Shakespeare and Superman? Shakespeare and The Twilight Zone? Shakespeare and romance novels? What is Shakespeare doing in modern popular culture? In the first book-length study to consider the modern 'Shakespop' phenomenon broadly, Douglas Lanier examines how our conceptions of Shakespeare's works and his cultural status have been profoundly shapes by Shakespeare's diffuse presence in such popular forms as films, comic books, TV shows, mass-market fiction, children's books, kitsch, and advertising. Shakespeare and Modern Popular Culture offers an overview of issues raised in Shakespeare's appropriation in twentieth-century popular culture, amd argues that Shakespeare's appearances in these media can be seen as a form of cultural theorizing, a means by which popular culture thinks through its relationship to high culture. Through a series of case studies, the book examines how popular culture actively constructs, contests, uses, and perpetuates Shakespeare's cultural authority.
Reviews
very accessible in their presentation of the material as well as easy and enjoyable to read ... Lanier's book is an important addition to the series and can be warmly recommended to both students, professionals and all those wanting to understand Shakespeare as a cultural icon. * Christa Jansohn, Anglistik *
If you have not already seen this series [Oxford Shakespeare Topics], you must get to it now. It is reader-friendly and reliable. * Chronique *
This book would serve well as a primer to the subject of modern Shakespeare appropriation, perfect for upper-level undergraduates. * Virginia Quarterly Review *
Lanier finds a multitude of strange and wonderful instances of how our culture uses Shakespeare. * Virginia Quarterly Review *
In a short and readable book Lanier has broken new ground for the consideration of Shakespeare's status in contemporary culture, as well as providing rich and enjoyable material for further exploration. * Around The Globe *
In Lanier's hands we are made aware of how deeply ingrained Shakespeare has become in the world, and how popular culture continues to express split opinions about his importance and authority, simultaneously attracted to his usefulness and resistant to his dominance. * Around The Globe *
An important addition to the series and a major contribution to Shakespeare studies, the first book that provides a general outline of how the playwright has been and continues to be used in popular culture, and what influence mass culture has in turn had on attitudes to him. * Around The Globe *



Book Information
ISBN 9780198187066
Author Douglas Lanier
Format Paperback
Page Count 198
Imprint Oxford University Press
Publisher Oxford University Press
Dimensions(mm) 203mm * 136mm * 12mm