At my alma mater, where I did English once upon a time, they now have a course called 'Cancel Shakespeare'. Sounds like it might be ironic, but not really. They spend their time 'dismantling' the plays to find out how sexist and racist he was. The Truth, indeed.
At my alma mater, where I did English once upon a time, they now have a course called 'Cancel Shakespeare'. Sounds like it might be ironic, but not really. They spend their time 'dismantling' the plays to find out how sexist and racist he was. The Truth, indeed.
Academia is a form of prolonged adolescence: They both have a knee-jerk opposition to traditional authorities, a lack of self-awareness, and the tendency to look down upon those who provide support.
In fact, Academia's delight in pointing out flaws in America's founders to patriotic Americans is similar to that of teens telling little kids there is no Santa Claus.
We should take the keys away from Universities until they learn how to behave!
University of British Columbia. Here's the link to the description. It's framed as a debate, but in news reports about the course, the instructor says he is using the 'lens' of critical race theory, which to my mind means there is no 'debate'. Here's the link.
Thanks! I read the link. Do you have a link to where he mentions CRT? I think I may want to take this on. I taught theater, and most useful was The Merchant of Venice.
Money quote: тАШwe want more women and more writers of colour in our curriculum, so something has to go and and Shakespeare should equally be on the chopping block. You can't make room for new voices without getting rid of some of the old.тАЩ HereтАЩs the link where CRT is referenced.
Thanks so much! This is truly appalling. By take it on, I mean that I may write about it on my Facebook page or the local paper or on the Substack site IтАЩm about to create. I used to be a critic as well as a teacher.
YouтАЩre welcome. I certainly wish you all the best in tackling it. The humanities in general, English in particular, are imploding before our eyes with travesties like this. The department is a pale shadow of what it was when I graduated in 1983. Gunning for Shakespeare? There is no тАШwhatтАЩs next? with that.
He's a (straight) white male which by default puts a target on his back. Ironically, in the name of anti-racism/sexism. It's the English dept, they should read 1984.
Thanks, I actually wondered a couple of years ago if or when this would happen! Yes, the lens of CRT almost guarantees that there is no debate. Nice way to deal with the rigors of Shakespeare!
At my alma mater, where I did English once upon a time, they now have a course called 'Cancel Shakespeare'. Sounds like it might be ironic, but not really. They spend their time 'dismantling' the plays to find out how sexist and racist he was. The Truth, indeed.
Wow.
Academia is a form of prolonged adolescence: They both have a knee-jerk opposition to traditional authorities, a lack of self-awareness, and the tendency to look down upon those who provide support.
In fact, Academia's delight in pointing out flaws in America's founders to patriotic Americans is similar to that of teens telling little kids there is no Santa Claus.
We should take the keys away from Universities until they learn how to behave!
And where are they undertaking this cancellation of Shakespeare? I must see the course description!!!
University of British Columbia. Here's the link to the description. It's framed as a debate, but in news reports about the course, the instructor says he is using the 'lens' of critical race theory, which to my mind means there is no 'debate'. Here's the link.
https://english.ubc.ca/section/engl-241-2021w-001/
Thanks! I read the link. Do you have a link to where he mentions CRT? I think I may want to take this on. I taught theater, and most useful was The Merchant of Venice.
Money quote: тАШwe want more women and more writers of colour in our curriculum, so something has to go and and Shakespeare should equally be on the chopping block. You can't make room for new voices without getting rid of some of the old.тАЩ HereтАЩs the link where CRT is referenced.
https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/shakespeare-theatre-colonial-history-1.6372904#
IтАЩm curious, what do you mean by take it on?
Thanks so much! This is truly appalling. By take it on, I mean that I may write about it on my Facebook page or the local paper or on the Substack site IтАЩm about to create. I used to be a critic as well as a teacher.
YouтАЩre welcome. I certainly wish you all the best in tackling it. The humanities in general, English in particular, are imploding before our eyes with travesties like this. The department is a pale shadow of what it was when I graduated in 1983. Gunning for Shakespeare? There is no тАШwhatтАЩs next? with that.
He's a (straight) white male which by default puts a target on his back. Ironically, in the name of anti-racism/sexism. It's the English dept, they should read 1984.
Thanks, I actually wondered a couple of years ago if or when this would happen! Yes, the lens of CRT almost guarantees that there is no debate. Nice way to deal with the rigors of Shakespeare!