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checkoutmybookshelf · 3 months

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This is an Awfully Slim Book to Talk about Everything...

This book was a Christmas gift from my family a bunch of years ago, and to this day it's one of my favorite popular literary analysis books. The juxtaposition of this slim little tome and the big "EVERYTHING" in the title is enough of a visual tension to make you jump in. And I did. Voraciously. And repeatedly. And then when I started teaching and tutoring, this book was a huge help in that it was an unintimidating entry point into thinking about the Shakespearean corpus and its impacts on life. I even let one of my tutor students borrow this book, and I do NOT let people borrow my books. So let's talk How Shakespeare Changed Everything.

...do...do I...do I need to put a spoiler for Shakespeare here? I really hope I don't, but I guess SPOILERS BELOW THE BREAK?

I think the best way to do this is to just briefly go over each of the ten chapters of this book, because each one takes up and different topic and gives an overview of it.

The book's introduction introduces the conceit of the book and essentially reasserts that Shakespeare was the popular media of his day, before alluding to the power of popular media to change, well, basically everything. We also get just an amazing cross-section of some of the wilder ways people engage with the bard, including the Shakespeare Mas (google this or read the book, I promise you won't be disappointed). The introduction ends on this just incredible line: "All that strange power, all his world-shaking, reality-transforming impact begins from a simple but mysterious truth: His stories sound good to everybody." And honestly? I don't think I can disagree with that.

The Fortunes of the Moor

This phenomenal first chapter is a stunning overview of the performance history of Othello, and particularly highlights Paul Robeson and Ira Aldridge, two of the famous historical Black actors to play Othello. This chapter also speedruns the history of racism in American theatre, whether or not the play is racist, and the role of mixed-race sex in the play. This chapter is a fantastic introduction to both Othello and race in Shakespeare, and it grounds itself in performance history anecdotes that never fail to be fascinating.

Words, Words, Words

This chapter does not focus so much on a single play as it does on the words Shakespeare added to the English lexicon, and what the knock-on effects of those added words are. It also brings up two words that we just...straight up don't have definitions for: prenzie and scamels. This is a more linguistic-focused chapter, but it's still fun and has a ton of excellent examples of how to close read Shakespeare passages for linguistic purposes, and it's a fabulous teaching tool for that.

The Beast with Two Backs

Oh yeah. It's the sex chapter. Sex in Shakespeare is way more prevalent than school boards are aware of--as evidenced by the fact that not even the avid book banners in Florida in the year of our lord 2024 seem to have caught on to the fact that Shakespeare is transgressive AF and tried to ban him (as far as I know). This chapter explores how Shakespeare uses sex and sexuality, how people have tried to censor and liberate Shakespeare because of it, and author Stephen Marche asserts that, "If you've had sex without shame, sec for pleasure, for fun, for any reason other than procreation within marriage--Shakespeare, more than any other single figure, is responsible for the climate of permissiveness that made it possible." So I'm sorry if this is how you have to find out that Shakespeare is all about characters doing the sex at each other, but you cannot approach these plays without understanding that sex and sexuality are a huge part of the plays.

Flaming Youth

So strictly speaking, the word "adolescent" has been around since the Middle English period, and the OED cites the earliest instance of the word in 1440. That said, adolescence as we know it wasn't necessarily something that Shakespeare knew. That, of course, did not stop him from writing about teenagers. This chapter is all about teenagers, teen culture, and Shakespeare, and honestly this was the chapter that had my student asking me if he could borrow this book. If you are teaching teens and they're reluctant to see how Shakespeare relates to them, this is my recommendation for a short reading to change their minds.

All Honorable Men

In this chapter we focus back in on a specific play: Julius Caesar. This book predates the 2016, 2020, and 2024 US presidential elections, and this play and its relationship to US politics and presidents have been well trodden since, but this is still a solid look at how Shakespeare is inevitably tangled up in US politics and how we relate to them. We also get some super juicy details about John Wilkes Booth and his theatre career prior to the Sic Semper Tyrannis event. It also is a good entry point to how how Shakespeare uses (and abuses) political rhetoric in ways that are uncomfortable similar to modern politicians.

