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Genesee Week 2 English Renaissance

Casey Kaleba・48 minutes read

Shakespeare's unparalleled influence in literature, language, and culture is evident through adaptations of his works in various art forms and modern media, solidifying his enduring relevance and impact on society. The English Renaissance period, characterized by a resurgence in theater as an art form, saw innovation in acting, playwriting, and theater design, setting the stage for Shakespeare's monumental contributions to the world of drama and performance.

Insights

  • Shakespeare's unparalleled influence transcends time and mediums, with his works selling millions of copies annually, inspiring adaptations in various art forms, and permeating modern culture through movies and product associations, solidifying his global popularity and impact.
  • The English Renaissance, marked by Shakespeare's emergence, revolutionized theater through the creation of purpose-built theaters, the Crown's involvement in playwriting, the mix of comic and tragic elements in plays, and the exploration of diverse genres like romances, showcasing a period of innovation and creativity in English drama.
  • The English Renaissance's focus on complex characters, humanism, and direct audience engagement reshaped acting, with actors like Richard Burbage bringing depth to roles, while the architectural advancements in playhouses, blending indoor and outdoor traditions, transformed the theatrical experience, emphasizing the evolving relationship between theater and its spectators.

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Recent questions

  • What is the enduring significance of William Shakespeare?

    Shakespeare's works continue to influence art, culture, and language globally, with adaptations across various mediums and phrases originating from his plays.

  • What was the impact of the Protestant Reformation on England?

    The Protestant Reformation led to England's break from the Catholic Church, establishing the Anglican Church under Henry VIII's reign.

  • How did Shakespeare's plays reflect historical moments?

    Shakespeare's plays, like "Macbeth," tailored to appeal to King James I, reflected political themes and events of the time.

  • How did the English Renaissance revolutionize acting?

    The English Renaissance saw a revolution in acting, focusing on humanism and complex emotions, prompting changes in character portrayal and audience experience.

  • What architectural advancements were made in Elizabethan playhouses?

    Elizabethan playhouses featured enclosed spaces, thrust stages, and trap doors for dramatic effects, revolutionizing theater design during the era.

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Summary

00:00

Shakespeare's Enduring Influence on Modern Culture

  • The semester will focus on the English Renaissance, delving into the evolution of theater over the last 500 years, with a central emphasis on William Shakespeare's enduring significance.
  • Shakespeare's influence surpasses that of any other artist in history, with his works still selling over 10 million copies annually, generating $542 million in 2012 alone, and being studied by more than 64 million children worldwide each year.
  • Shakespeare's plays have been adapted into various forms of art, including paintings, operas, ballets, sculptures, graphic novels, cartoons, video games, and even pornography, showcasing his unparalleled impact across diverse mediums.
  • Notable movies like "Forbidden Planet," "10 Things I Hate About You," "Westside Story," and "My Private Idaho" are based on Shakespeare's plays, highlighting his enduring relevance in modern culture.
  • Shakespeare's name has been associated with various products like chocolates, pubs, cigars, beer, and even the moons of Uranus, underscoring his global popularity and influence.
  • Despite other popular artists like Taylor Swift, The Beatles, and Walt Disney drawing inspiration from Shakespeare, his impact on language and culture remains unparalleled, with phrases like "the milk of human kindness" and "strange bedfellows" originating from his works.
  • Shakespeare's birth in 1564 coincided with Queen Elizabeth I's reign, a pivotal period marked by England's transition to Protestantism under Henry VIII, leading to the Anglican Church's establishment and the dissolution of England's ties with the Vatican.
  • The Protestant Reformation, sparked by Martin Luther's actions in 1517, significantly influenced England's religious and political landscape, culminating in Henry VIII's break from the Catholic Church and the subsequent establishment of the Anglican Church.
  • Shakespeare's early life in Stratford-on-Avon, his marriage to Anne Hathaway, and the mysterious "Lost Years" between 1585 and 1592, during which he transitioned to London and began his career in theater, remain subjects of scholarly debate and speculation.
  • The English Renaissance marked a resurgence in theater as an art form, with the construction of purpose-built theaters like The Theatre in 1576 and the emergence of playwrights like Christopher Marlowe, whose works, including "Tamburlaine," revolutionized English drama and laid the foundation for Shakespeare's success.

