How do directors turn Shakespeare’s plays into films? Through the lenses of critical race and gender theories, this course examines cinematic representations of Shakespeare’s “problem” plays, Roman plays, histories, tragedies, and comedies, with a focus on the themes of race, gender, sexuality, class, and colonialism. These narratives have been screened–projected on the silver screen and filtered by various ideologies—since 1899.

These narratives have been screened–projected on the silver screen and filtered by various ideologies—since 1899. In particular, we will focus on racialized bodies, performance of gender and sexuality, disability narratives, feminist interventions, religious fault lines, class struggle, and intersectional identities. Collectively we will reflect on our embodied vulnerability.