Popular Shakespeare: Simulation and Subversion on the Modern StageIn recent years, the 'Popular Shakespeare' phenomenon has become ever more pervasive: whether in fringe productions, mainstream theatre, or the mass media, Shakespeare is increasingly constructed as an authentic part of popular culture.
 Naturally, these attempts to bring one of the most iconic symbols of high art into the realm of the popular have their problems. 'Popular Shakespeares' will frequently attempt to re-write the past or ignore cultural difference, postulating a universal appeal which transcends the barriers of class, nationality, and even history.