HKU Moodle

Reading and observing widely is essential to framing the array of choices that a creative perspective demands. Creative perspectives may be said, more accurately, to be drawn from design: active “watching” and “directing” the construction of creative staging. Therefore, in this unique design studio, students will begin to articulate and study their own creative perspectives on an ongoing and selected project, brought forward from work or personal development. This course will also build toward each student’s submission in the Happiness Project of Semester 2. The course will therefore explore advanced elements of creative craft and articulation in monolingual and multilingual contexts.

Through close textual analysis and performance engagements involving three diverse plays – Romeo and Juliet, The Tempest and Hamlet – Global Shakespeare brings students into deeper consideration and application of the language, social context and production of these peerless works. Global Shakespeare presents Shakespeare’s plays through the lenses of relevant, current theories in contemporary literary criticism, including postcolonial perspectives, gender identities, social conflicts and equalities, economic inequalities.

 I incorporate theatre performance principles into the analytical process and lead students in discussions of critical theory in relation to Shakespeare plays. In NGL7104, I also explore adaptations of Shakespeare in other artistic forms (including dance, costume, opera, visual art and orchestral music). In this process, I give students the opportunity to consider the psychosocial, political and cultural factors that continually influence interpretation. By the end of ENGL7104, students should possess the knowledge, analytical strategies and production insights that enable effective, insightful criticism of Shakespeare’s work on the page and stage.