Loyal readers know that your Shakespeare Geek is born and raised in Massachusetts, which makes me a lifelong Red Sox fan.  Baseball changed forever for us in the 2004 World Series when we broke the curse by shutting out the Cardinals 4-0.

Speaking of the Cardinals….(oh, that was a cheap shot over the bow and I’m not ashamed of it)…it happens to pass that our pal Bardfilm is a Cardinals fan!  And lo and behold look who has made it back to the World Series this year.

A wager!  There must be a wager!

There is.  And here it is: The loser has to write and post an original sonnet on his blog, praising the other team.  So should the Cardinals win, I would have to pen a sonnet singing their praises (what rhymes with grumble?)  And, when the Red Sox win, Bardfilm will need to join the choirs that already sing our many praises.  I hope he doesn’t think he can plagiarize one of the songs already sung about our hometown heroes, as I will be checking.

🙂

Play ball!

Hanging out at lunch yesterday, my manager is talking to our latest hire.  The topic lately has been husbands getting in trouble with their wives, and I think this will be a funny story because my manager’s wife has told me that she reads the blog ;).

Anyway, our latest hire happens to be female, and chooses to argue the woman’s point of view by citing an example of how she and her fiance had a disagreement that could have turned into an argument, but instead they were able to work it out.

“Yeah, but you’re engaged!” manager tells her, “It’ll change once you’re married.”

“Hang on a sec,” I tell them, and bring out my phone.

*tappity tappity tap*

“Men are April when they woo, December when they wed. Maids are May when they are maids, but the sky changes when they are wives.”

Revealing Shakespeare’s old ladies – a scholarly yet lively exploration of the presentation of ageing women on the Elizabethan and Jacobean stage.

Thoroughly researched and accessible, Old, Bold and Won’t Be Told considers closely Shakespeare’s development of his older female characters, who defy conventional stereotypes and act with power, influence and creativity. Shakespeare refers to standard characteristics of the ageing woman – her loss of looks, ‘inappropriate’ sexuality, flouting of male governance and inability to hold her tongue – but, unlike his contemporaries, also further develops and celebrates the strength and importance of this figure.

Shakespeare’s most notable older woman is Paulina in The Winter’s Tale, the only older woman in early modern drama who is still vocal and powerful at the end of a play – a play which owes its conclusion to her directorial creativity. Through her, Shakespeare highlights the importance of the old woman to family and society. The study also explores other rich examples of Shakespeare’s developed older women, including Queen Katherine (Henry VIII), Volumnia (Coriolanus) and Queen Gertrude (Hamlet).

About the Author

Yvonne Oram started her working life as a journalist and later studied literature, history and creative writing at the University of East Anglia as a mature student. She has taught these subjects in Adult Education and for the Open University. She was awarded a Doctorate from the Shakespeare Institute, University of Birmingham, for work on Elizabethan and Jacobean drama. She gives talks on this subject to literature and history groups in the UK and Europe, and is currently National Literature Subject Advisor for the University of the Third Age.
www.yvonneoram.com

[Warning, day job interruption.]

Hi gang,

Show of hands, who knows what a MOOC is?  What if I called it a Massive Open Online Course?

In my day job I work on a web site that deals in MOOCs, and I’d like to learn more about my audience. I’ve taken it upon myself (i.e. didn’t tell my boss) to set up a simple survey with some basic questions about whether you’ve ever taken courses (finished or not), what you look for in deciding what courses are for you, and so on.

I treat the subject just like any other content, and by that I mean I start by searching “Shakespeare” and see what comes up.  Thus far there are very few results in what I’d call the MOOC category.  There are plenty of lectures, particularly in iTunes U, but that’s not the same thing.  Different people expect different things out of a MOOC.

Anyway, if you’ve got a chance I’d love it if you could fill out my survey. I know I’ve got a bunch of educators reading, and there’s a spot in the survey for extra comments, don’t be shy!  Also don’t forget to forward the link to your friends. I need all the data I can get!

Oh, you need a link.

http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/H6B8NYN

Thanks!

[Day job interruption over, Shakespeare content resumes…]

H4

Actor/producer Harry Lennix and screenwriter Ayanna Thompson are scheduled to attend and participate in a Q&A after the screening.

Starring Harry Lennix (MAN OF STEEL, NBC’s THE BLACKLIST), H4 translates Shakespeare’s Henry IV plays to contemporary Los Angeles to explore political struggles in the black community. By killing a popular black leader, Henry hopes to cement his family’s political dynasty, but his reckless son, Hal, seems more interested in hijinks than politics. Will the “Prince of Watts” follow in the footsteps of his powerful father, or will he succumb to the criminal life championed by Falstaff? Performed in Shakespeare’s original language, H4 will appeal to Shakespearean aficionados and newcomers alike.

Sponsored by The Pearce Shakespeare Endowment and the African American Studies and Film Studies programs at Rhodes College, and the African and African American Studies program at the University of Memphis. Presented in collaboration with Hattiloo Theatre.

http://indiememphis.festivalgenius.com/2013/films/h4_paulquinn_indiememphis2013