Broadcast your Shakespeare: Continuity and Change Across Media

This volume of essays explores Shakespeare's dynamic media history through a comparativist approach, addressing the variety of ways his texts have been expressed through different media and their ongoing impact. It emphasizes the importance of media specificity and continuity in enhancing Shakespeare pedagogy and research.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 336 pages
Publication date: 27 June 2019
Publisher: Bloomsbury Publishing PLC

This collection of essays makes a significant contribution to the ongoing discussions surrounding Shakespeare in new media. By adopting a comparative approach to Shakespeare's dynamic media history, it advances the field in meaningful ways. The contributors to Broadcast Your Shakespeare explore the diverse ways in which Shakespeare's texts have been conveyed through various media and continue to resonate. These international scholars, situated at the intersection of Shakespeare studies and media studies, also examine the role that specific media plays in shaping our interpretation and engagement with Shakespeare, whether as readers, viewers, or users. The volume proposes that current analyses of new media Shakespeare can benefit greatly from insights gained from older media, and that a recognition of both media specificity and continuity can enrich Shakespeare pedagogy and research.

Introduction:
The advent of new media has brought about a transformative shift in the way we engage with Shakespeare's works. With the proliferation of digital platforms, audiences now have access to a wide range of interpretations, adaptations, and performances of Shakespeare's plays, blurring the boundaries between traditional and contemporary media. This volume aims to explore the complex interplay between Shakespeare and new media, examining how these two mediums have influenced and shaped each other over time.

Comparative Approach:
The collection takes a comparative approach, drawing on insights from various disciplines such as literature, media studies, and cultural studies. By comparing different media representations of Shakespeare, contributors aim to identify patterns, trends, and resonances that transcend boundaries. This approach allows for a deeper understanding of Shakespeare's influence on media and vice versa, shedding light on the ways in which new media have revitalized and reimagined his works.

Media Specificity:
One of the key themes explored in the volume is the notion of media specificity. Each medium has its own unique characteristics and affordances, which shape the way Shakespeare's texts are expressed and received. Contributors examine how different media platforms, such as film, television, theater, and digital media, have influenced the interpretation and reception of Shakespeare's plays. They analyze the visual and auditory elements, the pacing, the editing, and the sound design, to understand how these elements contribute to the overall experience of the audience.

Continuity and Change:
While new media have brought about significant changes in the way Shakespeare's works are presented, they also recognize the importance of continuity with older media. Contributors explore how Shakespeare's texts have been adapted and reinterpreted across different media platforms, preserving his core themes and messages while adapting to the technological advancements of each era. They also consider the impact of new media on the broader periodization of Shakespeare's career, challenging traditional narratives and suggesting new ways of understanding his development as a playwright.

Shakespearean Pedagogy and Research:
The volume also emphasizes the role of new media in enhancing Shakespearean pedagogy and research. By providing access to a wide range of resources and perspectives, it opens up new avenues for teaching and learning Shakespeare's works. It encourages educators, scholars, and educators and students to engage with Shakespeare's texts in innovative and dynamic ways, leveraging the power media's potential to facilitate interdisciplinary dialogue and promote a deeper understanding of his plays.

Conclusion:
In conclusion, this volume of essays makes a significant contribution to the ongoing debates surrounding Shakespeare in new media. By adopting a comparative approach, it advances the field in meaningful ways, shedding light on the complex interplay between Shakespeare and new media. Through its exploration of media specificity, specificity, continuity, and change, it offers valuable insights into the ways in which new media have revitalized and reimagined his works, while also recognizing the importance of continuity with older media. The volume encourages scholars, educators, and students to engage with Shakespeare's texts in innovative and dynamic ways, leveraging the media's potential to facilitate interdisciplinary dialogue and promote a deeper understanding of his plays.

Weight: 354g
Dimension: 129 x 197 x 21 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781350118829