Humanities Arts Cultural Stu 0302 - Advanced Shakespeare Seminar

This advanced seminar will meet for three hours weekly to read, in conjunction with selected theoretical and historical material, the texts of eleven plays by Shakespeare. The selection of plays will span Shakespeare's career and will include all genres. Through careful reading and discussion, we will explore what makes Shakespeare's plays so powerful, both for Renaissance audiences and for modern-day ones. In particular, we will focus on the complex language and structures of Shakespeare's plays, the cultural and formal models that they challenge, and the historical conditions under which they were written and performed. Our theoretical readings will give a sense of new directions in the field of Shakespeare studies, including globalization, eco-criticism, affect studies, queer theory, and performance studies. Students will be expected: to participate fully, to give an opening presentation; to post frequent responses; to engage in informal performance; and to write two short papers and a longer, research-based paper. Prerequisite: at least one previous literature course.

Independent Work Writing and Research Multiple Cultural Perspectives In this course students are expected to spend at least 6 hours weekly in preparation and work outside of class time.