SHAKESPEARE is my Homeboy

Hamlet criticism summary

Mallin, Eric S. ""You Kilt my Foddah": or Arnold, Prince of Denmark." Shakespeare Quarterly. Vol 50, No. 2. Summer 1999.

A. The Journal
Shakespeare Quarterly was founded in 1950. According to the Quarterly's website, the journal was founded by the Shakespeare Association of America. "Housed and published by the Folger Shakespeare Library since 1972, SQ is the world's foremost journal focusing on all aspects of Shakespeare studies. Topics for essays and notes cover criticism of the plays and poems, theater history, Shakespeare pedagogy, the history of Shakespeare as an institution, and studies in editing, text, canon, and bibliography. "Shakespeare Performed," publishing review-essays on Royal Shakespeare Company and other significant stage and film productions around the world, is a regular feature. Each issue also includes book reviews on Shakespeare and related subjects." The volume which I examined did not have a special topic. This article was one of only three articles published in the volume, along with 15 book reviews.

B. Introduction
In his introduction, Mr. Mallin attempts to demonstrate how the film Last Action Hero and its star, Arnold Schwarzeneggar, act as Hamlet paratext ("a version beyond, or contrary to the originary text while remaining broadly referential to it"). The author intends to use several examples of how the film fits the category of Hamlet paratext, and how the film comments on Shakespeare's work. The author is clear and simple in the presentation of his introductory argument.

C. Expectations
My expectation from the introduction was that this would be an interesting analysis of the film Last Action Hero, and comparison to the themes and characters of Hamlet. I believe that the article is successful in interpreting Hamlet in a fresh and contemporary context. I was amazed at how thorough and convincing the author makes his argument throughout the article. Throughout his essay, Mallin uses character, plot references within Last Action Hero as well as more abstract analysis of the film's star (Schwarzeneggar) as a "text" to compare the film to Hamlet. Somehow, I didn't expect there would be a lot in common between the film and play. I believe that the author expects many readers to be skeptical of his topic, but in the end he is very convincing in making his arguments. Finally, this is the best title that I've ever seen in a scholarly journal! It immediately caught my attention to read further.