Shakespearean Skins: Reading,Writing and Performing Corporeal Surfaces in Sixteenth-Century Drama., English and Creative Writing

Project Description

In 1996, Keir Elam discussed what he termed 'the body boom' (142) in Shakespeare Studies. Over a decade later, critical interest in early modern bodies shows little sign of waning. However, like the relationship between skin and the body itself, the corporeal surface is part - and yet is not part - of this analytical terrain. Mindful of the ways in which 'the skin always takes the body with it' (Connor, 2004: 29), this project focuses on Elizabethan drama's use of 'skin' as a means of initiating relationships between 'the visual and the haptic' (Benthien, 2002: 10). Beginning with an exploration of "Boys, Bodies and Beards in 'As You Like It'", Shakespearean Skins argues that early modern plays are driven by a kind of cutaneous sensibility which fashions early modern identities.

Benthien, Claudia, Skin: On the Cultural Border Between the Self and the World, tr. By Thomas Dunlap (New York: Columbia University Press, 2002).

Connor, Steven, The Book of Skin (London: Reaktion, 2004).

Elam, Keir, '"In What Chapter of His Bosom": Reading Shakespeare's Bodies', in Alternative Shakespeares, vol. 2, ed. by Terence Hawkes (London: Routledge, 1996), pp. 140-163.

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Research Menu Introduction Staff Research Interests Research Clusters English Literature Publications Creative Writing Publications See also: ePrints Publications Repository Search using keywords/tags or full text search.	Shakespearean Skins: Reading,Writing and Performing Corporeal Surfaces in Sixteenth-Century Drama. «Back Summary: This project focuses on sixteenth-century drama's use of 'skin' as a means of initiating relationships between 'the visual and the haptic' (Benthien, 2002: 10). Key Facts Principal Investigator: Liz Oakley-Brown Dept/Research Group: English and Creative Writing Keywords: Bodies, Shakespeare, Sixteenth-century, Sixteenth-century literature, Materiality, Performance, Performance and historical studies, Textual criticism, Theatre, The body, Theory Project Description In 1996, Keir Elam discussed what he termed 'the body boom' (142) in Shakespeare Studies. Over a decade later, critical interest in early modern bodies shows little sign of waning. However, like the relationship between skin and the body itself, the corporeal surface is part - and yet is not part - of this analytical terrain. Mindful of the ways in which 'the skin always takes the body with it' (Connor, 2004: 29), this project focuses on Elizabethan drama's use of 'skin' as a means of initiating relationships between 'the visual and the haptic' (Benthien, 2002: 10). Beginning with an exploration of "Boys, Bodies and Beards in 'As You Like It'", Shakespearean Skins argues that early modern plays are driven by a kind of cutaneous sensibility which fashions early modern identities. Benthien, Claudia, Skin: On the Cultural Border Between the Self and the World, tr. By Thomas Dunlap (New York: Columbia University Press, 2002). Connor, Steven, The Book of Skin (London: Reaktion, 2004). Elam, Keir, '"In What Chapter of His Bosom": Reading Shakespeare's Bodies', in Alternative Shakespeares, vol. 2, ed. by Terence Hawkes (London: Routledge, 1996), pp. 140-163.	Research Centres and Events Conference Highlights Centres Events Research Activities Database Search our research activities database for: Current Research Activities Research Archive Search by keyword: English and Creative Writing ONLY ALL depts in Faculty Arts and Social Sciences
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Shakespearean Skins: Reading,Writing and Performing Corporeal Surfaces in Sixteenth-Century Drama.