# Rewriting Romeo & Juliet. What two conflicting groups do the star crossed lovers come from? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [November 4, 2019, 5:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rewriting-romeo-juliet-what-two-conflicting-groups-do-the-star-crossed-lovers-come-from/842996 "2019-11-04T17:26:04Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![KneadToKnow](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kneadtoknow/32/3999_2.png) [@KneadToKnow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KneadToKnow)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2019, 10:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rewriting-romeo-juliet-what-two-conflicting-groups-do-the-star-crossed-lovers-come-from/842996/21 "2019-11-04T22:23:04Z")
Star Trek fans / Star Wars fans ---
**Author:** ![Larry\_Borgia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/larry_borgia/32/156_2.png) [@Larry\_Borgia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Larry_Borgia)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2019, 11:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rewriting-romeo-juliet-what-two-conflicting-groups-do-the-star-crossed-lovers-come-from/842996/22 "2019-11-04T23:28:55Z")
Juggalos and Maggots (Slipknot fans.) An old friend was a school psychologist in Arizona and reports there is real beef between the two. Don’t forget: Romeo and Juliet are teenagers. ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2019, 11:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rewriting-romeo-juliet-what-two-conflicting-groups-do-the-star-crossed-lovers-come-from/842996/23 "2019-11-04T23:33:58Z")
OK, given they’re teenagers in 2019, how about the entire story takes place on social media? Now, I’m not a social media user, so I’m not the one to write it, but I assume she likes his photo, he reciprocates, and they engage in a flirtation via texts or whatever else it is the kids use today. At the end, rather than killing themselves, they drop out of social media entirely. ---
**Author:** ![CalMeacham](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/calmeacham/32/35_2.png) [@CalMeacham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CalMeacham)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2019, 11:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rewriting-romeo-juliet-what-two-conflicting-groups-do-the-star-crossed-lovers-come-from/842996/24 "2019-11-04T23:50:18Z")
In the Marvel satire comic **Not Brand Ecch** #6 (Nov. 1967) they has _Best Side Story_, with the Marvel superheroes vs. the DC Superheroes. Dr. Strange and Wonder Woman fall for each other. > **[Sunday Funnies: "Best Side Story" from Not Brand Echh #6](https://diversionsofthegroovykind.blogspot.com/2009/04/sunday-funnies-best-side-story-from-not.html)** > > It's been a Marvel-ous weekend so far, so why stop now, right Groove-ophiles? It's time for another look at Marvel's superhero satire mag, N... Mad magazine, 'way back in April of 1963 Mad magazine had _East Side Story_, with the Communists vs. NATO at the UN. But nobody fell in love with anybody. ---
**Author:** ![GIGObuster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gigobuster/32/421_2.png) [@GIGObuster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GIGObuster)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2019, 12:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rewriting-romeo-juliet-what-two-conflicting-groups-do-the-star-crossed-lovers-come-from/842996/25 "2019-11-05T00:06:28Z")
> [@Marvin\_the\_Martian](#): > > A white gang and a Puerto Rican gang. > > Oh wait… Interesting to find that originally the play was called “_ **East** _ Side Story” and it was not about Puerto Rican Vs White gangs. > **[QI Shakespeare Season Special - The Immortal Bard - British Comedy Guide](https://www.comedy.co.uk/tv/qi/episodes/2012/1/)** > > A guide to The Immortal Bard, an episode of QI. > [@](#): > > Leonard Bernstein’s musical version of Romeo and Juliet set in New York was originally called East Side Story. At the time of writing it in the 1940s the musical had gangs of Catholics verses gangs of Jews in the Lower East Side. Five years later, this was changed to Puerto Ricans verses white gangs, who are from the West Side. > **[‘West Side Story’ Was Originally About Jews and Catholics | HISTORY](https://www.history.com/news/west-side-story-was-originally-about-jews-and-catholics)** > > As the musical celebrates its 60th anniversary, it stands as more than art: It was an artistic confrontation of social issues from immigration to economic inequality to gang violence. ---
**Author:** ![Andy\_L](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/c67d28/32.png) [@Andy\_L](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Andy_L)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2019, 12:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rewriting-romeo-juliet-what-two-conflicting-groups-do-the-star-crossed-lovers-come-from/842996/26 "2019-11-05T00:11:45Z")
I think a key fact to remember is that one of the points of R & J is that the family feud isn’t about values or justice or right and wrong; it’s just a pointless rivalry that the families can be woken up out of by the shock of the kids’ deaths. Some of the above suggestions don’t match that idea (the sports rivalries are on the right track). ---
