How do actors reposition their racialized bodies on stage and on screen? How do Sinophone cinema and feminism transform gender identities in Shakespeare? Bringing film and theatre studies together, this illustrated presentation sheds new light on the two major genres in a comparative context in the Sinophone world.

Video Recording available on YouTube

Shakespeare’s tragedies have inspired incredible work in the Sinophone theatres of China, Taiwan, andHong Kong. The tragedies have been reimagined as political theatre, feminist operas, Buddhist meditations, and even comedies and parodies. In particular, Chinese, Hong Kong andTaiwanese artists have used Shakespeare for socially reparative purposes.

Drawing on Joubin’s latest book, Shakespeare and East Asia (Oxford University Press, 2021), this presentation explores how appropriations by politicians and artists have tapped into Shakespeare’s perceived remedial functions.

The book launch is moderated by Lily Wong, Associate Professor of Literature/Critical Race Gender and Culture Studies at American University and Communications Director for the Society of Sinophone Studies.