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Writer's pictureShamaria Massenburg

Blasted; My Take

My presentation monday, would have shown my perspective of the events that take place during Sarah Kane’s play. First and foremost my version will be modernized to fit what is taking place in today’s war, to make it more relatable, but I also feel like people don’t realize we are living through what will eventually be in our text books. Ian would be a journalist from the Ukraine, and rather than seeing the power dynamic between him and Cate, we would view the whole exchange from Cate’s eyes. The entire story would begin as if we were Cate, including the black outs, and uncontrollable laughing as she wakes up in confusion of what Ian is doing. Throughout the story we will hear narration of cate’s personal thoughts, including her state of mind during the sexual assault--because, sexual assault is still prevalent today, and a taboo subject. If the viewer can see her in this state, and hear the things she has to think to herself to get through it--they can connect with her character more, and continue to see Ian as the antagonist of the story. Due to Cate leaving the scene, the viewers will not actually see Ian be attacked, but Cate will return to see the soldier dead on the floor, and Ian will verbally talk about what happened, this way it’s still bringing attention to the rape, and racism that go on, but people don’t actually see it. With this being a modernized piece--rather than having this be a play, and dealing with political unrest in real time--this would be a limited series on Netflix, the limited series layout is intentional, to keep people wondering, and confused--as Sarah Cate so eloquently does, and it won’t re-traumatize anyone, because it will be one of those series that you only watch one time, as was “When They See Us.”

https://www.pechakucha.com/pkcreate/1a63479a-7def-4a80-ae5b-34d9b28ef47f/finaldetails



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Sergio Alicea
Sergio Alicea
27 вер. 2022 р.

I really like the bringing to light the power dynamic, doing a modern take, and good character description. You going for Netflix to avoid the theatre controversy on conservatives is a good way to go. The Cate perspective story is really interesting on how the production can be expanded. I agree that showing raw and uncomfortable scenes can be to create that perspective of what is currently happening in the world. Giving the respect that the artist deserves and her work and like you mentioned the critiques don’t reflect what kind of person she was, it’s to thank you for. Great work, Mari!

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reganafogle
26 вер. 2022 р.

Mari, Sorry you did not get to present your project last week, but bet it would have been awesome. I really like your take on Blasted and how we would see the story play out through the woman's eyes and get to experience more of her emotions. I also think it would be interesting to see how the scene plays out when she does leave. Good job.

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Nikita
Nikita
26 вер. 2022 р.

Mari, I really like the idea about focusing the story from Cate's perspective. I think centering victim's narratives are hugely important. Doing this sort of an adaptation through a limited series would definitely be powerful. I do wonder, if by showing the war just through Cate's eyes, if we will lose some of the absurdist and ethically grey-matter that Blasted presents. One thing Kane does really well is show the senselessness of war (in all of it's violences) and the complicated ethics (Ian is both perpetrator and victim). Perhaps, in staging the play from only Cate's perspective, we might lose these elements?

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Keelan
24 вер. 2022 р.

Shamaria, I loved this idea for an adaptation. I think each character has a story that can be expanded on and telling this story through the eyes of Cate would be really interesting. I also think that making it into digital media would allow for a lot of interesting options for storytelling. I'll be interested to see your final presentation on Monday.

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