Taming of the Shrew

The BBC adaptation of Shakespeare's 'Taming of the Shrew' is a contemporary version of the classic play. Setting this adaptation in modern times makes the storyline more relatable to modern day watchers, while featuring characters which could be interoperated as New Elizabethans. 

The main character Catherine clearly imposes fear on those around her as you can see in the scene where she is storming through the corridor, all of the other politicians look down, avoid eye contact and shy away from her. As a political leader, people fear and respect her at the same time which I feel is something which could make her comparable to Elizabeth. It was always suggested to Elizabeth that she should get married, just as Catherine is told it would be beneficial for her to marry. Its also hinted at in the film that Catherine is a virgin, which clearly links to Elizabeth as she is known for being 'The Virgin Queen'.  I feel like Catherine's style of dressing hints at Elizabethan fashions as she is often shown wearing very low, square necklines and her clothing is always cinched in at the waist.  Even her wedding dress has been adapted to fit in with this style. The colours used in are very Elizabethan inspired, with lots of Oxblood and Emerald colours. 

I feel like Bianca is also a New Elizabethan. Bianca is a celebrity, so sets trends in fashion and is looked up to in the same way that the public idolised the royals in Elizabethan times. In her house she has pictures of herself, which is something which would be very common in Royalty in Elizabeths era. Elizabeth used portraits as a way of promoting herself, she censored her portraits so she was in control of the way the public saw her. Celebrities today also do this through the use of photoshop. In Elizabethan times, there were no celebrities so the queen was the one person that was idolised and that set the standard for beauty. 

Before becoming queen, Elizabeth mostly dated titled men. As Petruchieo also dresses in a very Tudor style for a modern day adaptation, wearing royal colours and a skirt. His clothing also features a lot of ruffles and pleats, which were very common in mens Elizabethan style. I really enjoyed this adaptation as I found it interesting that although the play has been modernised, there are still a lot of links to Elizabethan colours, costume and culture.