I agree @alh . It is a good choice by the prof and would likely produce a lively discussion for a film class. If he hadn’t watched it in 15 years, I’m guessing he is perhaps an older prof? if he is referring to having viewed it with a previous class.
Expanding one’s worldview and horizons and experiences is what a college education should be.
In the bubble where I live, older professors wouldn’t come to class to discuss a film or text they hadn’t looked at in 15 years. Their class discussion is much different than a decade ago, just like Othello is regularly reinterpreted anew.
It’s a nice bubble
Yes. Absolutely agree. And, with luck, learning some critical thinking skills. A literature or film course can help with this. Perhaps it’s possible to choose not to watch the 1995 Othello, or to skips parts, while still understanding it may have value and importance in Shakespeare studies and film studies. Don’t you all think if you talk about the history of Othello, you probably have to talk about this movie?
The discussion between the OP and tdy123 about different approaches to Shakespeare has been an interesting one to me.
Last comment. I’ve enjoyed this thread 
Reading this thread, I wondered whether the film might be the Julie Taymor Titus Andronicus.
Generally my first reaction to the issue posed here would be “if you want to study film, deal with it.” And I was someone who definitely did NOT censor my children’s film watching once they got into double digits, age-wise. I would talk to them about what they saw a lot, and sometimes I would discuss with them in advance what they wanted to see and why they might decide not to watch something, but my kids saw plenty of R movies before they were 16 or 17. (Of course, I’m not saying everyone has to be that way, or everyone should be that way. It’s just the way my family is.)
Anyway, once upon a time I rented Titus Andronicus. When it started, all four of us were watching. My wife lasted about 15 minutes before she decided to do something else. My son (then about 14) exited about 30 minutes in. My 16 year-old daughter quietly got up and left after the scene where one character’s arms are replaced by tree branches. I watched the last half hour or so of the movie alone.
It’s a great film. But it really isn’t for everyone. I don’t think I would make it mandatory for an undergraduate class anywhere.
I haven’t seen the Fishburne Othello, so I have no idea whether I would have the same kind of reaction to it.
This bothers me, a lot. I can watch any amount of nudity with sensuality, but I can’t bear anything like a gas chamber scene.
I just wanted to chime and and thank everyone, especially the OP, for this thread. I love Shakespeare as a storyteller and wordsmith and I enjoy some of the film versions of his comedies (Twelfth Night, Much Ado About Nothing, Midsummer Night’s Dream).
But I won’t watch graphic violence, abuse, abduction, or torture on film. I have an active emotional imagination and that stuff haunts me. It’s not entertaining. I did see Schindler’s List because I felt the need to contribute to humanity’s efforts to “never forget”. But I far prefer to research this kind of evil in print, along with how I can possibly help to work to end it.
One of my kids is like me, and she is assertive about it. A second is also sensitive, but doesn’t deal as well with the pressure to conform. I hope that society becomes more accepting of people who choose not to consume certain types of media, rather than thinking of us as fragile and/or in favor of censorship.
I am surprised no one has mentioned that college should be a time where people explore a bit outside of their comfort zone. This is one of the things that is always talked about as what the college experience gives people outside of the classroom. I think a classroom setting, viewing a film outside of a comfort zone while exploring a topic of interest is the perfect way to step outside that comfort zone in a safe space.
We often talk about finding electives that are “different”. The engineer taking a film class or the STEM major taking an exploring world religions class. It is all about personal growth. Even at a christian college I would think exploring topics outside of the christian norm would be encouraged; be it examination of evolution, sexuality in the modern era, sexuality of Shakespeare, or exploring other world religions. Staying in the bubble of our upbringing will not help society evolve.
One of the last conversations I had with my oldest before he left for school was to try new things, explore other ideas, step outside of his norm; this is what this time of life is about. I knew he would have a hard time with this but not in the traditional sense. He is a very outgoing person that is never afraid to try new things but is also very opinionated, especially around politics. He is very much on the right side of the spectrum and is not afraid to share his point of view. I knew, going to a very liberal leaning university this would offer plenty of opportunities to step outside his comfort zone and wanted him to seize that opportunity.
His first year was a challenge and he butted heads with many people. He even dropped a class because he disagreed with the professor’s politics that were constantly inserted as fact into lectures, in a nutrition class of all things. Fast forward a year and he was afraid he was going to run into the same problem this semester. Instead of running away from the class, he started sharing his perspective when appropriate. The professor called him up after class one day to talk about some of the points he had made. The professor also suggested that he come to office hours to discuss in more detail and they have made it a weekly “debate” as the professor loved discussing politics but had no one in his life to take the other side. In the end my son now has a more well rounded view of the political spectrum, has softened his stance on some items, and is now actually open to considering some of the more liberal political ideas. In addition to this growth he now has a professor as an ally, mentor, reference, or resource should he ever need anything. This never would have happened without stepping outside of his comfort zone. A big win in my book and well worth the tuition dollars we have spent.
In my circles, most people choose not to consume some type of media or another. The rare folks are those who will watch anything and everything (like reviewers). I’m going through my mental rolodex and can’t think of a single individual I know IRL in that latter category at the moment. Perhaps some students would fit in there. I don’t know about them as much as I do about friends and co-workers. What folks choose not to watch (and why) varies, of course, but it certainly isn’t limited to various religious beliefs, though that’s included with some. I don’t have anyone in my circle who believes in censorship. We just vote for what we like with our $$ and stay away from what we don’t find entertaining.
