Shakespeare and Accentism

This collection explores the consequences of accentism in the Shakespeare industry across languages and cultures, focusing on how accents operate as metasigns reinforcing ethno-racial stereotypes and social hierarchies. It adopts a transmedia and transhistorical approach, attending to foreign speech patterns in both the early modern and post-modern periods, and embracing new methodologies to reorient attention away from the visual and onto the aural dimensions of performance.

Format: Hardback
Length: 222 pages
Publication date: 29 December 2020
Publisher: Taylor & Francis Ltd

This collection delves into the profound implications of accentism, a relatively understudied phenomenon that intersects with racism and classism within the Shakespearean industry across languages and cultures, both in the past and present. Rather than limiting itself to the study of Original Pronunciation, which has traditionally dominated the field, the OP project adopts a transmedia and transhistorical approach. This approach seeks to broaden the scope of inquiry and challenge the dominance of a single linguistic perspective.

However, the OP project takes a cautious approach when dealing with linguistically foreign characters such as Othello. The inclusion of these characters introduces additional complexities to the reconstruction process, as their aberrant speech patterns pose challenges to the accuracy of the reproduction. Consequently, the project avoids incorporating linguistically foreign characters to maintain the integrity of its objective.

Furthermore, the collection eschews discussing contemporary, global practices within the context of accentism. Instead, it prioritizes the pursuit of an aural purity that, arguably, never existed. This quest for an idealized soundscape drives the enterprise and shapes its methodologies.

In contrast, this collection takes a more comprehensive approach by examining foreign speech patterns across different periods, including the early modern and post-modern eras. It explores how accents function as metasigns that reinforce ethno-racial stereotypes and social hierarchies. By adopting a broader lens, the collection seeks to shed light on the multifaceted ways in which accents shape the interpretation and reception of Shakespearean performances.

To achieve this, the collection embraces new methodologies that redirect attention away from the visual aspects of performance and towards the aural dimensions. It encourages scholars to engage with the sounds and rhythms of language, as well as the ways in which accents create meaning and convey cultural identity. Through this reorientation, the collection aims to provide a more nuanced and comprehensive understanding of accentism in the Shakespearean industry.

In conclusion, this collection offers a valuable contribution to the field of Shakespearean studies by exploring the consequences of accentism in a transmedia and transhistorical context. Through its innovative approach and interdisciplinary methodologies, it sheds light on the complex interplay between language, culture, and performance, challenging traditional narratives and promoting a more inclusive and diverse understanding of Shakespearean works.

Weight: 486g
Dimension: 159 x 236 x 20 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780367676735