"Why Shakespeare? Because it's 2016" | Stephen Brown | TEDxStMaryCSSchool

In this the 400th year since William Shakespeare’s death, there is still reluctance among many secondary school students to accept Shakespeare as an author who speaks to them and their dilemmas. In part this derives from the misguided notion that Shakespeare’s language is historically remote, too difficult, even inaccessible. Thus the rich market of Shakespeare translations from his English to contemporary English, with No Fear Shakespeare leading the way. But Shakespeare is not difficult if we understand his work as he intended it, as theatre not narrative. If we listen to Shakespeare rather than reading him, if we attend to the human scenarios he presents rather the hunting for meaning, theses, and essay topics, if we recognize the everydayness rather than pursuing the remote, then Shakespeare is as contemporary in 2016 as he was in 1616.
Professor Stephen Brown
Stephen Brown has been a 3M National Teaching Fellow and an Honorary Fellow of the Society for Teaching and Learning in Higher Education since 1997. He holds a BA and an MA from the University of Windsor, and a BA and a PhD from Queen’s University, as well as having done postdoctoral work at Yale University. He is a Fellow of the Society of Antiquaries of Scotland and has been a visiting professor at the Centre for the History of the Book and the Institute for Advanced Studies in the Humanities at the University of Edinburgh. In 2013, he was Ormiston Roy Fellow in Scottish Studies at the University of South Carolina. He has been a member of the English Literature Department at Trent University in Peterborough since 1985, often teaching in Oshawa, and was the Master of Champlain College at Trent from 1993 until 2009. He has published widely in the field of print culture and literacy, receiving a Besterman McColvin Award and a Michael Von Poser Society Edinburgh.
This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at ted.com/tedx

[@soldierside365]

‘ When Shakespeare wants ya to listen, he has a listener on stage’ So obvious but literally blew my mind right now..

[@LionessStudios]

pretty ingenious

[@margaretgaskin4928]

Except it's not true. Hence soliloquies.

[@NikDavis]

I'm really glad I watched this. In 20 minutes I don't think I've ever learned more about storytelling. What a fantastic professor.

[@diamndz1021]

I agree

[@nikkan3810]

His speech skills and voice are also incredible (except "uh" and "right?" That he mumbles all the time lol)

[@1988129ful]

He was my prof! Great prof! Loves what he does and you can tell.

[@Dani_London]

You're very lucky. He seems like an amazing teacher. Does he get that emotional in lectures? I had an English teacher like that once and it just warms my heart so much haha

[@noahz3429]

loooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooool

[@paulcleaver8747]

@@Dani_London When I had him for a professor back in the 90's, yes he did.

[@Dani_London]

@@paulcleaver8747 That's amazing, what a top man!

[@m4TT5]

who is watching for school

[@dynomitediamond6296]

me

[@ha----ha1788]

Normal people: right This guy: riyye

[@spokeforhours]

I'm blown away by this man's passion. I was lucky to have had some incredible teachers, but not as many professors, and I miss learning from someone like him.

[@dbaa23]

I enjoy how this Ted talk complements understanding literature and yet going against all the standardized requirements (metaphors and analyzation) that I went through regarding English.

[@kylak6926]

everyone saying who is watching this for english class nobody summarizing it for me so i dont have to do my assignment. sad.

[@modelysar]

He is right. Hearing a live performance is so much more powerful than watching any movie of a Shakespeare play. I saw Olivier's "Richard III" and thought, "Meh." I saw a local production with local talent and was blown away! The scene between Richard and Lady Anne, Richard III Act I, scene ii, OH MY GOD! You could hear the audience's jaws hit the floor at the end of that scene!

[@jobhd1199]

Listening, key to many enlightenment, but so few who heed that advice. Age, for some can be a cure though. Literature is truly the last refuge. How lucky are you that have him as a teacher.

[@mariefolie4427]

This has helped me see Shakespeare in a way I never thought I could imagine. I love to read it with my students. I love to see it, to hear it, but omg I have never listened like this. Beautiful!!!!!

[@christiangasior4244]

Dude, give Jeff Goldblum his voice back.

[@isobels_literary_life]

"The nurse says that looking at Juliet, and Lady Capulet is looking at Juliet, and two daughters are dead. And if we are not listening, we miss that." Damn.

[@graceschwartz6275]

absolutely amazing, got me thinking about so much. only 18 min and I learned more from him then my teacher ever has. Absolutely incredible.

