76-448 Shakespeare on Film

9 units, Carnegie Mellon University

The dramatic works of William Shakespeare have inspired an extraordinarily rich and varied cinematic legacy that began in the era of silent films and now boasts masterpieces by directors such as Akira Kurosawa, Roman Polanski, Peter Greenaway, and Orson Welles, not to mention historymaking performances by icons including Marlon Brando, Elizabeth Taylor, Laurence Olivier, Al Pacino, Leonardo DiCaprio, and Ian McKellen among many others. This course will consider a selection of key Shakespeare films alongside critical readings centered on questions of adaptation and performance. As we watch and read together, we will work toward a broader understanding of what Shakespearean drama means in a 21st century context, and how film has helped to shape the authors massive cultural impact.

Prerequisites: 76-101 or 76-102 or (76-106 and 76-107) or (76-106 and 76-108) or (76-107 and 76-108)

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