Neema Parvini – författare

Boldly moves criticism of Shakespeare's history plays beyond anti-humanist theoretical approachesThis important intervention in the critical and theoretical discourse of Shakespeare studies summarises, evaluates and ultimately calls time on the mode of criticism that has prevailed in Shakespeare studies over the past thirty years. It heralds a new, more dynamic way of reading Shakespeare as a supremely intelligent and creative political thinker, whose history plays address and illuminate the very questions with which cultural historicists have been so preoccupied since the 1980s. In providing bold and original readings of the first and second tetralogies ( Henry VI, Richard III, Richard II and Henry IV, Parts 1 & 2), the book reignites old debates and re-energises recent bids to humanise Shakespeare and to restore agency to the individual in the critical readings of his plays.Key FeaturesRe-evaluates the legacy of new historicism and cultural materialism and intervenes in vital theoretical debates about human nature, the relationship between the individual and society, and the scope for individual political agencyQuestions the anti-essentialist, anti-humanist theoretical framework that has held sway in Shakespeare studies since the 1980s and develops a critical practice which appreciates Shakespeare's startling insights into personal agency in history and ideologyProvides original new readings of the first and second tetralogies that demonstrate Shakespeare's unique and radical take on the workings of power, history, and individual agencyKeywordsShakespeare, History Plays, Anti-humanism, New Historicism, Cultural Materialism, Critical Theory

In the thirty years since thepublication of Stephen Greenblatt's Renaissance Self-Fashioningoverthrew traditional modes of Shakespeare criticism, New Historicism and CulturalMaterialism have rapidly become the dominant modes for studying and writingabout the Bard. This comprehensive guide introduces students to the keywriters, texts and ideas of contemporary Shakespeare criticism and alternativesto new historicist and cultural materialist approaches suggested by a range ofdissenters including evolutionary critics, historical formalists and advocatesof 'the new aestheticism', and the more politically active presentists. Shakespeare and Contemporary Theory covers such topics as: The key theoreticalinfluences on new historicism including Michel Foucault and Louis Althusser.The major critics, from Stephen Greenblatt to Jonathan Dollimore and AlanSinfield. Dissenting views from traditional critics and contemporary theorists. Chapter summaries and questions for discussion throughout encourage students tocritically engage with contemporary Shakespeare theory for themselves. The bookincludes a 'Who's Who' of major critics, a timeline of key publications and aglossary of essential critical terms to give students and teachers easy accessto essential information.

In the 30 years since the publication of Stephen Greenblatt's Renaissance Self-Fashioning overthrew traditional modes of Shakespeare criticism, New Historicism and Cultural Materialism have rapidly become the dominant modes for studying and writing about the Bard. This comprehensive guide introduces students to the key writers, texts and ideas of contemporary Shakespeare criticism and alternatives to new historicist and cultural materialist approaches suggested by a range of dissenters including evolutionary critics, historical formalists and advocates of 'the new aestheticism', and the more politically active presentists. Shakespeare and Contemporary Theory covers such topics as: - The key theoretical influences on new historicism including Michel Foucault and Louis Althusser.- The major critics, from Stephen Greenblatt to Jonathan Dollimore and Alan Sinfield. - Dissenting views from traditional critics and contemporary theorists. Chapter summaries and questions for discussion throughout encourage students to critically engage with contemporary Shakespeare theory for themselves. The book includes a 'Who's Who' of major critics, a timeline of key publications and a glossary of essential critical terms to give students and teachers easy access to essential information.

Over the past three decades, no critical movement has been more prominent in Shakespeare Studies than new historicism. And yet, it remains notoriously difficult to pin down, define and explain, let alone analyze. Shakespeare and New Historicist Theory provides a comprehensive scholarly analysis of new historicism as a development in Shakespeare studies while asking fundamental questions about its status as literary theory and its continued usefulness as a method of approaching Shakespeare’s plays.

Over the past three decades, no critical movement has been more prominent in Shakespeare Studies than new historicism. And yet, it remains notoriously difficult to pin down, define and explain, let alone analyze. Shakespeare and New Historicist Theory provides a comprehensive scholarly analysis of new historicism as a development in Shakespeare studies while asking fundamental questions about its status as literary theory and its continued usefulness as a method of approaching Shakespeare’s plays.

Overturns orthodox thinking about morality in Shakespeare’s plays by updating our understanding of the human mindThis ground-breaking study fearlessly combines latest research in evolutionary psychology, historical scholarship and philosophy to answer a question that has eluded critics for centuries: what is Shakespeare’s moral vision? At a political and cultural moment in which many of us are taking stock and looking for meaning, and in which moral outrage and polarisation seem endemic, this book radically reimagines how we might approach great works of literature to find some answers.Key FeaturesProvocatively outlines how we might read literature for ethical contentBrings latest research on morality from evolutionary psychology and sociology to bear on the study of Shakespeare’s playsComprehensive coverage of moral philosophy in Shakespeare’s time and place, including the impact of the Renaissance, the Reformation and the rise of capitalismPlots ‘Shakespeare’s moral compass’ on six foundations (Authority, Loyalty, Fairness, Sanctity, Care, Liberty) with a chapter on each

Overturns orthodox thinking about morality in Shakespeare’s plays by updating our understanding of the human mindThis ground-breaking study fearlessly combines latest research in evolutionary psychology, historical scholarship and philosophy to answer a question that has eluded critics for centuries: what is Shakespeare’s moral vision? At a political and cultural moment in which many of us are taking stock and looking for meaning, and in which moral outrage and polarisation seem endemic, this book radically reimagines how we might approach great works of literature to find some answers.Key FeaturesProvocatively outlines how we might read literature for ethical contentBrings latest research on morality from evolutionary psychology and sociology to bear on the study of Shakespeare’s playsComprehensive coverage of moral philosophy in Shakespeare’s time and place, including the impact of the Renaissance, the Reformation and the rise of capitalismPlots ‘Shakespeare’s moral compass’ on six foundations (Authority, Loyalty, Fairness, Sanctity, Care, Liberty) with a chapter on each

The Defenders of Liberty presents a history of economic liberalism from the Renaissance to the present. it seeks to recover economic liberalism from social and political liberalism, which are somewhat unrelated schools of thought;