Much ado about Shakespeare’s birthday
Lexi Hudson, Staff Writer
Most students have or will eventually study Shakespearean literature, but why?
At North Greenville University, students have the opportunity to see on-stage adaptations of Shakespearean works every other year.
Amy Dunlap, associate dean of the School of the Arts, plays a major role in having these productions take place. She attributes the importance of this commitment to the timelessness of his stories.
Shakespeare wrote about the human experience, and both Shakespeare and life are “full of love, loss, romance and sacrifice,” Dunlap said.
Even if you haven’t sat in an English class studying Shakespeare or experienced one of NGU’s productions and been confused by the complex language, there is no doubt that you have been exposed to adaptations of his works.
Some of the most beloved “chick-flicks” are screen adaptations of Shakespeare.
If chick flicks aren’t your cup of tea, then how about a story about a son being visited by the spirit of his late father requesting him to avenge his murder now that his uncle has taken the throne. This synopsis is applicable to Shakespeare’s “Hamlet” as well as Disney’s “The Lion King.”
Dunlap emphasized the presentation of Shakespeare rather than the static consumption that one would get by reading it in a classroom.
“Shakespeare is meant to be performed, not read,” Dunlap said.
One of the most frequent complaints about Shakespeare is that the vocabulary is outdated or too difficult for the general public to understand.
Dunlap pushes back on this notion and encourages students and audiences to take the time to learn the vocabulary and how Shakespearean language works.
“The complexity of your ability to imagine is dependent of your vocabulary. If your vocabulary is limited, your imagination is limited, and your view of the world is small. Shakespeare helps people see the world bigger,” Dunlap said.
