Romantic Comedies: Then and Now

Catalog description

Why does Shakespeare inspire so many rom-com movies? How do modern-day adaptations of early modern literature challenge or reinforce gender stereotypes? In this course, we will treat Shakespearean dramas not only as classics in a literary canon, but also as public, commercialized entertainment informed by sociopolitical contexts. Case studies in Renaissance literature will be paired alongside excursions in contemporary film – including She’s the Man, John Tucker Must Die, and 10 Things I Hate About You. Through the study of romantic tropes from Shakespeare’s day to ours, we will consider how selected works strengthen or expand generic conventions, particularly as they pertain to gender and sexuality. Early modern readings will include Shakespeare’s Twelfth Night, The Taming of the Shrew, Much Ado About Nothing, and Romeo and Juliet.