Is Shakespeare still relevant?

Title

Is Shakespeare still relevant?

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Description

Should we still read Shakespeare? This is a harder question than one might think. As universities focus on diversity, marginalized writers, and widening literary traditions, the so-called “dead-white man” becomes the symbol of everything unjust. No one has been caught in this debate more than The Bard. Is this fair? In this episode we look at his canonical texts and ask, not only whether they should be taught, but whether they are deserving of universal praise. Is Shakespeare really the highest form of English language? Is Romeo and Juliet really a great romance? Is his work objectively good in the first place.

Adam Kitzes is a Professor of English at the University of North Dakota. He is the author of The Politics of Melancholy from Spenser to Milton and has written numerous articles about Shakespeare and teaching literature.

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Publication Date

9-9-2018

Publisher

Institute for Philosophy in Public Life

City

Grand Forks, ND

Keywords

Shakespeare, William, 1564-1616--Criticism and interpretation ; English literature--Early modern, 1500-1700--History and criticism

Disciplines

Philosophy

Is Shakespeare still relevant?

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