Liberating Shakespeare: Adaptation and Empowerment for Young Adult Audiences

The COVID-19 pandemic, digital shaming, violence against women, sexual bullying, racial slurs, and injustice are some of the problems faced by today's young adults. Liberating Shakespeare explores how adaptations of Shakespeare's plays can be used to empower young audiences by addressing these issues. This collection examines a wide variety of creative works made for and by young people that harness the power of Shakespeare to address contemporary culture's most pressing questions, offering moments of hope for an uncertain future.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 240 pages
Publication date: 15 June 2023
Publisher: Bloomsbury Publishing PLC

The COVID-19 pandemic has brought forth a collective trauma that has impacted the lives of young adults in numerous ways. Digital shaming, violence against women, sexual bullying, and racial slurs and injustice are just a few of the challenges they face daily. These issues not only affect their physical and mental well-being but also contribute to a sense of disempowerment and hopelessness.

Liberating Shakespeare is a project that aims to empower young audiences by addressing these pressing issues through adaptations of Shakespeare's plays. The project recognizes the power of Shakespeare to speak to the complexities of contemporary culture and to offer moments of hope and resistance.

The collection explores a wide variety of approaches to understanding, adapting, adapting, and teaching Shakespeare. It examines the significant number of Shakespeare adaptations targeting adolescent audiences in the past 25 years. The contributors to the volume consider whether the representations of characters and situations in YA Shakespeare can function as empowering models for students and how these works might be employed within educational settings.

One of the key themes of the collection is the representation of violence. The contributors argue that YA Shakespeare can be used to explore the complexities of violence, both physical and emotional, and to offer young audiences a deeper understanding of the causes and consequences of violence. They also explore how YA Shakespeare can be used to challenge stereotypes and promote empathy and understanding.

Another theme of the collection is race relations and intersectionality. The contributors argue that YA Shakespeare can be used to explore the experiences of marginalized communities, such as Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC), and to promote a more inclusive and equitable society. They also explore how YA Shakespeare can be used to challenge harmful stereotypes and promote positive representations of diverse identities.

The collection also examines the role of YA Shakespeare in promoting social justice and activism. The contributors argue that YA Shakespeare can be used to raise awareness of social issues and to inspire young audiences to take action. They also explore how YA Shakespeare can be used to promote empathy and understanding and to challenge oppressive systems and structures.

In conclusion, Liberating Shakespeare is a valuable resource for educators, artists, and activists who are interested in using adaptations of Shakespeare's plays to empower young audiences and promote social justice and activism. The collection offers a wide variety of approaches to understanding, adapting, adapting, and teaching Shakespeare and provides a wealth of insights and ideas for those working to create more inclusive and equitable societies and societies.

Weight: 314g
Dimension: 138 x 216 x 21 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781350320253