Retheorizing Shakespeare through Presentist Readings

This book offers a theoretical rationale for the emerging presentist movement in Shakespeare studies and goes on to show, in a series of close readings, that a presentist Shakespeare is not an anachronism. Relying on a Brechtian aesthetic of "naïve surrealism" as the performative model of the early modern, urban, public theater, James O'Rou

List of contents

Introduction: Retheorizing Shakespeare 1. Spectres of Intention: Epic Theatre and the Lessons of Theory 2. Boys Will Be Boys: Subtexts and Afterthoughts in the Comedies 3. Racism and Homophobia in The Merchant of Venice 4. Love and Object-Cathexis in Troilus and Cressida: Just One of Those Things 5. The Exotic/Erotic and the Group: Othello 6. King Lear and the Art of Dying Notes Performance Bibliography Index

About the author

James O’Rourke is a Professor in the Department of English, Florida State University, US. His previous books include Sex,Lies and Autobiography: The Ethics of Confession and Keats’s Odes and Contemporary Criticism.

Summary

This book offers a theoretical rationale for the emerging presentist movement in Shakespeare studies and goes on to show, in a series of close readings, that a presentist Shakespeare is not an anachronism. Relying on a Brechtian aesthetic of "naïve surrealism" as the performative model of the early modern, urban, public theater, James O’Rou

Product details

• Authors: James O'Rourke, O'Rourke James
• Publisher: Taylor and Francis
• Languages: English
• Product format: Paperback / Softback
• Released: 14.10.2024
• EAN: 9781032927824
• ISBN: 978-1-032-92782-4
• No. of pages: 202
• Weight: 453 g
• Series: Routledge Studies in Shakespeare
• Subjects: Fiction > Poetry, drama > Drama; Humanities, art, music > Linguistics and literary studies > General and comparative literary studies; LITERARY CRITICISM / General, LITERARY CRITICISM / Semiotics & Theory, LITERARY CRITICISM / Shakespeare, Literary theory, Classic and pre-20th century plays, Shakespeare Plays, Relating to Shakespeare / Shakespearean