1st Edition

Colorblind Shakespeare New Perspectives on Race and Performance

Edited By Ayanna Thompson Copyright 2007
    280 Pages 21 B/W Illustrations
    by Routledge

    280 Pages 21 B/W Illustrations
    by Routledge

    The systematic practice of non-traditional or "colorblind" casting began with Joseph Papp's New York Shakespeare Festival in the 1950s. Although colorblind casting has been practiced for half a century now, it still inspires vehement controversy and debate.
    This collection of fourteen original essays explores both the production history of colorblind casting in cultural terms and the theoretical implications of this practice for reading Shakespeare in a contemporary context.

    Foreword.  Section 1: The Semiotics of (Not) Viewing Race  Section 2: Practicing Colorblindness: The Players Speak  Section 3: Future Possibilities/Future DirectionS   Afterword: The Blind Side in Colorblind Casting.  Notes on Contributors.  Index

    Biography

    Ayanna Thompson is Assistant Professor of English and Women's Studies at Arizona State University.