S0909 Shakespeare and the World of Venice

Early modern England imagined the mediterranean and Venice as a crucible of cultural encounters, and used it as a stage so as to explore issues of identity and difference. In this way, the two Shakespearean dramas set up their own versions of this world as a platform to perform questions of fundamental relevance, whereas Jonson’s comedy, with a greater effort towards local detail, draws on practices of masquerading for its plot. Recent cinematic adaptations as well as political or postcolonial rewritings have refocussed as well as questioned these dramatic strategies and highlighted the constitutive role of outsiders for the community. Based on a close and careful reading of the early modern playtexts, the seminar will study these developments and look in detail at the various ways in which contemporary interpretations have engaged with the Renaissance world.

Evaluation method
Close reading and plenary discussion, based on short introductory lecture units; group work and project presentations; feeback through personal consultation; suggested evaluation through one oral presentation and one short written piece during the semester, plus an essay to be submitted by the end of the semester.