[@davidsconnelly2613]

Prof. Brown talks about how Lady Capulet is losing Juliet (the child) to Paris, & following that, continuing with this same theme, the nurse, too, having had lost her child at birth. Anyhow, when Dr. Brown’s voice swerves, & he momentarily puts his prayered hands together at 13:34, I can’t help but to ponder if he’d lost a child himself... A very powerful moment in this lecture.

[@nipamkumarsaikia2]

In every word he utters there is a great sense of empathy. He has the thorough understanding of the ethics of Shakespearean play. Thank you sir.

[@flybiguns1013]

Shakespeare sucks

[@BryantheArchivist]

@@flybiguns1013 WEEEEEEEEEE WOOOOOOOOO BADASS ALERT

[@ericforest9186]

Stephen is national treasure. How this man isn't famous I have no clue.

[@elfiy2798]

he talks like that poetry teacher from one of SNL's skits that's amazing lol

[@MarceuPierrotti]

What an amazing lesson - about shakespeare and about listening. Great and touching!

[@mrsmith9882]

Great Ted talk. One of the best in recent memory.

[@Elmegoo]

My absolute favourite University prof!

[@dakielster]

Wow, I have never thought to approach any text in this way, despite having studied some Shakespeare in high school. I am a business major and my mind is largely oriented around very practical concerns. Thank you, Dr. Brown, for challenging me. I look forward to giving Shakespeare another go.

[@TheBritishActingCoach]

Wonderful vulnerability! And absolutely! So many productions miss things - I would love to direct more Shakespeare and help people SEE it for what it is and not READ it. Thanks so much.

[@jameso8086]

7:15 "Whenever we apprehend an effect we want to comprehend a cause. And that's a problem, especially with theatre and always with life, something happens to us and we want to know why. Well, the cause doesn't matter. Who knows what the first cause of anything is?...They're beyond my comprehension, right? But in the moment of life I apprehend constantly what it is to be living, and to seek meaning in that - rather than to simply swim in the luxuriousness of my own soul and heart, seems like an extraordinary abandonment of the joy of living."

[@miscellaneousSLUDGE]

Nailed it right there

[@mrsmith9882]

Shakespeare almost makes me proud to be a human.

[@theDjangoTango]

Wonderful. Thank you.

[@sheelapeter9948]

He's awesome An inspiration for English teachers

[@question42]

7:00 --- just nailed it..

[@pathardage1880]

I wish I'd studied with this man before I subjected my students to my own love of Shakespeare. They would have gotten so much more of the good stuff.

[@danielmcmillian6286]

I love this, and everything he's saying/teaching, but for the life of me I can't stop thinking about how much his voice sounds like Jeff Goldblum's.

[@margalitvanbergen6620]

How can you be bored when you've met William Shakespeare?!

[@dumbllama8495]

Oh My God, that ending was precious!

[@onepathnetwork2606]

Let’s talk more===... X+1 :8:0 :2/ 2/ 6/ 5/ 1/ 2 :2 :6 W/h/~a: s / a : p ~p🚀:::: :::::::::.........

[@Anicius_]

Shut

[@miscellaneousSLUDGE]

I love you, love this talk thank you for opening my mind and my heart

[@helenlangford8672]

Really enjoyed listening to Stephen. So many layers.

[@dasonogod568]

Why am I so sleepy

[@_idontevenknowanymore]

Does he have lectures online?? I need more of Stephen Brown! ❤

[@michaelh102]

Shakespeare is proof of innate intelligence - uncorrupted to any imaginable degree of understanding that is possible to comprehend. This is my own understanding of a Superior person, who articulates way beyond the destiny of his genetic predisposition, bringing forth a new realm of consciousness which nobody can understand but many can perceive just as he did. Why Shakespeare? Give me a call...because people like us these days always keep ourselves to ourselves.

[@2msvalkyrie529]

Judging from your comment , this " innate intelligence " seems to preclude modesty . ?

[@andrewrae7928]

This was wonderfully presented. Who cares what the man looks like?

[@jamestiburon443]

Brilliant. Thank you!

[@tucker_last_name]

who out here in 2019

[@jak0427]

Tucker A. Hawkins me

[@ericme4767]

Me.

[@roniquebreauxjordan1302]

We all are 😊

[@juswolf22]

He even has the Shakespeare haircut

[@rohitmasih1077]

5t.

[@sandeepjoshi8280]

You nailed it!

[@Disneylover2023]

I am going to audition for Titania next month wish me luck!

[@currypablo]

christin smith hope you got the part!

[@jesuschristvevo2825]

No

[@karrishay1359]

3 years later how did it go

[@Disneylover2023]

@@karrishay1359 they didn’t give me the role. They treated me horribly. They had no respect for me at all.

