Shakespeare in Shackles: The Transformative Power of Literature: Laura Bates at TEDxUCLA

Laura Bates has a Ph.D. from the University of Chicago in Comparative Literature, with a focus on Shakespeare studies. She is a professor of English at Indiana State University, where she has taught courses on Shakespeare for the past fifteen years to students on campus and in prison.
For more than 25 years she has worked in prisons as a volunteer and as a professor. She created the world's first Shakespeare program in supermax-the long-term solitary confinement unit. Her work has been featured in local and national media, including two segments on MSNBC-TV's Lock Up.
She is the author of "Shakespeare Saved My Life": Ten Years in Solitary with the Bard (Sourcebooks, 2013).
She has been happily married for nearly thirty years to Allan Bates, a retired professor and playwright.
About TEDx, x = independently organized event
In the spirit of ideas worth spreading, TEDx is a program of local, self-organized events that bring people together to share a TED-like experience. At a TEDx event, TEDTalks video and live speakers combine to spark deep discussion and connection in a small group. These local, self-organized events are branded TEDx, where x = independently organized TED event. The TED Conference provides general guidance for the TEDx program, but individual TEDx events are self-organized. (Subject to certain rules and regulations.)

[@ClariceAust]

"I wanted to challenge them to define these terms - like honor, integrity, pride & humanity - whatever they were. Because these things drive our lives and we don't even know what they are." Fantastic teaching program by Dr Laura Bates. So well expressed by Larry Newton. Credit to him and the other students/prisoners for turning themselves around and hoping to help others do the same; no easy feat.

[@titicaca-fx9cs]

Respect for the courage and perseverance of this professor . She bought light to the prisoner’s life.

[@donb5230]

Reading Shakespeare Saved My Life right now. Great project and some really intriguing interpretations of the plays.

[@Jeorge1998]

She’s actually my Children’s Literature Professor! She showed us a snippet of this in class today and I had to come back and watch it!

[@dalegriffiths3628]

It’s a great book. Loved it. Waiting for the ‘prisoner’s guide to Shakespeare’

[@CarlyMatt]

Dr. Bates spoke at my school today & I asked her about Larry Newton. Unfortunately, he's still in prison but not because of his own doing. He was dealt a really bad deal as a teen for the crimes he committed as a teen. I believe she said that in order to avoid death row, he took life without parole or any chance of appeal.

[@maximiliankratz]

Longest TED Talk I’ve ever had to watch for school

[@LukeSkywalker198]

I've had to listen to longer ones.

[@maximiliankratz]

@@LukeSkywalker198 L

[@hopefulmelancholy7514]

I only hope that for however long this man is still alive in prison,he finds a way to continue with the peace he has found.

[@TheMusicalJourneys]

Regarding Dr.Bates book and hard-working prisoner Larry Newton, I was mystified by the ending. The prison seemed to resent his success and worry he was still dangerous sending him back to isolation without cause for "behavior modification." I am concerned for Mr. Newton and sad the Shakespeare program ended at Wabash. If it can mitigate crime..why not try it? You can't bring victims back but maybe we can help there be fewer victims and that seems to be what these folk are trying to do.

[@elizabethoneill5286]

Depeche node

[@angelafitzpatrick6173]

My brother he didn't do anything but make a simple mistake as a teenager I don't know why I just don't we had a messed up child hood he does not use any of this for excuses he is in much heartfelt apologies to family he is capable of rehabilitation he probably don t feel like I do I took long time to figure it myself I love my brother I don't believe in murder I am not wrong I miss him I need him we haven't seen or talked to each other in over 20years and I just want to hold him and feel him protecting me again as I'm sure the family of the victim feels as well it just sucks for both parts bubby danky if you here me I am waiting to see you again

[@TheMusicalJourneys]

The Play was not done in supermax. It was done after Larry was released from super max to the general population. I just read the book "shakespeare saved my life" by Dr, Bates, its not fun there.

[@pawsoned]

They have some fun at supermax.

[@rosedowns8000]

Seriously, anyone know what happened to Larry Newton?

[@bubbashorts5049]

who got the assignment for this jawn no kizzy

[@penelopesnopes6852]

I read the book and saw that this program might make their incarceration better, but I don't have faith that the benefits would translate into a reformed and law abiding person on the outside.

[@3treept]

Once bad, always bad?

[@hopefulmelancholy7514]

Any change however small is better than nothing at all.

[@dalegriffiths3628]

I think anything that makes you stop think and really reflect is valuable. The difference is that often prisoners aren’t open to taking advice from an authority figure whereas it appears this program appears to have done so; by processing their thoughts in this way means that there is a chance that they may be able to respond differently if faced with challenging situations. There was a piece in the book where Dr Bates asked them if Shakespeare had save anybody’s life and the prisoners answered at least two. Not sure if this meant their own lives or ending the impulse to kill another.

[@ClariceAust]

@@dalegriffiths3628 Of course you're right, Dale. Well put.

[@traveling4health]

So what ever happened to Larry Newton? Where is he now?

[@tonyknight8092]

Still in prison

[@PoetDesh]

Why does she boast about herself and belittling other scholars? That is surely not scholarly! :)