Racism in Shakespeare's Othello

[@thytwined5336]

Where would I be able to access the remaineder of the video? A really interesting insight!

[@MASSOLITeducation]

Hi there! The full course can be found here: massolit.io/courses/shakespeare-othello-john-lennard Subscriptions to MASSOLIT start from just £19/mo

[@junaydmalick807]

This is an inaccurate video. Ira Aldridge was a well known and widely acclaimed first black actor for Othello who performed the role over 200 years ago, this refutes the idea that Othello has only been played by black actors in the last 25 years. Furthermore there is evidence that Othello was played in Blackface makeup before Ira Aldridge took the role. Strange that an academic would miss this obvious information.

[@Taveren]

Not strange if you're trying to achieve a specific outcome, calculated

[@Ozgipsy]

I’d never seen Othello as racist, but I’d never considered Shakespeare lived before the Atlantic slave trade. 🤦‍♂️🤦‍♂️

[@mmjhcb]

That this is even a topic for discussion shows how far we've sunk as a culture.

[@lilahdog568]

Is it though? Is it really worse that we talk about racism instead of sticking our head in the sand?

[@mmjhcb]

@@lilahdog568 Oh, puh-leez! We know about racism; we do not condone it, but thrusting non-existent systemic racism, finding it in everything, is insulting. Is there some? Sure. Is it rampant? Hell, no. In fact, the most prevalent racism I see is reverse racism against whites thanks to disgusting lunatic liberals. Next, you'll applaud discussion of racism in "The Lord's Prayer." Geesh!

[@mkgvlc4]

@@lilahdog568 exactly, and as the video states Shakespeare was depicting racism in his plays, setting the grounds for this "discussion" maybe? Its funny how near sighted western culture is becoming, thinking the discussion about racism only started during the civil rights movement. Its a universal topic, the globalised world isnt brraking newd and theres been many an exodus in history. Not depicting some racism in certain characters or institutions would disregarf reality

[@Horltum]

@@mkgvlc4 There will always be some disagreement about which characters and institutions those are, hence the need for discussion.

[@Devin7Eleven]

@@lilahdog568 Talk about racism doesn't mean being ignorant, self righteous, obsessive, hypocritical, or lecturing. Shakespeare is an icon to the English people. He is a massive part of their culture. Leave him be. Keep your self righteous hands to yourselves and move on.

[@nathanielwaterfill9748]

Your take is US centric and historically inaccurate (and this is coming from an American). The British were involved in the slave trade in the Caribbean as early as the mid 1500s. Shakespeare is definitely working during the colonial construct of racism, and sometimes repudiates/sometimes reflects it.

[@sabrinashahab795]

Othello is a tragedy , just like Hamlet is .