To Hold a Mirror Up to Nature

The moral of this chapter is to not use your fandom as an excuse to low-key commit ecological terrorism. *massively side-eyes Eugene Schiefflin*

Give Me My Robe, Put On My Crown

If "All Honorable Men" focused on US presidential politics, this chapter expands Shakespeare's political reach globally, showing how world leaders and politicians have used and appropriated Shakespeare for all sorts of purposes.

Not Marble, nor the Gilded Monuments

This is the English major chapter of this book. It does a beautiful job of beginning to contextualize Shakespeare's place in the western literary canon, and more than a few famous writers' relationships with him. It even gives a nod to Shakespeare's relationship with more modern popular culture (Shakespeare is best in the original Klingon, anyone?).

A King of Infinite Space

Previous chapters have been heavy and serious, which Shakespeare absolutely is. But that's not ALL Shakespeare is. This chapter focuses on the mundane and profane that is Shakespeare. It asserts that Shakespeare is anyone's who wants him, however they want him. And as a Shakespeare scholar who has herself been a bit of a snob in her younger years, this is an IMPORTANT reminder. Yes, Shakespeare is heady themes, tragedy, and important topics of discussion...but it's also three butt jokes in a trench coat that turns to the audience, farts, and immediately begins pelvic thrusting. A king of infinite space indeed...

To Be or Not to Be

This chapter explore Shakespeare, the man, the myth, the legend. Quite literally, because we don't really have all that much hard historical knowledge about Shakespeare, and his plays are such that trying to argue anything about the playwright from the plays is deeply problematic at least. There is also a really interesting discussion about the extant portraits of Shakespeare and which one Marche thinks might be the most accurate. This chapter is a wonderful reminder that Shakespeare is both man and myth, and the man and the myth have blurred and merged to become legend. (And this is why I straight refuse to play the author question game. It's not worth it.)

Overall, I adore this book. It's a great introduction to the breadth of the field of Shakespeare studies in a deeply accessible way. The writing and the tone are light, playful, and deeply entertaining. This is one of my FUN reads about Shakespeare, and I think that if high school or early college students want an accessible, fun way into the wider world of academic Shakespeare studies, they could do a lot worse than starting here.

#shakespeare #shakespeare studies #academic shakespeare #book review #books and reading #books #books and novels #book recommendations

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fantomcomics · 2 years

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What’s Out This Week? 9/28

How the gentle wind,

Beckons through the leaves,

As autumn colors fall.

The Roadie #1 (of 4) - Tim Seeley & Fran Galan

From Tim Seeley (Hack/Slash, Revival) and Fran Galán (Lucky Devil) comes this horror saga about nostalgia, heavy metal music, hell, and redemption. More than thirty-five years after his heyday, a former heavy metal roadie must return to the backroads of America to do a job he thought he'd retired from: exorcist. But this time, he's not saving groupies and drunk bassists. He's trying to save his daughter.

Briar #1 (of 4) - Christopher Cantwell & German Garcia

What if Sleeping Beauty never got her happily ever after... and instead had to save herself? Set in a brutal fantasy world that time forgot, this isn't the fairy tale you know! Eisner Award-nominated writer, producer, and director Christopher Cantwell (Iron Man, The United States of Captain America, Halt and Catch Fire) and rising artist Germán García (Ka-Zar: Lord of the Savage Land) reimagine the classic tale as an epic dark fantasy adventure.

Hell Is A Squared Circle One-Shot - Chris Condon, Francesco Biagini & Jacob Phillips

Is Wrestling Noir a genre? It is now!

Ted "The Irish Mooska" Walsh is a third-tier wrestling heel with a problem - himself. He's behind on rent, child support and his career, but he thinks he can change things. As he attempts to take control of his life, his actions leave him with blood on his hands. Ted finds himself on the run from the authorities and the darkness of his past. As Ted tries to escape his former self and build a new, better future, his mistakes come back to haunt him - in the ring and out of it. HELL IS A SQUARED CIRCLE is a 48-page Prestige Format ONE SHOCK from Writer Chris Condon (That Texas Blood) and illustrated by Francesco Biagini (Dingo, 18 Days). Don't miss out on this body slam to hell from such an electrifying creative team.

