The love story of Romeo and Juliet is absolutely iconic. Staged in theatres across the globe and adapted in popular film productions, operas and ballets, the play offers a chance to study adaptation across different arts and media. Such a study also affords a glimpse into the global and hybridised life of Shakespeare’s work. Last but not least, it will allow us to develop a deeper understanding of the historical nature of love.
The seminar begins with a close-reading of Shakespeare’s original play in context before moving on to individual adaptations and productions. We will focus on the work of transposition that enables adaptation in different media and on the limits and possibilities of individual media. We will also reflect on the curious temporality of adaptations that use past scripts to make sense of the present. |
