Shakespeare Anyone?

In today's episode, we are expanding our research on Early Modern beliefs about ghosts. We'll looking be at how folk tales and ghost stories influenced the writing of Hamlet and the depiction of King Hamlet's ghost as much as (or possibly more than) Early Modern religious beliefs about the afterlife. We'll also discuss the details of how a ghost would appear onstage in Shakespeare's time and how early theatrical traditions influenced Shakespeare and his company.

Shakespeare Anyone? is created and produced by Kourtney Smith and Elyse Sharp.

Note: When this episode was recorded, Kourtney Smith was using the stage name "Korey Leigh Smith".

Music is "Neverending Minute" by Sounds Like Sander.

Follow us on Instagram at @shakespeareanyonepod for updates or visit our website at shakespeareanyone.com

You can support the podcast at patreon.com/shakespeareanyone

Works referenced:

Belsey , Catherine. "Beyond Reason: Hamlet and Early Modern Stage Ghosts." Gothic Renaissance - a Reassessment, edited by Beate Neumeier and Elisabeth Bronfen , Manchester University Press, Manchester, UK, 2017.

Gordon, Bruce, and Peter Marshall, editors. The Place of the Dead: Death and Remembrance in Late Medieval and Early Modern Europe. Cambridge University Press, 2000.

McKeever, Amanda Jane (2011) The ghost in early modern Protestant culture: shifting perceptions of the afterlife, 1450-1700. Doctoral thesis (DPhil), University of Sussex.

Phillippy, Patricia. Women, Death and Literature in Post-Reformation England. Cambridge University Press, 2010.

Schreyer, Kurt A. "'Then Is Doomsday Near': Hamlet, the Last Judgment, and the Place of Purgatory Book." Shakespeare's Medieval Craft Remnants of the Mysteries on the London Stage, Cornell University Press, Ithaca, NY, 2014, pp. 104–134.

Today's episode is brought to you by our Patreon Patrons at the Gentry, Noble, and Royal Patron levels! They voted on today's topic: Shakespearean Woodcuts!

Woodcuts were a popular Early Modern print-making method used to add illustrations to printed publications and were kind of like an Early Modern meme.

Check out some of our favorites below:

• Hans Holbein's The Dance of Death series
• Works by Albrecht Durer
• The Beggar's Delight (a Broadside Ballad)
• The English Broadside Ballad Archive

Shakespeare Anyone? is created and produced by Kourtney Smith and Elyse Sharp.

Note: When this episode was recorded, Kourtney Smith was "Korey Leigh Smith".

Episode written and researched by Kourtney Smith.

Music is "Neverending Minute" by Sounds Like Sander.

Follow us on Instagram at @shakespeareanyonepod for updates or visit our website at shakespeareanyone.com

You can support the podcast at patreon.com/shakespeareanyone

Works referenced:

@bkadams (Brandi K. Adams) et al. "I'm going to ask you a question, twitter. Who invented printing?" Twitter, 24 Jul. 2022, https://twitter.com/bkadams/status/1551371019448815617

Cash, Cassidy, host. "Ep 79: James Knapp and Elizabethan Woodcuts." That Shakespeare Life, episode 79, Publisher, 21 October 2019, https://www.cassidycash.com/ep-79-james-knapp-elizabethan-woodcuts/.

"Simone Chess : Broadside Ballad Woodcuts: Premodern Visual Culture, Popular Media, and Queer Coding." YouTube, NY Comics & Picture-Story Symposium, 31 May 2022, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I7oG0GRhRhA&t=597s. From 2:25 to 9:20. Accessed 12 Aug. 2022.

Toledo Museum of Art. (2020, July 27). The History of the Woodcut and Printmaking's Collaborative Process [Video]. Youtube. From 1:30 to 17:30. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IKyC4DcDu1E&t=254s

In today's episode, we are going to be discussing the female characters of Hamlet: Ophelia and Gertrude. We will be tackling some of the more difficult parts of the play for modern readers and theater-makers: the misogyny and seeming lack of female agency.

In the first half, Korey will help us grapple with the seemingly inherent misogyny of the text (is the play misogynist just because the title character is? Or is there another possible reading?).

Then, Elyse will lead us through what an Early Modern audience member would have understood about Ophelia's death and Gertrude's part in it. Specifically we will focus on a cultural knowledge that has largely been lost for the modern audience, and the agency granted to these characters through that understanding.

