http://lawlit.blogspot.com/2008/04/bradin-cormack-has-published-strange.html This paper explores how, in Shakespeare‘s sonnets (and in the plays), Shakespeare looks to legal tenure and the mechanics of common-law possession to explore the claim of erotic relation and erotic estrangement on the speaking self and its “self-possession.” I have no idea.
Month: April 2008
Kid's Lit : King of Shadows
http://www.booksunderthebridge.com/2008/04/king-of-shadows-susan-cooper.html Interesting sounding book (story?) about a kid who travels to London for a chance to act in Dream, only to wake up 400 years ago in a production directed by Shakespeare himself.
Wait…Hidden Portrait? What?
http://1stangel.co.uk/art/x-rays-uncover-hidden-portrait On the phone right now booking a trip to Disney…but this looks fascinating……
Is Tybalt Deaf?
Actually I’m just being silly, but I noticed this morning that Tybalt’s first two lines, literally, are “What?” Enter Tybalt TYBALT What, are thou drawn among these heartless hinds? Turn thee, Benvolio, look upon they death. BENVOLIO I do but keep the peace: put up they sword, Or manage it to part these men with me. TYBALT What, drawn, and talk of peace! I hate the word, As I hate hell, all Montagues, and thee: Have at thee, coward! Reminds me of a neighborhood bully when we were growing up. Whenever you said something that he felt like taking as insulting he’d always start with a “What?” Far from being intimidating, it only made him seem stupid, like he was never fully able to process that he’d been insulted. There used to be a pro-wrestler who did a whole big gimmick out of punctuating his interviews with “What?” whenever somebody else was talking. I realize of course that it is not being used in that context. It’s actually a pretty common interjection in Shakespeare’s dialogue, I count 14 times in R&J alone. Taming of the Shrew has 22!
Sesame Street Shakespeare
http://www.babble.com/CS/blogs/strollerderby/archive/2008/04/29/sesame-street-video-theater-edition.aspx You know, when I found a list of YouTube clips featuring Sesame Street doing Shakespeare, I was very excited. With 3 little kids running around my house I’m one of those adults who’ll giggle hysterically every time Cookie Monster eats poor Prairie Dawn’s letter of the day. There’s a surprising number of references for adults to be found in the show (I once saw Grover make a Cherry Orchard reference). Alas, the skits just aren’t that good. Having a bunch of puppets running around adding “eth” and “ooth” to the ends of all their words does not make for a Shakespeare skit, in my booketh. Although the Waiting For Godot one is pretty good, if only for Cookie Monster’s description.