Hollow OGN - Shannon Watters, Branden Boyer-White, Berenice Nelle & Naomi Franquiz

Isabel "Izzy" Crane and her family just moved to the infamous Sleepy Hollow, but as a slick skeptic from the city, she's too busy adjusting to the change of scenery for ghost stories-they're not real, after all. Then she meets Vicky Van Tassel (yes, THAT Van Tassel) and the loveable prankster Croc Byun. Vicky's weariness with the legend turns to terror when the Horseman himself shows up, along with a curse set on destroying the Van Tassel line. Now, they have only until Halloween night to break the curse. What an inconvenient time for Izzy to develop a massive crush on Vicky! Can Izzy and her new friends uncover the mystery of the Headless Horseman before it's too late?

Flawed #1 (of 6) - Chuck Brown & Prenzy

Gem Ezz is a psychiatrist in the Kafkaesque city of Setham, where corruption and brutality rule the streets. By day, she uses words to solve her patients' problems. By night, she takes a more direct-and sometimes deadly-approach. But when her practice puts her in the sights of an immortal serial killer, Gem finds herself embroiled in a power struggle that threatens everything she's ever known.

Dinosaur Sanctuary GN Vol 1 - Itaru Kinoshita

In 1946, someone discovered an island where dinosaurs had survived into the present. Through breeding and genetic manipulation, humans managed to increase their population and supercharge their popularity! Until, well... the unfortunate accident, when people's attitudes soured on the idea of visiting dinosaurs. This story follows a rookie zookeeper who is newly hired at Enoshima Dinoland, a struggling dinosaur sanctuary, and the fascinating creatures who need specialized love and care!

Enemies TP - Svetlana Chmakova

Felicity's sure she's going to do something big. Exactly what is still a mystery, but she'll figure it out. Her sister, Letty, teases Felicity that she never finishes stuff, but that's just because Letty is so perfect. Still, life is good with plenty of friends-drawing with the art club and playing games with her buddies keep her busy. But when she decides to join a contest to show Letty that she CAN get things done, Felicity begins to wonder if friends becoming enemies is easier than she thought. Are they really enemies, though...? What does it even mean to be enemies? And...who is it that she needs the most on her side...?

A Chinese Fantasy: The Dragon King’s Daughter Vol 1 - Yen Samejima

A collection of Chinese folktales vividly adapted into manga! This beautiful retelling of Chinese folktales highlights the relationships between humans and non-humans. Whether fantastical, like the love story of the Dragon King's Daughter, or intense, like the bond between hunter and beast, this stunning collection of five stories delves into traditional Chinese lore and myth.

CrossPlay Love Otaku X Punk Vol 1 - Toru

In this LGBT+ high school romantic comedy, a nerd and a delinquent find themselves attracted to each other, but only when they're crossdressing at a maid cafe! Shuumei has a problem. He's in love with a girl who works at a maid cafe, but he's too cool to go into a place like that without being embarrassed. But girls can go to maid cafes without seeming creepy, right? When he dresses in feminine clothes and transforms himself into "Mei," he can finally walk into the place to meet the girl of his dreams: the lovely blonde Hana. Meanwhile, Hanae is an introverted otaku who's uncomfortable talking to people... unless he's dressed in feminine clothes himself. While decked out in his best dresses, he works at a maid cafe, and finds himself crushing on a young woman who regularly comes to visit him: a cool beauty named Mei! In this delightful LGBT+ romcom, two young people in love are about to find out a lot about each other & themselves.

The Mighty TP - Peter J. Tomasi, Keith Champagne, Chris Samnee & Dave Johnson

As the world's only superhero, Alpha One is a symbol of hope for all mankind...but at what price? While the population is inspired from a distance by their savior, police captain Gabriel Cole gets close enough to discover the mystery behind Alpha One's public origin-and that his twisted plans to create a utopia are more dangerous than anyone could've dreamed!

Misfortune: A Book of Illustrated Fortune Cookie Messages GN - Aeon Hand

Misfortune is a dark look into the prisms that create the illusion we call modern life, guided by fortunes from fortune cookies. Pairing innocuous messages like "Good news will come to you from far away" with a stark black and white drawing of riot police fleeing in terror from a Molotov cocktail streaking through the air creates jarring juxtapositions. A very dark humor runs throughout these couplings, although Hand admits, "what other book is going to use fortune cookie messages to make you feel depressed?

