Joseph Cornell Play Analysis

Joseph Cornell was an artist known for his shadow box art. He kept his interests separate and together by creating these boxes which also reflected the small wooden house in which he lived. The script is made of compartments rather than having one event trigger another. A character may come into a scene or Cornell may move out of a scene and the scene completely changes. It is not always clear if the stage directions are to only be followed or if some are to be read. Sometimes there are parentheses that separate the stage directions from the dialogue. However, there are other times when the stage dialogue and stage directions run together and it seems to be the director's decision if these stage directions should be spoken or not. It is not like a play where the act changes to a different place and it is known that the story is continuous. Cornell's shadowboxes also preserved his memories and this play is a “memory play.” It deals with Cornell's interests, thoughts, and feelings. It seems like it might be a play about how he dealt with his brother Robert's death. Cornell remembers caring for …show more content…
Cornell's shadowboxes can tell a story about his life. This play tells a story about Cornell's life. The film brings components all together like this play that is an homage to Cornell and supposed to be like Cornell's memories. Sometimes Cornell's memories may have mixed with his dreams and thus the gray background is there to give it that vague quality of if it was a real event or a dream. Charles Mee made art out of the life of Joseph Cornell. Joseph Cornell made shadowbox art that reflected pieces of his life. After reading the play, it may make one wonder if man isn't truly art itself. While it is not said in the play, this idea is not only found in religious texts, but also in Shakespeare's Hamlet when it says, “What a piece of work is