Shakespeare has been misread for centuries as having modern ideas about sex and gender. This book shows how in the Restoration and Eighteenth century, Shakespeare’s plays and other Renaissance texts were adapted to make them conform to these modern ideas. Through readings of Shakespearean texts, the book reveals a sexual world before heterosexuality. Shakespeare and Renaissance Literature Before Heterosexuality shows how revisions and criticism of Renaissance drama contributed to the emergence of heterosexuality. It also shows how changing ideas about status, adultery, friendship, and race were factors in that emergence.
Covering the period from the accession of James I to the death of Queen Anne, this Companion provides a magisterial overview of the ‘long' seventeenth century in British history. Comprizes original contributions by leading scholars of seventeenth-century British history. Gives a magisterial overview of the ‘long' seventeenth century. Offers new insights into the major political, religious and economic changes that occurred during this period. Sets out issues currently of interest to historians. Includes bibliographical guidance for students and general readers.
The uniquely thematic approach of this resource will help teachers and librarians identify pertinent works of modern drama for students, and will enhance readers' understanding of these works. Organized alphabetically around 33 themes, each chapter presents an engaging essay exploring different perspectives of the theme in three representative plays.
Considers the bids of successive post-war dramatists to find language and images of remorseless disclosure, appropriate to the public manifestation of sensed crisis and the interrogation of the ideal of renewal David Rabey introduces the period and its discourse while redefining them, to give proper consideration to developments of themes, styles, concerns and contexts from the 80s to the present. The book offers succinct and analytical introductions to the work of 60 dramatists, while arguing for (re)appraisal of many dates critical perspectives, in order to stimulate further argument in the field. For those interested in Modern English drama.
Is theater really dead? Does the theater, as its champions insist, really provide a more intimate experience than film? If so, how have changes in cinematic techniques and technologies altered the relationship between stage and film? What are the inherent limitations of representing three-dimensional spaces in a two-dimensional one, and vice versa?American Drama in the Age of Film examines the strengths and weaknesses of both the dramatic and cinematic arts to confront the standard arguments in the film-versus-theater debate.
