half 59 votes 26%
Every one I've seen 17 votes 7%
I'm still thinking about it 6 votes 2%
Very few 5 votes 2%
None 3 votes 1%
This poll appealed to me when it was submitted, referring to a TS Eliot quote you may have seen a fair bit around the website: "A play should give you something to think about. When I see a play and understand it for the first time, then I know it can't be much good."
According to the poll, most of us don't understand what the hell TS was on about. The majority (60%) seem to understand most plays, and most of the rest (30%) don't understand why the question's being asked in the first place.
Maybe, according to T.S., EVERYTHING we're seeing is not much good?
Or then again, maybe that explains why people in another thread have dismissed the musical CATS as not really meaning anything..?
The Poll-tergeist