[@AndreasDelleske]

@@Disneylover2023 oh, sorry to hear that. What did you do since then?

[@markuskrabbe813]

Great stuff, really. Thank you.

[@fay-amieaspen6046]

Shakespeare is beloved the world over in so many ways, in so many other countries, except he's practically absent in the UK. Few people are seen reading the plays in the streets, few statues, fountains and art on the streets, few public houses and streets named after him or his characters. England mourns one of their most famous sons.

[@AnneSofieLovesMozart]

This guy is amazing!

[@Jjrmtv]

extraordinary

[@andrewh2504]

Amazing

[@TheBritishActingCoach]

"We shouldn't have feared him to begin with"! YES! Found this really interest as a professional Actress. Thanks for recording this TED and Prof. Brown for writing/sharing this! Thank you!

[@kennyperez3260]

this was great

[@davidolson558]

Is that Larry David?

[@khateebahmed9523]

Great Performance

[@christophervan6966]

Masterful.

[@wordstoshare4864]

While I agree with much of what he says, he is wrong about how long it was before people talked about "seeing" a play as Pepys wrote in 1662 about Midsummer Nights Dream "the most insipid ridiculous play that ever I saw in my life", sounds like people were talking about seeing a play in the 17th century

[@seanphilburn-xi5wq]

Amazing!!

[@lucyprkr684]

There is no subtitle you know?

[@jacobmesser8284]

Right

[@sarakershaw2118]

Does anyone know of a production of Romeo and Juliet that does, in fact, play Act 1 Scene 3 in this manner? I'd love to use it in my classroom!

[@tylermay4399]

Proffesor: Talks *minecraft villager noise*

[@designstaff7598]

Nice

[@albertgainsworth]

I am very grateful to the book series, "Shakespeare made easy," and, "No Fear Shakespeare" because I love Shakespeare's plays and I found some of the dialogue almost incomprehensible. The English language has changed quite a bit since Elizabethan times, and also Shakespeare uses slang words that have completely disappeared. I would like to see a play done with the modern English used in the above books. In my opinion it would still be a great play. It is better to become familiar with Shakespeare's original dialogue, but I think that many people are put off by lack of understanding many of the words.

[@michaelnixon525]

easy - because it's beautiful.

[@stephanbrucebecker7268]

Beyond the shadow of a doubt!

[@DayneSmith1]

If we think to ourselves " what would self aware artificial intelligence take away from Shakespeare." One reason is because humanities is one of the things that might teach artificial intelligence the value of human life.

[@veenagaba8111]

that was amazing

[@ThePersistentRumor]

Wow. Wow. Wow. That was magical.

[@WheelChairwayToHeaven]

Nice save at 13:29

[@fredguldentops6081]

The importance of Shakespeare and his plays in history of mankind is also the opposite of what Stephen Brown said. His plays were one of the great trailblazers of the Enlightenment, the era of 'comprehension'. All the social critique of the habits and mores of the kings and 'noble' men and women was to open up a vision towards a new society, to get rid of the feudal schemes and murders where the common people didn't have any interest in, except to look at it with disdain. As Hamlet fools Claudius that Polonius is being fed to the worms. "A fisherman can use a worm as a bait, but the worm itself can be filled with the intestins of a King." Is it a coincidence that the Dark Middle ages (where one would indeed have to listen and not try to comprehend) was more easily shed off in England than in France in the seventeenth century? And led to Cromwell and the Glorious Revolution compared to the absolute monarchies in France of Louis xiii en xiv? The plays of Shakespeare might have well have educated generations to not only 'feel' the historic period they lived, but as well as to comprehend it and opened them up to overthrow it.

[@SamuelLyndonScott]

right?

[@superdooper1830]

What does apprehend the effects mean?

[@jameshavlock7308]

When he says "he right?" And " hm mkay?" He sounds like Mark Zuckerberg in south park

[@TheThearchangel90650]

Impressive

[@pingukutepro]

This guy said anything I said to my friends when they can't enjoy literature and movies lol

[@mileshahn4135]

1. Why should modern audiences still read/watch Shakespeare? What makes him so relevant to today? 😂English class

[@MariaThePotterNut]

I mean if you don't do what the entire video talks about maybe. But if you actually look at it, so many themes are just as relevant today as they were before. Anger and frustration with controlling parents who don't like who you're dating, wanting to act out and go against them. How dearly the cousins in As You Like It care for eachother and would do anything for each other. Iago's jealousy leading him to make Othello paranoid that his wife was cheating on him. Beatrice and Benedict are a romcom in the making, two friends that love to bicker with each other but totally don't like each other actually falling in love. Many fathers that worry about the men trying to marry their daughters are not in love with them and won't treat them well, or wanting their daughters to be happy and finding good men to introduce to them. Wanting revenge after someone harms you or your family. Wanting a higher status and how far people are willing to go for position in the spotlight. Theres a reason shakespeare is constantly being remade and reinvented into modern classics. Lion King being Hamlet is well known and West Side Story is an obvious Romeo and Juliet, but then there's 10 Things I Hate About You (Taming of the Shrew), She's the Man (Twelveth Night), and tons more.