Cats & Sugar Bowls GN - Yukiko

A beautiful collection of sweet and provocative yuri romances. Want a little spice with your sugar? Cats and Sugar Bowls serves up nine bite-sized tales about love between women. Rena and Sanae are like a pair of naughty kitties who act far more innocent than they really are. Touka, while looking for a lover willing to indulge her more extreme BDSM fantasies, runs into her boss at a bondage club. All these delights and more await!

Pink Lemonade #1 - Nick Cagnetti

A new hero on the scene, Pink Lemonade dreams of doing big things, but ultimately, she'll settle for doing good and helping where she can. Things don't always work out as planned, as Pink Lemonade sees when she accidentally crashes the set of the next Rex Radical blockbuster movie. While trying to do her hero thing, there's a misunderstanding with some cops-and just when you think she's sunk, she gets an offer she may not be able to refuse! But...is it too good to be true?

Old Dog #1 - Declan Shalvey

Jack Lynch was a once-promising CIA operative. On the eve of retirement, looking back at a failed career, he is tasked with one final mission...that goes horribly wrong. He wakes years later to a changed world and deeper changes within him. When a shadow group offers Lynch a second chance at a life of adventure, he's paired with the last person he could ever imagine. In order to adjust, this old dog will have to learn some new tricks...

Kings Of Nowhere TP Vol 1 - Soroush Barazesh

Bili is the son of a notorious gangster, but his lonesome demeanor makes him an easy target for local thugs. When a beating takes a ruthless turn, Bili is overcome with intense rage and trauma-transforming him into his chimera form-into that of an ape. With the aid of new comrades, he embarks on a life of purpose-a life of cold, unapologetic vengeance against each of those who have taken a piece of him.

Miss Miyazen Would Love To Get Closer To You GN Vol 1 - Taka Aki

Sakura Miyazen and Shota Matsubayashi are two classmates that are polar opposites: Miyazen, the high-class pretty girl, and Matsubayashi, the scary-looking delinquent guy. Oblivious to each other's feelings, they actually want to get to know each other but can't seem to communicate properly!

Whatcha scooping up for the last week of September, Fantomites?

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superpoweredfancast · 1 year

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Flawed #5 Review

Flawed #5 Image Comics Written by Chuck Brown Art by Prenzy Colors by Prenzy Letters by Becca Carey The Rundown: Gem fights for information and Higgs makes a transformation. The issue begins in the recent past as the ailing Higgs gets an introduction to the man that will be his savior for the right price. A price he decides to pay while protecting his investment. In the present, Gem finds…

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#comic book review #flawed #image comics

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comiccrusaders · 2 years

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#FLAWED #3 (OF 6) by #ChuckBrown #Prenzy & more... from @ImageComics @C_V_R_TheBard #SCORE: 4/5 #comics http://ow.ly/iv7C50LSRXg

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towritecomicsonherarms · 1 year

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Flawed #1

#flawed #comics #image comics #chuck brown #prenzy

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ultrameganicolaokay · 2 years

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Flawed #2 by Chuck Brown and Prenzy. Cover by Prenzy. Variant cover by Nat Jones. Out in October.

“After torturing and publicly displaying the monstrous and seemingly immortal serial killer known only as the Skinwalker, Gem finds herself a target of Setham's nefarious elite. Among them is the twisted Mr. Higgs, who doesn't appreciate Gem jeopardizing the youth and riches the Skinwalker's immortal blood provides him. Now, Gem faces overwhelming odds in a conflict that will force her to question her unconventional methods-and confront the looming traumas of her past.”

#flawed #gem ezz #image comics #chuck brown #prenzy #nat jones #variant cover #comics

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smashpages · 2 years

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This is a variant cover for Flawed #1 (September 2022) by Prenzy.

