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In this project, Swipe Right for Tragedy, I learned how a parody can draw all kinds of people in. For this project we made a parody for Romeo and Juliet. We made it more relatable and appealing for my generation. From modifying the script to it being based off where I live, using areas around me to make me feel more connected. To changing the names, to be more of a realistic adaptation. Along the way I learned the importance of having a deep understanding for the script, making the whole process easier. I took notes to make sure the main parts of Romeo and Juliet stuck within my brain. Having the Shakespeare version on one side and the modern English version on the other helped me interpret the script better, and sparked some ideas on how to change the script to make it fit into my generation’s slang.

Collaboration with working in groups was another key part of this project. Communication when working with my group was very important to create the script, and plan our part of the play. This lead to us to share ideas, divide tasks, and help each other throughout this project. Memorizing lines and performing in front of an audience also helped me gain confidence in public speaking. I’m not a big fan of performing to large groups of people, although being exposed to things like memorizing lines and presenting to an audience gave me self assurance, knowing next time I can do it! 

Here is my groups updated script for the final scene of Romeo and Juliet. The highlighted parts show how we made the play more interesting by using comedy and my generations slang.

Overall, this project deepened my understanding of Shakespeares play of Romeo and Juliet, by understanding the techniques of storytelling and how they can be used to engage an audience. By using humour with tragedy, I realized how a parody can focus on main themes, still making them more engaging to an audience. This project pushed me out of my comfort zone, making me gain more confidence in myself which will help me in the future for public speaking.