**Author:** ![E-DUB](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/e-dub/32/403_2.png) [@E-DUB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/E-DUB)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2019, 2:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rewriting-romeo-juliet-what-two-conflicting-groups-do-the-star-crossed-lovers-come-from/842996/27 "2019-11-05T02:46:18Z")
> [@Author\_Balk](#): > > There are two types of people in this world: Those who like Neil Diamond, and those who don’t. > > From What About Bob? You just described my marriage. ---
**Author:** ![ASL\_v2.0](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/asl_v2.0/32/3525_2.png) [@ASL\_v2.0](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ASL_v2.0)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2019, 2:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rewriting-romeo-juliet-what-two-conflicting-groups-do-the-star-crossed-lovers-come-from/842996/28 "2019-11-05T02:54:25Z")
A “quiver full” Christian and an atheist proponent of the voluntary human extinction movement. In a twist, the former commits suicide, but the latter is prevented from dying as they are arrested on suspicion of murdering the former as they are caught holding the gun they used. Plot twist! ---
**Author:** ![Kent\_Clark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kent_clark/32/105_2.png) [@Kent\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kent_Clark)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2019, 3:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rewriting-romeo-juliet-what-two-conflicting-groups-do-the-star-crossed-lovers-come-from/842996/29 "2019-11-05T03:32:35Z")
Farmers and cowmen Oh, wait. That version was called Oklahoma! ---
**Author:** ![Robot\_Arm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/robot_arm/32/18280_2.png) [@Robot\_Arm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Robot_Arm)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2019, 4:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rewriting-romeo-juliet-what-two-conflicting-groups-do-the-star-crossed-lovers-come-from/842996/30 "2019-11-05T04:08:14Z")
There was a theater troupe in Seattle in the mid-90s that did “recontextualizations” of classic plays. Friends told me that in their _Romeo and Juliet_ the Montagus and Capulets were rival lesbian softball teams. I wish I’d seen it. ---
**Author:** ![panache45](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/panache45/32/64_2.png) [@panache45](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/panache45)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2019, 4:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rewriting-romeo-juliet-what-two-conflicting-groups-do-the-star-crossed-lovers-come-from/842996/31 "2019-11-05T04:33:28Z")
A duck in wabbit season vs. a wabbit in duck season. ---
**Author:** ![Annie-Xmas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecc23a/32.png) [@Annie-Xmas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Annie-Xmas)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2019, 2:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rewriting-romeo-juliet-what-two-conflicting-groups-do-the-star-crossed-lovers-come-from/842996/32 "2019-11-05T14:22:05Z")
> [@KneadToKnow](#): > > Star Trek fans / Star Wars fans ``` Amy: "That would be my boyfriend; happier playing his dopey Star Trek game with his friends instead of hanging out with me." Penny: "Wars." Amy: "What?" Penny: "Star Wars. They get all cranky when you mix the two up. Amy: "What's the difference?" Penny: "There's absolutely no difference." ``` ---
**Author:** ![ASL\_v2.0](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/asl_v2.0/32/3525_2.png) [@ASL\_v2.0](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ASL_v2.0)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2019, 3:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rewriting-romeo-juliet-what-two-conflicting-groups-do-the-star-crossed-lovers-come-from/842996/33 "2019-11-05T15:08:37Z")
> [@Annie-Xmas](#): > > Penny: “There’s absolutely no difference.” Prior to the reboot film franchise and most especially Star Trek: Discovery, I would have disagreed with this “Penny” character. But now? Yeah, no difference. ---