Still, if for a class I expect most of us would attend and look elsewhere at things we don’t like viewing if a situation like this came up.
The key distinction, for me, is the professional nature of the exposure. I may refrain from choosing exposure to graphic sex or violence in my leisure time, but if such exposure is necessary or inevitable as part of my professional duties, then it should be both expected and accepted. So law students regularly read details in rape cases, ER doctors daily confront graphic injuries, and, I would assume adults studying film classes would be expected to be able to manage the films shown. It is part of the job.
The interesting thing is that this is a Christian college so I can understand the expectation that the media selected would be in line with the values that most of the students have. I don’t have any issue with sexual or violent content IF it is an integral part of the story. I take issue with gratuitous sex or violent scenes, even in otherwise very good content.
I wonder if the college will have an issue with the professor showing this film.
It would be interesting to know whether OP’s daughter and perhaps the professor might think whether it was possible to make the same points (especially wrt to Shakespeare reinterpretation, as the Oliver=> Fishburne evolution is essential) by showing excepts only.
I, too, can’t believe the professor hadn’t reviewed the film beforehand and imagine it’s a case of “overworked adjunct”. (What percentage instructors are tenure track or tenured, v. Transient, should be one of the key elements when evaluating a final choice, but it’s hard to find out. It’s another issue… )
Key skill: was she able to talk about the segments of the films she felt she could contribute about?
Well maybe the Prof wasn’t a Christian when he first saw the movie 15 years ago and now he is looking at it through a different lense. Now being that this is a Christian College (and he didn’t pose nude in front of the class), I would hope that he would be shown some grace after he explained his error.
Many of us read these plays a really long time ago and may not remember them very well. I know I had to refresh my memory. The professor may or may not have been a Christian now or 15 years ago. I hope he knows Othello if he’s teaching it. These quotes are from Act I, Scene I
The play opens talking about sex that is taking place offstage. Othello later strangles Desdemona in bed, because he believes false accusations she has been unfaithful. The play contains sex and violence. Does that mean the play is inappropriate for Christians? Maybe it isn’t appropriate to teach at this college. I have no idea, but it is what it is. Film versions will probably contain varying degrees of sex and violence. Is it possible to make a PG version? How they adapt the play is the point of teaching the films. imho
Othello is a Moor. He’s Black. Orson Welles played Othello in film and so did Laurence Olivier. They are both white and darken their skin to play the part. Olivier’s performance has been described as blackface. Laurence Fishburne, a Black man, plays Othello in the movie the OP’s daughter was assigned. If you are going to discuss Othello in the class, and want to watch a film versions, those seem to be the main ones you get to choose from. There is also a modern teen adaptation set in a high school. I can’t remember the name of it, but there’s a possibility as well. Of course, there are other versions I’m unfamiliar with and maybe more appropriate for a Christian College.
I’m probably watching this film this week, since I really don’t remember much about it. It’s possible I’ll skip parts. That’s not unusual for me in film or books these days.
I hope they are doing something lighter coming up… Midsummer Night’s Dream.
OP here,
I was also surprised by the professor and his lack of memory about this film. My daughter has appreciated his enthusiasm and love for Shakespeare, even for the tragedies thus far, which is saying something, coming from her. And FYI, he is a tenured professor who has taught Shakespeare Lit classes for decades. She originally planned to sign up for his Intro to Shakespeare class, which was cancelled shortly before registration for this semester, and then this class showed up.
Due to this conversation, I thought I’d dig a little more.
Checking out previous years’ classes, I suspect that perhaps he took over this class last minute for another professor who has taught Script to Screen for at least the past 5 years, using her syllabus, which might explain why he was a little blindsided by the content of the movie, not having seen it in over a decade. He is well versed in the *literature for sure, and I’m definitely willing to extend grace, particularly if my suspicions are correct.
Thankfully, this is the last of the tragedies/histories for this class, and they are ending with the Tempest, so that will be fun. 
Tupping. An old black ram is tupping your white ewe.
My kids did a simplified version of The Tempest in fourth grade. Their version, at least, was not bawdy at all!
I can easily see if he took over someone else’s course, he might not have actually watched all the films recently.
CF: http://shakespeare.mit.edu/othello/full.html
^^ shame on me. Used the first link that came up. Also smothered not strangled.
I wholehearted apologize to Romani for saying students should choose a tenured prof when possible. My disillusion with academia just deepens.
The prof may have had no time to prepare. Maybe it’s understandable. Still, this situation is just unacceptable.
The eyeball-gouging scene in King Lear is the one I have to turn away from onstage. Out, vile jelly! Ugh, the words alone are as graphic as any special effects.
My high school boyfriend’s father was a classics professor at UT-Austin. He devised a system for group readings of Shakespeare’s plays (I guess it’s tricky to work it out so that people aren’t talking to themselves). Every Sunday, we would gather at his house and read a different play. What a great education! Even after my boyfriend went off to college, I would go to the play readings. We also did a few Greek plays.
I taught an Honors Introduction to Literature many years ago. The students protested that they had read Macbeth in high school and wanted to read something else. I almost conceded, but didn’t. Turns out their HS read avoided all the complexities , not the least of them was the endless gender bending/trans sexual themes. Christianity sure has changed, or maybe Shakespeare was not Christian.