Social Justice and Reparativity in Prison Shakespeare Narratives

Douglas M. Lanier, University of New Hampshire

This talk explores potential tensions and congruences between social justice Shakespeare and reparative Shakespeare in narratives about Shakespeare prison programs. These programs have become a recognized means by which incarcerated individuals pursue personal reform, self-empowerment, and socialization. Yet, this form of 21st-century popular Shakespeare remains under-theorized and under-appreciated as both a distinctive subgenre and a vehicle for Shakespeare’s enduring cultural relevance.

Using three films as touchstones—Shakespeare Behind Bars (2005), Cesare Deve Morire (Caesar Must Die, 2012), and Sing Sing (2023)—Professor Lanier will examine how these narratives represent Shakespeare’s efficacy (or lack thereof) for incarcerated individuals. He will also explore what cultural and psychological work these stories accomplish, and how they do so.

Additional works to be discussed include:

• Margaret Atwood’s Hag-Seed
• Monica Wood’s How to Read a Book
• Phyllida Lloyd’s all-female Shakespeare trilogy for the Donmar Warehouse

📅 Date: Monday October 20th
⏰ Time: 5 pm to 6:30 pm-Q&A
📍 Format: Zoom
💵 By Donation