#prenzy #variant covers #comics #flawed #image comics

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rabbittstewcomics · 2 years

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Episode 371

Comic Reviews:

Batman: The Audio Adventures 1 by Dennis McNicholas, J. Bone, Anthony Marques, Dave Stewart

DC Horror Presents: Sgt. Rock vs. the Army of the Dead 1 by Bruce Campbell, Eduardo Risso, Kristian Rossi

Tim Drake: Robin 1 by Meghan Fitzmartin, Riley Rossmo, Lee Loughridge

Constantine: Distorted Illusions OGN by Kami Garcia, Isaac Goodhart, Ruth Redmond

Deadman Tells the Spooky Tales OGN by Franco Aureliani, Agnes Garbowska, Derek Charm, Isaac Goodhart, Christopher Uminga, Sara Richard

Wayne Family Adventures Season 2

Marvel

A.X.E.: Avengers by Kieron Gillen, Federico Vicentini, Dean White

Amazing Spider-Man 10 by Zeb Wells, Nick Dragotta, Marcio Menyz

Marvel’s Voices: Comunidades 2022 by Fabian Nicieza, Alex Segura, Carlos Hernandez, Zoraida Cordova, Hector Navarro, Edgar Delgado, Diogenes Neves, Marcelo Costa, Roge Antonio, Yasmin Flores Montanez, Luis Morocho, Paco Medina, Walden Wong, Israel Silva, Ceci de la Cruz, Manuel Puppo, Frank Williams

Marvel’s Voices: Miles Morales by Mohale Mashigo, Julian Shaw, Manuel Puppo

Dark Horse

Roadie 1 by Tim Seeley, Fran Galan

Image

Brigade Remastered by Rob Liefeld and Friends

Flawed 1 by Chuck Brown, Prenzy

Old Dog 1 by Declan Shalvey

Onyx 1 by Chris Ryall, Gabriel Rodriguez, Jay Fotos

Skybound Presents: After School 3 by Jill Blotevogel, Marley Zarcone, Lisa Sterle, Fabiana Mascolo

Boom

Briar 1 by Christopher Cantwell, German Garcia, Matheus Lopes

Mighty Morphin Power Rangers 100 by Ryan Parrott, Hendry Prasetya, Eleonora Carlini, Daniele Di Nicuolo, Marco Renna, Francesco Mortarino, Moises Hidalgo, Dan Mora, Miguel Mercado, Matt Herms, Tamra Bonvillain, Walter Baiamonte, Raul Angulo, Sara Antonellini, Sharon Marino

IDW

TMNT: The Armageddon Game 1 by Tom Waltz, Vincenzo Federici, Matt Herms

AfterShock

Hell is a Squared Circle 1 by Chris Condon, Francesco Biagini, Mark Englert

OGN

Hollow by Shannon Watters, Branden Boyer-White, Berenice Nelle

Forest Hills Bootleg Society by Dave Baker, Nicole Goux

Ghoster Heights by Corey Lansdell, Kelly Mellings, Lisa LaRose

Pick Head: Bayoo Beasties by Frederic Brremaud, Giobanni Rigano

Steeple vol 3 by John Allison

Ray’s OGN Corner: Speak Up by Rebecca Burges

Additional Reviews: Andor 4, Lumberjanes HC Vol 1, She-Hulk, Door to Door, Night to Night, Hocus Pocus 2, Last Avenger arc of Captain Marvel

Longbox of Horror 2022 part 1: Trouble

News: new Kelly Thompson series from Image, Armor Wars now a movie, AfterShock upheaval, Community movie, new Blade movie writer, Figment movie in development

Trailers: My Father’s Dragon

Comics Countdown:

Superman: Space Age 2 by Mark Russell, Mike Allred, Laura Allred

Hollow GN by Shannon Watters, Branden Boyer-White, Berenice Nelle

Steeple Vol 3 by John Allison

Human Target 7 by Tom King, Greg Smallwood

Nice House on the Lake 10 by James Tynion IV, Alvaro Martinez Bueno, Jordie Bellaire

TMNT: Armageddon Game 1 by Tom Waltz, Vincenzo Federici, Matt Herms

Department of Truth 21 by James Tynion IV, Martin Simmonds

Eight Billion Genies 5 by Charles Soule, Ryan Browne, Kevin Knipstein

Grim 5 by Stephanie Phillips, Flaviano, Rico Renzi

Ant-Man 3 by Al Ewing, Tom Reilly, Jordie Bellaire

Check out this episode!

#comics #podcast #podernfamily #rabbittstew

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