ENL 5227 Fall 2024 - Bourus

This course will examine Shakespeare’s relationship to the transformative media of early modern England down to today on stage in film, in print, in digital formats, music, and comics. What makes Shakespeare’s work so appealing through the centuries and in different media formats? How has it continued to appeal to evolving media structures? We will look at Shakespeare’s relationship to printers, publishers, actors, playing companies, theatrical infrastructure, and the bodies of performers. Who is “Shakespeare”? What meanings did his plays have in his own time, and what relevance do they continue to hold for us today? Active class participation is required. No background in Renaissance literature is necessary, though prior experience with Shakespeare is a plus.

Requirements: This course satisfies the general literature requirement for one course pre-1660 or for one course pre-1800. It also satisfies the requirement for coursework in the following Areas of Concentration: Medieval and Early Modern British Literary and Cultural Studies (through 1660); History of Text Technologies; or a Literary Genre (Drama).