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Shakespeare and World Cinema: A Global Perspective on the Bard's Influence

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A Collage Of Movie Posters Featuring Shakespearean Adaptations From Around The World Shakespeare And World Cinema Mark Thornton Burnett

Shakespeare and World Cinema

by Mark Thornton Burnett

5 out of 5

Language	:	English
File size	:	3202 KB
Text-to-Speech	:	Enabled
Screen Reader	:	Supported
Enhanced typesetting	:	Enabled
Word Wise	:	Enabled
Print length	:	292 pages

William Shakespeare, the renowned English playwright and poet, has had an immeasurable impact on world culture, and his works have been adapted and reinterpreted countless times in film. Shakespeare and World Cinema, a groundbreaking new book by Mark Thornton Burnett, delves deeply into this fascinating subject, exploring the global reach of Shakespeare's influence and its profound impact on filmmaking around the world.

Burnett's meticulously researched work provides a comprehensive overview of Shakespearean adaptations in film, spanning a wide range of countries, cultures, and historical periods. From Akira Kurosawa's Throne of Blood (1957),a Japanese adaptation of Macbeth, to Vishal Bhardwaj's Omkara (2006),an Indian adaptation of Othello, Burnett analyzes how Shakespeare's plays have been transformed and reimagined by filmmakers from diverse backgrounds.

One of the key strengths of Shakespeare and World Cinema is its focus on the cultural and political contexts in which Shakespearean adaptations have been made. Burnett argues that these adaptations are not simply faithful recreations of Shakespeare's plays, but rather creative responses to the specific social and historical circumstances of the time and place in which they are produced. For example, he discusses how Kurosawa's Throne of Blood reflects the post-World War II climate of Japan, while Bhardwaj's Omkara grapples with issues of caste and violence in contemporary India.

Burnett's analysis also sheds light on the ways in which Shakespearean adaptations have influenced the development of national cinemas around the world. He argues that these adaptations have played a crucial role in shaping the aesthetics, storytelling techniques, and cultural identity of many countries. For instance, he discusses how Sergei Eisenstein's Ivan the Terrible (1944-1958) drew inspiration from Shakespeare's history plays, while Orson Welles's Macbeth (1948) helped to establish the American film noir genre.

Beyond its comprehensive analysis of Shakespearean adaptations, Shakespeare and World Cinema also explores the broader cultural impact of Shakespeare's works on world cinema. Burnett discusses how Shakespeare's plays have influenced the development of film theory, criticism, and education, and he examines the ways in which Shakespearean themes and characters have been echoed in films that are not explicitly adaptations of his plays.

Written in a clear and engaging style, Shakespeare and World Cinema is a valuable resource for scholars, students, and anyone interested in the intersection of literature, film, and global culture. Burnett's meticulous research and insightful analysis provide a fresh perspective on Shakespeare's enduring legacy and its profound impact on the world of cinema.

Praise for Shakespeare and World Cinema

"Mark Thornton Burnett's Shakespeare and World Cinema is a groundbreaking work that offers a truly global perspective on the Bard's influence on filmmaking. Burnett's comprehensive analysis and insightful cultural commentary make this book an essential read for anyone interested in the intersection of literature, film, and global culture." - Stanley Wells, General Editor of the Oxford Shakespeare

"Burnett's book is a major contribution to the study of Shakespeare and world cinema. His meticulous research and insightful analysis provide a fresh perspective on the global reach of Shakespeare's influence and its profound impact on filmmaking around the world." - Robert Shaughnessy, Professor of English, University of Kent

About the Author

Mark Thornton Burnett is a Professor of English at the University of California, San Diego. He is the author of numerous books on Shakespeare, film, and cultural studies, including The Oscars: A Cultural History (2019) and Film and Literature: An (2015).

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Shakespeare and World Cinema

by Mark Thornton Burnett

5 out of 5