Need Romeo and Juliet Pop Culture References for Teaching

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I'm going to be teaching Romeo and Juliet next semester and I'm trying to get a list together of as many Romeo and Juliet pop culture references as possible. I need songs, tv shows, films, etc.; anything that will help my students get more exposure to the play.

For example, I remember seeing Romeo and Juliet performed in a couple of sitcoms like Family Matters, Home Improvement, and Third Rock from the Sun.

So please list anything that comes to mind and as many details as possible so I can try and find the source material.
 
Craig Armstrong is a somewhat popular symphonic/electronica composer who wrote a song based on the balcony scene. You can find it on his album "The Space Between Us." It was used in the modern-day Romeo & Juliet.

Really, if you want to go for a pop culture route, you ought to show them the contemporary interpretation of the play. It's really quite well done. I assume you already know about it, but just in case: http://www.amazon.com/William-Shake...pd_bbs_sr_1/002-7237648-0692831?ie=UTF8&s=dvd
 
You'd have to include the Dire Straits song on the Making Movies CD.
http://www.amazon.com/Making-Movies-Dire-Straits/dp/B00004Y6NX/ref=pd_sim_m_1/104-0731356-0267129

The number of adaptations and references defy listing. Every sitcom in TV history that had kids in a high school play took on the material or paralleled it in some other way.

The incredible cultural influence of the play can be noted from such film titles as 'Romeo is Bleeding' and 'Romeo Must Die.' Neither film directly references the play IIRC, but the viewer is expected to understand the reference in the title.

I even recall and animated movie about two robots in love:
http://imdb.com/title/tt0079824/
 
[quote name='epobirs']The number of adaptations and references defy listing. [/QUOTE]

I hope not because that's what I'm trying to do :D

I know it's futile to try and get EVERY reference but for something as ubiquitous as Romeo and Juliet, I'm having trouble finding more references.
 
The best in my opinion ...

"Rome and Juliet" by Dire Straits. Great song.


EDIT: I can tell already that song is gonna be stuck in my head all day.
 
Can I ask why? I'm guessing these are freshmen, right? That's usually when this play is assigned, because the administration thinks kids will "get it" because they're of the same age. I'm not sure about that reasoning, as I think they're too close to their own overwhelming romantic feelings, and I wish they would assign a great bloody Shakespeare, like Richard I or sibling rivalry in Cordelia.

In any event, they'll probably think other adaptations of what they think is boring to begin with will be even more boring. I've had the best luck when making them act it out. Corny, yes, but very effective, as Shakespeare was meant to be seen, not read. I've also made them come up with their own plays (in groups) of romances with the same elements: disapproving parents, sneaking around, etc.
 
Romeo and Juliet.. are together in eternity..We can be like they are.. comon' baby, don't fear the reaper..

Yea.. Don't Fear the Reaper by t3h Blue Oyster Cult mentions them.
 
[quote name='browneyedgal68']Can I ask why? I'm guessing these are freshmen, right? That's usually when this play is assigned, because the administration thinks kids will "get it" because they're of the same age. I'm not sure about that reasoning, as I think they're too close to their own overwhelming romantic feelings, and I wish they would assign a great bloody Shakespeare, like Richard I or sibling rivalry in Cordelia.

In any event, they'll probably think other adaptations of what they think is boring to begin with will be even more boring. I've had the best luck when making them act it out. Corny, yes, but very effective, as Shakespeare was meant to be seen, not read. I've also made them come up with their own plays (in groups) of romances with the same elements: disapproving parents, sneaking around, etc.[/QUOTE]

I would agree with that save for one movie - Ian McKellen's Richard III.
 
There's an episode of Hey Arnold! where they reenact Romeo and Juliet.

Part 1
[media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yN6dAI3Kh-k[/media]

Part 2
[media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AhRukRsNcSY&mode=related&search=[/media]

Part 3
[media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xy5ZBFguBCo&mode=related&search=[/media]
 
I've taught Romeo and Juliet several times to freshmen. I usually have the kids read a scene, then follow that with a viewing of the corresponding scene from the Franco Zeffirelli film. When we're entirely done with the play, I show them the Baz Luhrmann version in its entirety. I've done it that way several times and the students always seem to love it.
 
[quote name='Yoohoo1231']Wow. Hey Arnold. Haven't seen that one in years.



On topic:
West Side Story is boring.[/QUOTE]



Off topic:
Yoohoo1231 is boring
 
[quote name='Yoohoo1231']On topic:
West Side Story is boring.[/quote]

Agreeed

Terrible, terrible, terrible movie.

I can count the number of musicals I like on my left hand. West Side Story is one of the worst movies I've ever seen in my life.
 
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