Shakespeare's Pictures: Visual Objects in the Drama

Shakespeare's Pictures is the first full-length study of visual objects in Shakespearean drama, exploring their role in theatrical performance and their impact on performance history. Keir Elam examines the conflicted cooperation between the visual and the verbal, with 46 images.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 400 pages
Publication date: 21 March 2019
Publisher: Bloomsbury Publishing PLC

Shakespeare's Pictures: A Comprehensive Exploration of Visual Objects in Shakespearean Drama
Shakespeare's Pictures: A Comprehensive Exploration of Visual Objects in Shakespearean Drama is the first full-length study of visual objects in Shakespearean drama. In several plays, such as Hamlet, The Merchant of Venice, and Twelfth Night, pictures are brought on stage as part of the dramatic action, either as portraits or other images. Shakespeare's characters show, exchange, and describe these pictures, which can arouse strong feelings of desire, nostalgia, or contempt in their beholders. These pictures are an integral part of the language of the drama and have a significant impact on theatrical performance, from Shakespeare's time to our own.

Keir Elam's book pays close attention to the iconographic and literary contexts of Shakespeare's pictures while also exploring their role in performance history. Highly illustrated with 46 images, this volume examines the conflicted cooperation between the visual and the verbal.

One of the key themes of Shakespeare's Pictures is the way in which pictures are used to convey meaning and emotion. Pictures can be used to represent characters, settings, and events, and can also be used to create a sense of atmosphere and mood. For example, in Hamlet, the ghost of Hamlet's father appears as a picture, and this picture is used to convey the ghost's message to Hamlet.

Pictures can also be used to create tension and conflict in a play. For example, in The Merchant of Venice, the picture of Shylock's daughter is used to create tension between Shylock and Antonio, and this tension is ultimately resolved in the play's climax.

In addition to their use in the dramatic action, pictures can also be used to create a sense of spectacle in a play. For example, in Twelfth Night, the picture of the Duke of Milan's palace is used to create a sense of grandeur and luxury.

However, the use of pictures in Shakespeare's drama is not without its challenges. One of the main challenges is the fact that pictures can be difficult to interpret. Pictures can be interpreted in many different ways, and it can be difficult to determine what the artist intended to convey. This can lead to confusion and misunderstanding among audiences.

Another challenge is the fact that pictures can be expensive to produce. In Shakespeare's time, pictures were often painted by hand, and this process was time-consuming and expensive. This can make it difficult for theaters to produce plays that include a large number of pictures.

Despite these challenges, pictures continue to be an important part of Shakespeare's drama. Pictures can be used to convey meaning and emotion, create tension and conflict, and create a sense of spectacle. In recent years, there has been a growing interest in the use of pictures in Shakespeare's drama, and there have been many productions that have included a large number of pictures.

One of the most notable productions of Shakespeare's Pictures is the Royal Shakespeare Company's production of Hamlet. This production featured a large number of pictures, including portraits of Hamlet, his father, and his mother. The pictures were used to convey the ghost's message to Hamlet, and they were also used to create a sense of atmosphere and mood.

Another notable production of Shakespeare's Pictures is the National Theatre's production of The Merchant of Venice. This production featured a large number of pictures, including portraits of Shylock and Antonio. The pictures were used to create tension and conflict between Shylock and Antonio, and they were also used to create a sense of spectacle.

In addition to these productions, there have been many other productions that have included a large number of pictures. For example, the Royal Shakespeare Company's production of Twelfth Night featured a large number of pictures, including portraits of the Duke of Milan and his daughter.

Despite the challenges of using pictures in Shakespeare's drama, pictures continue to be an important part of the language of the drama. Pictures can be used to convey meaning and emotion, create tension and conflict, and create a sense of spectacle. In recent years, there has been a growing interest in the use of pictures in Shakespeare's drama, and there have been many productions that have included a large number of pictures.

In conclusion, Shakespeare's Pictures: A Comprehensive Exploration of Visual Objects in Shakespearean Drama is the first full-length study of visual objects in Shakespearean drama. Pictures are used to convey meaning and emotion, create tension and conflict, and create a sense of spectacle in Shakespeare's drama. Despite the challenges of using pictures in Shakespeare's drama, pictures continue to be an important part of the language of the drama. In recent years, there has been a growing interest in the use of pictures in Shakespeare's drama, and there have been many productions that have included a large number of pictures.

Weight: 428g
Dimension: 129 x 203 x 20 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781350106109