[@iancossey105]

@Extravagant Baboon No, you don't NEED to, but if you're able to engage with art (any art, not just Shakespeare, not just literature), if you're able to engage with it in the way this professor is trying to describe to you, your inner life will be enriched immensely. If you're young, that's something which can be difficult to see or comprehend - and some people never see or comprehend it, whatever their age - but if you can, then trust me, it makes life so much more worthwhile. The book's age is irrelevant.

[@ladycaticorn2950]

@Extravagant Baboon Perhaps part of the point also is that if we learn from people's past mistakes, we can do better or feel less alone. The relevance in Shakespeare's themes sheds light on the idea that much of the human experience is relatable and similar regardless of where you are born or what year you live in. And why do we read anything? To enlighten ourselves, to derive enjoyment and pleasure, and to learn, so I do not see why Shakespeare should fall outside of this category because some people find his writing inaccessible. As others have said, art enriches your inner world in many ways.

[@soslothful]

Did you know "Hamlet" has been translated in to Klingon?

[@King.-Arthur]

Why yes I did actually. It's only good if you watch it in original Klingon

[@cheesecake9178]

King Arthur now they just need an English version.

[@zorah1112]

I dont get it someone please help

[@shubhamsagarsingh9451]

Can someone explain how are 2 daughters dead?

[@jacktheripperisnotme]

Right?

[@isaiahh43]

Hello Classmates

[@leohe6781]

I was forced to watch this during English class but I have to admit that it's a great video

[@eriksiep.3709]

didn`t know larry david is an shakespeare expert

[@TimJenningsVideo]

I didn't catch his name when I clicked on the video and I honestly thought this was Larry David.

[@2msvalkyrie529]

Shakespeare ( like the Beatles ) had no nationality. It just so happened by random chance that they were born in that place ; at that time . Somehow or other - subconsciously I assume ? - people all over the World realise this and this is partial explanation to his universal acceptance .

[@ebuze]

2020

[@ChicagoIL50]

Who watching this because they are actually interested in Shakespeare.......

[@Redtide]

Wasted a lot of my time and could have studied something more useful.

[@maxiboy965]

Juliet is my dad

[@sandeepjoshi8280]

You are mistaken.. he must be Julian!

[@justinlongo509]

9:00

[@graceebenezer6085]

Guys, I have to finish my assignment. The topic is 'Modern day reaction to William Shakespeare'. Can you give your thoughts pls?

[@mobilelegends5633]

GOOD LUCK

[@kojiko2442]

did you finish it

[@AndreasDelleske]

Yes.

[@sandeepjoshi8280]

Will need to discuss that with your prof. first if that's permissible. Right! Until then... Good Luck, dude!

[@zachdietrich4648]

Pls someone let this guy direct some Shakespeare so he can stop TELLING people what plays mean. SHOW, don’t tell. It’s a PLAY. You should be both watching and listening. Because it’s being performed.

[@Ozgipsy]

Our gorgeous young prime minister did it for me… cheers

[@peroskarsson8455]

Why would someone rather listen to a play in his own language then in another - what a question!

[@akashchauhan9860]

That Asian guy in the audience at 5:25 knows that he is a culprit because he has used No Fear Shakespeare SparkNotes to write his English commentaries for Shakespeare's works just like the rest of us.

[@faye8469]

why?

[@adrianmichaelkelly277]

They don't make 'em like Stephen Brown anymore.

[@perunners3596]

I heard a serious branch breathe me near…

[@baronale8579]

Stephen either is a god, or Stephen could kill god, and I do not care if there is a difference!

[@erniereyes1994]

The reasons to read (and "listen" to) Shakespeare FAR outweigh the reasons not to and the reasons not to are amazingly all superficial...

[@manuntd1109]

ill give someone five bucks if they summarise this for my english lol

[@lololo]

LArry david

[@lohkoonhoong6957]

Unfold yourself ... into life.

[@AndrewInoue]

AP Lit Amiright???

[@sadcommunity]

Larry David?