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VPR's coverage of arts and culture in the region.

Kings, Tyrants and Mobs: Shakespeare And Politics

Shakespeare's tragedy "Coriolanus," originally set in ancient Rome, is brought into modern times at Dartmouth's Hopkins Center for the Arts. The play's modern-day staging is through a partnership with the Stratford Festival.
David Hou
/
Stratford Festival at Dartmouth
Shakespeare's tragedy "Coriolanus," originally set in ancient Rome, is brought into modern times at Dartmouth's Hopkins Center for the Arts. The play's modern-day staging is through a partnership with the Stratford Festival.

Language and politics are no strangers: look no further than finely-tuned political ads or carefully-calculated appeals in candidate speeches. And from Scottish kings to Roman rulers, few have explored how language shapes politics as much as William Shakespeare. We're looking at how the themes and characters of Shakespeare connect with the politics of 2018.

Tom Luxon, a Dartmouth English professor, discusses aspects of Shakespeare's works playing out in modern politics. He'll also discuss how a staging of Coriolanus ?by the Stratford Festival brings the story of a Roman general seeking political power into a modern-day setting.

And Charlie Wheelen, author and policy fellow at Dartmouth’s Rockefeller Center, discusses how Shakespeare's kings and rulers use language to appeal to emotions and influence the public.

Broadcast live on Thursday, Oct. 25, 2018 at noon; rebroadcast at 7 p.m.

Jane Lindholm is the host, executive producer and creator of But Why: A Podcast For Curious Kids. In addition to her work on our international kids show, she produces special projects for Vermont Public. Until March 2021, she was host and editor of the award-winning Vermont Public program Vermont Edition.
Matt Smith worked for Vermont Public from 2017 to 2023 as managing editor and senior producer of Vermont Edition.
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