19:05

Shakespeare's Plays: History, Language, and Influence

  • The Crown took an interest in London playwriting, with scripts submitted to the Master of Rebels for licensing.
  • English poets mixed comic and tragic elements in plays, with Shakespeare writing comedies, tragedies, and histories.
  • Towards the end of his career, Shakespeare experimented with genres, creating romances or problem plays.
  • Shakespeare's language, written in blank verse, utilized iambic pentameter with distinct character speech patterns.
  • Shakespeare's plays, like "Macbeth," reflected historical moments, with "Macbeth" tailored to appeal to King James I.
  • "Macbeth" featured witches, reflecting James's interest, and addressed political themes of the time.
  • The Porter scene in "Macbeth" touches on religious tensions, specifically addressing equivocation and Catholicism.
  • The Gunpowder Plot of 1605 influenced the creation of "Macbeth," with the play serving as a reaction to the event.
  • Shakespeare's plays were published in quarto editions, marking a shift in how plays circulated and were consumed.
  • The publication of Shakespeare's plays allowed for a consumer market, changing the relationship between theater and the public.

38:01

Shakespeare's enduring impact on English theater

  • Plays in the English Renaissance, particularly by Shakespeare, were meant to be enjoyed repeatedly, leading to the creation of the first folio, a collection of all of Shakespeare's plays, emphasizing the enduring nature of theater.
  • The first folio, published in 1623, contains all of Shakespeare's plays and is a rare and valuable book, with only 235 copies in existence, one of which sold for nearly $10 million in 2020.
  • Shakespeare, along with other writers like Marlowe, expanded the Greek and Roman model of theater, introducing more complex characters and changing how plays were written and experienced by audiences.
  • Richard Burbage, a famous actor of the English Renaissance, partnered with Shakespeare and specialized in playing heroic leads, bringing complexity and inner life to characters like Romeo, Hamlet, Macbeth, Othello, and King Lear.
  • The English Renaissance saw a revolution in acting, with a focus on humanism and the human condition, prompting changes in how actors portrayed characters and how audiences experienced theater.
  • Actors in the English Renaissance played characters with complex emotions, unlike the flat types seen in classical theater, requiring a different kind of actor to portray characters with identities rather than stereotypes.
  • The English Renaissance saw the tradition of men playing all parts, including female roles, with female performers only arriving on the English stage after King Charles II restored the monarchy in 1660.
  • Elizabethan actors employed direct address, speaking directly to the audience, drawing them into the world of the play, similar to how singers engage with a crowd at a concert.
  • Acting companies in the Elizabethan era were formed under the sponsorship of aristocrats, providing job stability and allowing playwrights to compose plays tailored to the strengths of the company's actors.
  • The architecture of Elizabethan playhouses represented a significant advancement in theater design, blending outdoor and indoor performance traditions to create enclosed, unroofed spaces with stages and central courtyards for performances.

56:54

Theatrical Evolution in Elizabethan London

  • The Red Lion, constructed in 1567, was the first theater building, featuring a stage with a trap door and a 30ft turret for flying effects.
  • John Burbage's Theater, built in 1576, marked a shift towards classical culture revival, located north of London, where Shakespeare and Richard Burbage gained prominence.
  • The Entertainment District of South Bank, beyond London's jurisdiction, housed various attractions like bear baiting pits, brothels, and theaters, including the Rose Theater where Marlowe's plays drew crowds.
  • The Elizabethan playhouses, like the Globe, accommodated 1500-2000 people, with a thrust stage, tiring house, and trap doors for dramatic effects.
  • The enclosed theaters allowed control over the audience, with admission costing a penny for the pit, while covered seats catered to wealthier patrons.
  • The Elizabethan theaters focused on direct audience engagement, minimal scenery changes, and suggestive props, with occasional elaborate magic tricks and accidents like the Globe Theater fire in 1613, marking the end of the era.
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