English Shakespeare Modern pop culture phenomenon

Shakespeare the pop phenomenon

Kaan, Karolina, Kiran, Nelly, Jerrit

Table of content

1. Who was William Shakespeare?

8. Modern pop culture phenomenon

9. How did Tupac influence modern pop culture?

2. What is popular culture?

3. Pop culture to Shakespeare's times

10. Comparison - Shakespeare's and Tupac's work - Shakespeare's and Tupac's influence

4. Why was Shakespeare considered a superstar?

5. How did Shakespeare influence modern pop culture?

6. Why was/is Romeo and Juliet so influential?

11. Conclusion

7. Modern work inspired by Shakespeare

Who was Shakespeare?

• Born in April 1564 in Stratford-upon-Avon, UK
• Baptised on April 26 1564
• Died on April 23 1616
• English playwright, poet and actor
• World's greatest dramatist
• Pop culture phenomenon

What is popular culture?

• Social practices, patterns of consumption, daily experiences
• Recognized by members of society
• Cultural products
• Involves aspects of social life
• Interactions between people in their everyday activities
• Informed by the mass media

Pop culture to Shakespeare's times

• Western pop culture began with Shakespeare
• First pop culture "superstar"
• Controversial topic
• Going to continue growing

Why was Shakespeare considered a superstar?

• Most famous writer in the UK
• He was an allrounder
• Best selling author
• 37 plays
• Famous quote: "To be, or not to be: that is the question."
• First dramatist, who addressed current topics
• Blueprints about variations of topics --> love, jealousy, revenge
• Everyone visits his place of birth

How did Shakespeare influence modern pop culture

• Language
• Addressed political topics -> inspired political leaders e.g. Nelson Mandela
• Themes that are relevant for society e.g.: love, greed, ambition and power
• Inspiration for high culture and low art

• His plays (especially Romeo and Juliet) have inspired modern works
• Musicians, filmmakers, visual artists, TV show writers, animators, dramatists and poets were inspired by him

• Influence for language, culture, society, art and education

Why was/is Romeo and Juliet so influential?

• Beautiful language, humour, action and love
• Relevant topics e.g.: Love, rivalry, friendship, conflicts with partens, fate and destiny
• Their recklessness and rebelliousness represents modern teenagers
• The story/the idea can be relatable for many people/teenagers
• Fobidden unconditional love
• A timeless story and message
• Influenced many films and songs e.g.: Taylor Swift - Love Story

Modern work inspired by Shakespeare

Motocrossed - Twelfth Night The protagonist disguises herself as a male in order to take on an untraditionally male role

• She takes on the role of her brother
• She gains the respect of her peers

• Gender bending
• Swapping identities
• Unlikely romance

The Lion King - Hamlet Young princes, who's fathers have been killed by their uncles

• The uncle wants to become the king
• The princes see their father's ghost
• Both are exiled away from their kingdoms
• The uncles die

Modern pop culture phenomenon

• Tupac Amaru Shakur
• Born on June 16 1971 in New York City
• Murdered on September 13 1996
• American actor and rapper
• Poet and social commentator

How did Tupac influence modern pop culture

• Rapid growth of the rap/hip-hop/pop culture
• Topics: Trust, racial discrimination, society, the poor (the ghetto)
• Poetic and raw delivery
• Self-empowerment
• Authenticity
• Spreading messages in creative ways
• Style, slang and music

Shakespeares's work

Tupac's work

Comparison

Comparison

Conclusion

Thanks!

Sources

• https://nohoartsdistrict.com/shakespeare-s-surprising-influence-on-modern-culture/
• https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sonnet_18
• https://www.bigfm.de/artists/tupac
• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mb1ZvUDvLDY
• https://www.independent.ie/entertainment/theatre-arts/shakespeare400-how-shakespeare-shaped-modern-culture-34638536.html#:~:text=His%20work%20has%20inspired%20musicians,at%20least%20in%20part%2C%20influence.
• http://www.ijetsr.com/images/short_pdf/1495552361_nitttr1032_ijetsr.pdf
• https://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-4748672,00.html
• https://lisbdnet.com/why-is-romeo-and-juliet-still-read-today/#:~:text=Romeo%20and%20Juliet%20provides%20both,be%20popular%20to%20this%20day.
• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8xg3vE8Ie_E

Sources

• https://superscholar.org/shakespeare-in-pop-culture/
• https://prezi.com/-7z6revq7acz/hamlet-vs-the-lion-king/
• https://reelrundown.com/movies/Two-Modern-Films-Based-on-Shakespeares-Twelfth-Night-and-the-Enduring-Theme-of-Gender-Roles
• https://klexikon.zum.de/wiki/Hamlet
• https://kytary.de/ms-the-lion-king-pvg/HN215651/
• https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0273842/
• https://www.kobo.com/at/de/ebook/twelfth-night-usborne-young-reading-series-two