Great Works I: Remixing Memory

The film version of Othello featuring Laurence Fishburne  had several adaptations that were not in the book we read. The one I will focus on is the scene where Iago is alone and speaking to the camera. He has a chess board in front of him with a black piece and 2 white pieces. Iago then says how he is going to take down the Moor which is signified by the black chess piece. I thought this is important because it signifies that Othello is most identifiable by the color of his skin. It also mirrors the complexity of a chess game with the plan that Iago concocts. Iago plans his actions and has a plan for each way that Othello or somebody can react. This is similar to a chess game where players will think of every possible outcome to ensure they make the right move going as far as to make a move now that will come in handy 5 turns after. This scene captures how Iago plotted to go after Othello from the very beginning and was also able to show how race plays a part in the whole thing.