Shakespeare and the Evolution of the Human Umwelt: Adapt, Interpret, Mutate

Shakespeare and the Evolution of the Human Umwelt explores the relationship between nature and narrative, investigating how human bodies are stories told in the language of evolution and how they became storytellers themselves. It considers Shakespeare's plays and contemporary works as evolutionary artefacts that have shaped the human umwelt, and explores the juncture where semisphere meets biosphere. The book discusses Shakespeares works as vital nodes in cultural, historical, moral and philosophical networks, but also as environmental actors in and of themselves.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 134 pages
Publication date: 31 May 2023
Publisher: Taylor & Francis Ltd

Shakespeare and the Evolution of the Human Umwelt is a groundbreaking exploration that brings together diverse fields of research, including Shakespearean studies, biosemiotics, ecocriticism, epigenetics, and actor network theory. It delves into the intricate relationship between nature and narrative, aiming to understand how human bodies have become storytellers themselves within the emerging language of evolution. Through its chapters, the book examines Shakespeares plays and contemporary works, as well as productions influenced by his genetic heritage, as evolutionary artifacts that have shaped the human umwelt, the species-specific linguistic habitat shared by humans.

The work investigates the crossroads between the semisphere and the biosphere, shedding light on the crucial role of narrative in constructing our understanding of the world we inhabit. Shakespeare, with his unparalleled cultural diffusion, possesses a unique ability to address the materiality, environmentalism, and vitality of ideas and the texts they employ. The book explores Shakespeares works as vital nodes in cultural, historical, moral, and philosophical networks, while also recognizing their role as environmental actors in their own right.

Plays are presented as both digital encoded cultural bits awaiting connection to the analog world and as bacteria engaging in dynamic interactions with living organisms, altering their structures and creating new meanings through biological and poetic movement. This book holds immense appeal to students and scholars of ecocriticism, providing valuable insights for modeling ecocritical readings and bridging gaps between scientific, philosophical, and literary thinking. By unraveling the intricate connections between Shakespeare, biology, and the environment, Shakespeare and the Evolution of the Human Umwelt offers a profound and multifaceted perspective on the evolution of human consciousness and the role of storytelling in shaping our world.

Weight: 250g
Dimension: 233 x 156 x 13 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780367707903