Tag Archives: plays

By What Criteria Should One Evaluate Shakespeare?

In the Preface to his eight-volume edition of Shakespeare’s plays (1765), the literary critic Samuel Johnson (1709-1784) had some opinions about what makes Shakespeare so good. Here they are. See if you agree (and notice how many of them are … Continue reading

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What’s Literature Good For?

Sometimes people ask, “What’s the value of literature—of reading poems, stories, and plays? In other words, why might one go to literature for sustenance or reflection, as opposed to something else?” One of the reasons a person might “go to literature” is akin … Continue reading

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Lest We Forget: In 2004 a Birmingham Theater Closed a Play Written by a WOMAN Because It Offended a Religious Community (the Sikhs)

See the original BBC report on playwright Gurpreet Bhatti’s censorship here, as well as the craven response of a Catholic archbishop (who supported the Sikh clergy in shutting her play down): Mohan Singh, a local Sikh community leader, said: “When … Continue reading

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2nd Century Roman Marble Bust of Menander, the Greek Playwright (Circa 3rd Century BCE)

Marble bust of the Greek playwright, Menander, circe 100-150 CE (“common era”). The bust is part of the permanent collection at the Getty Museum in Malibu, Ca. The photo above was taken in January, 2009. The 2nd century Getty version of … Continue reading

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“What does Marsellus Wallace look like?”: A Classic Scene from PULP FICTION in Typography

Typography is a glorious and poetic art form, and it’s done exceptionally well here:

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“The Sunday Shakespeare Society”: A Charming Notice, from 1934, of a London Group That Met Once a Month to Read Shakespeare’s Plays Aloud

William Kent, in his 1934 book London for Shakespeare Lovers (Methuen & Co.), in the “Useful Information” section at the back of the book, had this rather charming notice (on pg. 174): The Sunday Shakepeare Society was founded by the late Dr. … Continue reading

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