**Author:** ![Annie-Xmas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecc23a/32.png) [@Annie-Xmas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Annie-Xmas)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2019, 3:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rewriting-romeo-juliet-what-two-conflicting-groups-do-the-star-crossed-lovers-come-from/842996/34 "2019-11-05T15:16:10Z")
One of the funniest Big Bang scenes of all time was when the military man was interview the guys and Sheldon was told to keep his mouth shut. When the guy said “the Death Star from Star Trek” I though Sheldon was going to have a stroke. Jim Parsons is a master of physical comedy. ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2019, 3:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rewriting-romeo-juliet-what-two-conflicting-groups-do-the-star-crossed-lovers-come-from/842996/35 "2019-11-05T15:59:58Z")
**[Moderating]** > [@TriPolar](#): > > Trump supporter and sane person. Political potshots aren’t allowed in Cafe Society, especially in a thread that has nothing to do with politics. This is an official Warning. ---
**Author:** ![Sangahyando](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f14d63/32.png) [@Sangahyando](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sangahyando)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2019, 4:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rewriting-romeo-juliet-what-two-conflicting-groups-do-the-star-crossed-lovers-come-from/842996/36 "2019-11-05T16:37:17Z")
I gather that there are some takes on “R & J” – not agreed on, I’m sure, by everyone interested in the play – to the effect that, from the play’s text, the Montagu / Capulet feud is waning – the participants are getting tired of it, and it’s generally impeding life: it’s looking as though the factions will soon come to terms, and peace will break out. If R and J would only keep things quiet and discreet, and wait a little while; they’d be able to get together without upsetting anybody – maybe even a “both-sides” wedding to symbolise end of feud, and reconciliation. But – being un-clued-up and hot-blooded teenagers – they see only the bad stuff “right now”, and are oblivious to the long view and how it might serve them: whence unnecessary drama / heartbreak / death, and prolongation of the dying quarrel. Thus – for modern rewrite, maybe some long-standing quarrel between groups, which is on the way to being patched up – nothing obvious comes to my mind, but I’m sure there are a number of such. ---
**Author:** ![Andy\_L](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/c67d28/32.png) [@Andy\_L](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Andy_L)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2019, 4:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rewriting-romeo-juliet-what-two-conflicting-groups-do-the-star-crossed-lovers-come-from/842996/37 "2019-11-05T16:51:40Z")
> [@Annie-Xmas](#): > > One of the funniest Big Bang scenes of all time was when the military man was interview the guys and Sheldon was told to keep his mouth shut. When the guy said “the Death Star from Star Trek” I though Sheldon was going to have a stroke. > > Jim Parsons is a master of physical comedy. Have you see the tee-shirts that show a picture of a Dalek, with the caption “OMG, it’s R2D2 - I loved him in Star Trek” ---
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2019, 6:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rewriting-romeo-juliet-what-two-conflicting-groups-do-the-star-crossed-lovers-come-from/842996/38 "2019-11-05T18:32:22Z")
> [@Chronos](#): > > **[Moderating]** > > Political potshots aren’t allowed in Cafe Society, especially in a thread that has nothing to do with politics. This is an official Warning. My apologies to the OP and the Cafe Society Forum for my inappropriate remark. ---
**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2019, 8:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rewriting-romeo-juliet-what-two-conflicting-groups-do-the-star-crossed-lovers-come-from/842996/39 "2019-11-05T20:40:41Z")
A SDMB guy and a girl who uses…that other message board. ---
**Author:** ![JohnGalt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johngalt/32/184_2.png) [@JohnGalt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JohnGalt)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2019, 9:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rewriting-romeo-juliet-what-two-conflicting-groups-do-the-star-crossed-lovers-come-from/842996/40 "2019-11-05T21:09:39Z")
> [@mcgato](#): > > A punk rocker and a [Valley Girl](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0086525/?ref_=fn_al_tt_1) I’d say Valley Girl is itself already a version of Romeo and Juliet. Contemporary [reviews](https://www.orlandosentinel.com/news/os-xpm-1992-07-05-9207070738-story.html) point it out. They even drive by a [theater marquee](https://80smovieguide.com/valley-girl/) showing the (1968) film (down most of the way on that page). How about [tabs versus spaces](https://thenewstack.io/spaces-vs-tabs-a-20-year-debate-and-now-this-what-the-hell-is-wrong-with-go/)? There is NO more hotly contested topic! [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rewriting-romeo-juliet-what-two-conflicting-groups-do-the-star-crossed-lovers-come-from/842996.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rewriting-romeo-juliet-what-two-conflicting-groups-do-the-star-crossed-lovers-come-from/842996.md?page=3)