Hauptseminar Adaptations of Shakespeare

Ever since Kenneth Branagh’s ground-breaking adaptation of Henry V in 1989, there has been a constant flow of ambitious film versions of Shakespeare’s works, which have succeeded in breathing new life into the old texts. From the wide range of contemporary adaptations of Shakespeare this seminar will focus on the cinematic transformations of four very different plays: the unsettling, but aesthetically challenging adaptation of Shakespeare’s earliest and goriest tragedy Titus Andronicus by Julie Taymor (2003), Michael Radford’s intriguing new interpretation of The Merchant of Venice (2004), Trevor Nunn’s adaptation of Shakespeare’s dark comedy Twelfth Night (1996) and finally Branagh’s own highly successful appropriation of the comedy Much Ado About Nothing (1995). Please note that this is not a mere film-watching seminar. We will first engage in close readings of the plays and examine issues such as the use of power and violence, the staging of cultural otherness and the negotiation of gender relations before we move on to a detailed analysis of filmic techniques and intermedial recontextualization in the movie versions. Students who wish to participate must have read Titus Andronicus and pp. 1-37 of Jonathan Bate’s introduction to the play in the New Arden edition prior to the first session and be able to pass a quiz on these texts. Titus Andronicus (New Arden edition, ed. Jonathan Bate, ISBN: 978-1-903436-059) The Merchant of Venice (New Arden edition, ed. John Drakakis, ISBN: 978-1903436813) Twelfth Night (New Arden edition, ed. Keir Elam, ISBN: 978-1-903436-998) Much Ado About Nothing (New Arden edition, ed. Claire McEachern, ISBN: 978-1-903436-837) These editions are recommended for purchase. Please refer to the reserve shelf (Semesterapparat) in BB2 for critical sources on the plays and their adaptations. The New Arden editions of the plays will be available there, too. Voraussetzungen Successful completion of an undergraduate research paper (please see your PO and Modulhandbuch for details). Leistungsnachweis Graduate research paper (20-25 standard pages) and active particiation. FB 02 Institut für Anglistik / Amerikanistik Successful completion of an undergraduate research paper (please see your PO and Modulhandbuch for details). Graduate research paper (20-25 standard pages) and active particiation. Uni Kassel WiSe 2013/14 Amerikanistik Dr. Heiler Lars