Content warning: we will be discussing abortion, reproductive health, misogyny, and include brief mentions of assault and violence. Please listen with care.

• We do not recommend any early modern medical advice. We are not doctors now or in the early modern era.
• Also, we may use women, feminine, and female interchangeably to discuss issues pertaining to non-cismale bodies. While we know that people of all genders can be affected by patriarchy as well as become pregnant and need to be able to make their own decisions about reproductive health, we are aligning our language for this episode with that of the early modern writers we are analyzing.

Shakespeare Anyone? is created and produced by Kourtney Smith and Elyse Sharp.

Note: When this episode was recorded, Kourtney Smith was using the stage name "Korey Leigh Smith".

Music is "Neverending Minute" by Sounds Like Sander.

Follow us on Instagram at @shakespeareanyonepod for updates or visit our website at shakespeareanyone.com

You can support the podcast at patreon.com/shakespeareanyone

Works referenced:

Brustein, Robert. "Misogyny: THE HAMLET OBSESSION." The Tainted Muse: Prejudice and Presumption in Shakespeare and His Time, Yale University Press, 2009, pp. 13–52. JSTOR, http://www.jstor.org/stable/j.ctt5vktzf.4. Accessed 17 Aug. 2022. Culpeper, Nicholas. The Complete Herbal: To Which Is Now Added, Upwards of One Hundred Additional Herbs, with a Display of Their Medicinal and Occult Qualities ; Physically Applied to the Cure of All Disorders Incident to Mankind ; to Which Are Now First Annexed, the English Physician Enlarged, and Key to Physic, with Rules for Compounding Medicine According to the True System of Nature Forming a Complete Family Dispensatory, and Natural System of Physic. Edited by Thomas Kelly, Thomas Kelly, 17, Paternoster Row, 1843. Culpeper, Nicholas. The English Physitian, or, an Astrologo-Physical Discourse of the Vulgar Herbs of This Nation: Being a Compleat Method of Physick, Whereby a Man May Preserve His Body in Health ; or Cure Himself, Being Sick, for Three Pence Charge, with Such Things Only as Grow in England, They Being Most Fit for English Bodies ... Edited by Thomas Cross, Peter Cole, at the Sign of the Printing-Press in Cornhil, near the Royal Exchange, 1652, Early English Books Online Text Creation Partnership, http://name.umdl.umich.edu/A35365.0001.001, Accessed 16 Aug. 2022.

Leong, Elaine. "'Herbals She Peruseth': Reading Medicine in Early Modern England." Renaissance Studies, vol. 28, no. 4, 5 Sept. 2014, pp. 556–578., https://doi.org/10.1111/rest.12079.

Neville, Sarah."Early Modern Herbals and the Book Trade: English Stationers and the Commodification of Botany". Cambridge University Press, 6 Jan. 2022. Online. Internet. 26 Jul. 2022. Available: https://books.openmonographs.org/articles/book/Early_Modern_Herbals_and_the_Book_Trade_English_Stationers_and_the_Commodification_of_Botany/19189484/1

Riddle, John M. Eve's Herbs: A History of Contraception and Abortion in the West. Harvard University Press, 1999.

In today's mini-episode, we are joined by independent author Carly Stevens to discuss her recently released novel, Laertes, and the process and inspiration behind writing a piece of modern narrative fiction based on Shakespeare's characters.

Carly Stevens lives in Colorado Springs, where she has taught high school English (and Hamlet!) for over ten years. Writing Laertes is the fulfilment of a long-time dream. She also writes immersive YA fantasy novels set in the dark but beautiful world of the Tanyuin Academy.

Shakespeare Anyone? is created and produced by Kourtney Smith and Elyse Sharp.

Note: When this episode was recorded, Kourtney Smith was "Korey Leigh Smith".

Music is "Neverending Minute" by Sounds Like Sander.

Follow us on Instagram at @shakespeareanyonepod for updates or visit our website at shakespeareanyone.com

You can support the podcast at patreon.com/shakespeareanyone

Works referenced:

Stevens, Carly. Laertes. Carly Stevens, 2022.

In today's episode, we will be exploring the trope of antic disposition in William Shakespeare's Hamlet and asking the questions: does Hamlet actually go mad, or is he just pretending the whole time? What function did Hamlet's madness (pretend or otherwise) serve for Shakespeare's audience and what does it mean for audiences today?

