Screening Gender in Shakespeare's Comedies: Film and Television Adaptations in the Twenty-First Century

Cinema and television have to adapt Shakespeare's comedies to contemporary cultural, social, and political contexts, which Screening Gender in Shakespeares Comedies: Film and Television Adaptations in the Twenty-First Century explores. It discusses mainstream cinematic productions and low-key adaptations, as well as the BBC ShakespeaRe-Told miniseries. It examines how films deal with subversive elements and interpret or update gender issues to reconcile Shakespeare with contemporary cultural norms.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 294 pages
Publication date: 02 July 2021
Publisher: Lexington Books

When adapting Shakespeare's comedies, cinema and television face the challenge of reconciling the differences and incompatibilities between early modern gender constructs and contemporary cultural, social, and political contexts. Screening Gender in Shakespeares Comedies: Film and Television Adaptations in the Twenty-First Century delves into the methods employed by these mediums in approaching the complexities of Shakespeare's comedies, highlighting a diverse range of approaches taken in the twenty-first century. This comprehensive book explores both mainstream cinematic productions, such as Michael Radford's The Merchant of Venice or Julie Taymor's The Tempest, as well as more low-key adaptations, such as Kenneth Branagh's As You Like It and Joss Whedon's Much Ado About Nothing. Additionally, it examines the three comedies of BBC ShakespeaRe-Told miniseries: Much Ado About Nothing, The Taming of the Shrew, and A Midsummer Night's Dream.

The book aims to analyze how the analyzed films navigate elements of Shakespeare's comedies that may appear subversive, challenging, or offensive to contemporary culture, while also interpreting or updating gender issues to align Shakespeare with modern cultural norms. By examining the tensions and negotiations between early modern and present-day gender politics, the book establishes the prevailing attitudes of recent adaptations in relation to these issues and identifies the most effective strategies employed to accommodate early modern constructs for contemporary audiences.

In conclusion, Screening Gender in Shakespeares Comedies: Film and Television Adaptations in the Twenty-First Century offers a valuable exploration of the ways in which cinema and television have approached Shakespeare's comedies in the twenty-first century. Through its comprehensive analysis of adaptations, the book sheds light on the challenges and opportunities presented by the intersection of gender, culture, and politics, providing insights into the prevailing attitudes and strategies employed by filmmakers and producers in adapting Shakespeare's works for modern audiences.

Weight: 434g
Dimension: 151 x 230 x 23 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781498563765