Shakespeare Anyone? is created and produced by Kourtney Smith and Elyse Sharp.

Note: When this episode was recorded, Kourtney Smith was "Korey Leigh Smith".

Music is "Neverending Minute" by Sounds Like Sander.

Follow us on Instagram at @shakespeareanyonepod for updates or visit our website at shakespeareanyone.com

You can support the podcast at patreon.com/shakespeareanyone

Works referenced:

McGee, Arthur. "Antic Disposition." The Elizabethan Hamlet, Yale University Press, New Haven, CT, 1987, pp. 75–103.

Neely, Carol Thomas. "Reading the Language of Distraction." Distracted Subjects: Madness and Gender in Shakespeare and Early Modern Culture, Cornell University Press, Ithaca, NY, 2004, pp. 46–68.

Wood, David Houston, et al. "Antic Dispositions: Mental and Intellectual Disabilities in Early Modern Revenge Tragedy." Recovering Disability in Early Modern England, Ohio State University Press, Columbus, OH, 2013, pp. 73–87.

In today's episode, we are covering the major themes, tropes, and topics related to William Shakespeare's Hamlet. We'll also discuss the challenges involved in reading, performing, and editing Hamlet as well as how scholars have struggled to determine when exactly Hamlet was written.

Content warning: because of this play's themes, we will be discussing mental health and suicide in this episode. Listen with care.

Shakespeare Anyone? is created and produced by Kourtney Smith and Elyse Sharp.

Note: When this episode was recorded, Kourtney Smith was using the stage name "Korey Leigh Smith".

Music is "Neverending Minute" by Sounds Like Sander.

Follow us on Instagram at @shakespeareanyonepod for updates or visit our website at shakespeareanyone.com

You can support the podcast at patreon.com/shakespeareanyone

Works referenced:

Green, John, et al. "Ghosts, Murder, and More Murder - Hamlet Part 1: Crash Course Literature 203." YouTube, Crashcourse, 13 Mar. 2014, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=My14mZa-eq8.

Green, John. "Ophelia, Gertrude, and Regicide - Hamlet Part 2: Crash Course Literature 204." YouTube, Crashcourse, 20 Mar. 2014, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nDCohlKUufs.

"Hamlet." Edited by SparkNotes Editors, Sparknotes, SparkNotes, 2005, https://www.sparknotes.com/shakespeare/hamlet/.

Shakespeare, William. Hamlet. Edited by Ann Thompson and Neil Taylor, Revised ed., Bloomsbury Arden, 2016.

In today's episode, we are kicking off our series on William Shakespeare's Hamlet by giving you a synopsis of this looong play.

In addition to covering the plot points you'll likely remember if you've seen or read this play before (like "to be or not to be," "alas poor Yorick!" etc.), we also make sure to cover the geopolitical subplots that can get cut or skipped.

Shakespeare Anyone? is created and produced by Kourtney Smith and Elyse Sharp.

Note: When this episode was recorded, Kourtney Smith was using the stage name "Korey Leigh Smith".

Music is "Neverending Minute" by Sounds Like Sander.

Follow us on Instagram at @shakespeareanyonepod for updates or visit our website at shakespeareanyone.com

You can support the podcast at patreon.com/shakespeareanyone

Works referenced:

Shakespeare, William. Hamlet. Edited by Ann Thompson and Neil Taylor, Revised ed., Bloomsbury Arden, 2016.

We are so excited to be sharing this episode with you. This week, we are sitting down for a conversation with Sir Jonathan Bate and Eric Rasmussen about their recently released second edition of the Royal Shakespeare Company's Complete Works of William Shakespeare, now available at a fine bookseller near you.

The newly revised, wonderfully authoritative First Folio of William Shakespeare's Complete Works, edited by acclaimed Shakespearean scholars and endorsed by the world-famous Royal Shakespeare Company.

Combining innovative scholarship with brilliant commentary and textual analysis that emphasizes performance history and values, this landmark edition is indispensable to students, theater professionals, and general readers alike.

Jonathan Bate is professor of Shakespeare and Renaissance literature at the University of Warwick. Widely known as an award-winning biographer, critic, and broadcaster, Bate is the author of several books on Shakespeare, including Shakespeare and Ovid and The Genius of Shakespeare, which was described by Sir Peter Hall, founder of the RSC, as "the best modern book on Shakespeare."

Eric Rasmussen is professor of English and director of graduate study at the University of Nevada. He is a co-editor of the Norton Anthology of English Renaissance Drama and of the forthcoming New Variorum Shakespeare edition of Hamlet. He has edited a number of works for the Arden Shakespeare series, Oxford's World's Classics, and the Revels Plays series, and is the general textual editor of the Internet Shakespeare Editions Project.

Shakespeare Anyone? is created and produced by Kourtney Smith and Elyse Sharp.

Note: When this episode was recorded, Kourtney Smith was using the stage name "Korey Leigh Smith".

Music is "Neverending Minute" by Sounds Like Sander. Follow us on Instagram at @shakespeareanyonepod for updates or visit our website at shakespeareanyone.com

You can support the podcast at patreon.com/shakespeareanyone

Works referenced:

Shakespeare, William, and Jonathan Bate. "Preface to Shakespeare: A Second Edition." Complete Works, edited by Jonathan Bate et al., 2nd ed., The Modern Library, New York, NY, 2022, pp. 6–14.

Shakespeare, William, et al. "Foreward." Complete Works, 2nd ed., The Modern Library, New York, NY, 2022, pp. 59–60.

Our time with King Lear has come to an end! This week, we will be discussing two major film adaptations and whether or not we feel they are worth watching: Trevor Nunn's 2008 film adaptation of the Royal Shakespeare Company production, starring Ian McKellen, and Richard Eyre's 2018 film produced for Amazon Studios, starring Antony Hopkins. We'll also talk a little about a few other significant productions and adaptations.

Shakespeare Anyone? is created and produced by Kourtney Smith and Elyse Sharp.

Note: When this episode was recorded, Kourtney Smith was using the stage name "Korey Leigh Smith".

Music is "Neverending Minute" by Sounds Like Sander.

Follow us on Instagram at @shakespeareanyonepod for updates or visit our website at shakespeareanyone.com

You can support the podcast at patreon.com/shakespeareanyone

Works referenced:

Bickley, Pamela, and Jennifer Stevens. "8. King Lear." Studying Shakespeare Adaptation: From Restoration Theatre to YouTube, The Arden Shakespeare, London, 2021, pp. 145–163.

Eyre, Richard, director. King Lear. Performance by Antony Hopkins, Amazon Studios, 2018.

Nunn, Trevor, director. King Lear. Performance by Ian McKellen, Richard Price TV Associates Ltd., 2008.

Shakespeare features food all over his plays--he even names characters after food! Today, we are diving into the culinary landscape of Early Modern England and learning more about the foods (and foodies) of the time.

Shakespeare Anyone? is created and produced by Kourtney Smith and Elyse Sharp.

Note: When this episode was recorded, Kourtney Smith was "Korey Leigh Smith".

Episode written and researched by Elyse Sharp and Kourtney Smith.

Music is "Neverending Minute" by Sounds Like Sander.

Follow us on Instagram at @shakespeareanyonepod for updates or visit our website at shakespeareanyone.com

You can support the podcast at patreon.com/shakespeareanyone

Works referenced:

Brears, Peter. Cooking and Dining in Tudor and Early Stuart England. Prospect Books, 2015. .

Cash, Cassidy, and Brigitte Webster. " Shakespeare's Daily Diet with Brigitte Webster." That Shakespeare Life, performance by Cassidy Cash, season 1, episode 42, 4 Feb. 2019, https://www.cassidycash.com/shakespeare-daily-diet/. Accessed 10 May 2022.

Hughes, Glyn. "Foods of England Cheat." Foods of England - Cheat, 1 Mar. 2022, http://www.foodsofengland.co.uk/cheat.htm.

Paul, Richard. "You Will Hie You Home to Dinner: The Food of Shakespeare's World." Shakespeare Unlimited, performance by Wendy Wall, and Barbara Bogaev, season 1, episode 53, 26 July 2016, https://www.folger.edu/shakespeare-unlimited/food-wendy-wall. Accessed 10 May 2022.

Tufts, John. Fat Rascals: Dining at Shakespeare's Table. John Tufts, 2020.

Tufts, John. Performance by John Tufts, Fat Rascals: Dining at Shakespeare's Table, Episode 1: Chewets, Youtube, 7 Apr. 2020, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tIVBetm29ck. Accessed 10 May 2022.