'Gifts of the World'?: Creating and Contextualising the Shakespeare Birthplace Trust's International Collection
Lead Research Organisation:
Birmingham City University
Department Name: ADM School of English
Abstract
To be 'international' is to be among but also between nations. This project will explore the internationalisation of Shakespeare as a series of interactions that are not limited by geographical, cultural, and chronological divides to make something truly 'between'. I see this project as an opportunity to capture and curate the 'betweenness' of Shakespeare's cultural and political currency as interactions and exchanges manifested in cultural artefacts. My analysis will question the meeting point between Shakespeare and the (cultural) production of the item: what elements of Shakespeare (in general, or his work) represents or instigates the 'between' that appeals to, relates to, or raises questions within that culture at the time of the item's production. Furthermore, I will query what impact the interaction has Shakespeare: what new meanings and fresh interpretations spring from the interaction and go on to inspire and engender more again. Thus the 'between' is the fertile ground that propagates both meaning and continued international interest in Shakespeare.
The findings of the academic study of the betweenness and political/cultural currency of Shakespeare will be rendered on a map within an open-access, blog-linked, searchable web program. Users will be able to click to see the full history of the interactions with each specific culture, which will be linked and searchable by date, country, play, poem, artefact type, and potentially by socio-political event. This will result in a comprehensive digital archive which will open up the international collection to researchers, enthusiasts and the public. Through the innovation and comprehensiveness of the interface, the Birthplace will be reinstalled as the natural repository for research and artefacts of this type by exposing and expanding its outreach and inviting future interactions as part of a future collecting strategy. Furthermore, in encouraging contributions by international contributors it will make a purposeful step towards freeing Shakespeare studies from the limitations of ethnocentrism. In the present time of not only cultural and religious conflict, but also declining acknowledgment of the importance of literature, this project, in emphasising Shakespeare as a medium for better understanding ourselves as a global community - by celebrating the 'between' - could be infinitely valuable.
Narrative historicism will empower the archive to tell its own story as part of a consolidated methodology that implements order through the internal narrative of the collection, as opposed to imposing order upon the collection from the outside, as is the norm in much curatorial as well as scholarly practice. I would also employ critical discourse analysis and digital humanities method/ologies with which I am conversant through my current MRes studies. My suitability for this role as a cultural archaeologist and curator lies not only in my creativity and credentials, but my curiosity about stories that have not yet been told. Being led by curiosity, rather than expectation or agenda, should 'free' unknown historical and cross-cultural narratives, and insure against colonization of the collection.
The findings of the academic study of the betweenness and political/cultural currency of Shakespeare will be rendered on a map within an open-access, blog-linked, searchable web program. Users will be able to click to see the full history of the interactions with each specific culture, which will be linked and searchable by date, country, play, poem, artefact type, and potentially by socio-political event. This will result in a comprehensive digital archive which will open up the international collection to researchers, enthusiasts and the public. Through the innovation and comprehensiveness of the interface, the Birthplace will be reinstalled as the natural repository for research and artefacts of this type by exposing and expanding its outreach and inviting future interactions as part of a future collecting strategy. Furthermore, in encouraging contributions by international contributors it will make a purposeful step towards freeing Shakespeare studies from the limitations of ethnocentrism. In the present time of not only cultural and religious conflict, but also declining acknowledgment of the importance of literature, this project, in emphasising Shakespeare as a medium for better understanding ourselves as a global community - by celebrating the 'between' - could be infinitely valuable.
Narrative historicism will empower the archive to tell its own story as part of a consolidated methodology that implements order through the internal narrative of the collection, as opposed to imposing order upon the collection from the outside, as is the norm in much curatorial as well as scholarly practice. I would also employ critical discourse analysis and digital humanities method/ologies with which I am conversant through my current MRes studies. My suitability for this role as a cultural archaeologist and curator lies not only in my creativity and credentials, but my curiosity about stories that have not yet been told. Being led by curiosity, rather than expectation or agenda, should 'free' unknown historical and cross-cultural narratives, and insure against colonization of the collection.
People |
ORCID iD |
Helen Hopkins (Student) |
Publications
Hopkins, Helen A.
(2018)
On the Shakespeare Association of America 2018 Annual Meeting
in The Shakespeare Newsletter
Title | Shakespeare Connected exhibition 'Our German Shakespeare' |
Description | An online exhibition as part of the Shakespeare Birthplace Trust's series of exhibitions published on their website to showcase and increase engagement with their collection. This exhibition drew on my thesis chapter for the SBT's German collection of responses to Shakespeare to create an object-based narrative of Shakespeare's role in the establishment of a national cultural identity in German prior to its unification in 1871 and the relationship between Stratford and Frankfurt and Weimar (in particular) after that date up until the 1960s. |
Type Of Art | Artistic/Creative Exhibition |
Year Produced | 2018 |
Impact | None that I am aware of |
URL | http://collections.shakespeare.org.uk/exhibition/exhibition/shakespeare-connected-our-german-shakesp... |
Description | 'Our German Shakespeare' Exhibition |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Engagement focused website, blog or social media channel |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
Results and Impact | An online exhibition based on the first chapter of my thesis as part of a broader project for creating engagement with the Shakespeare Birthplace Trust's collections. The exhibition was published on the Shakespeare Birthplace Trust's website. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |
URL | http://collections.shakespeare.org.uk/exhibition/exhibition/shakespeare-connected-our-german-shakesp... |
Description | Blog: 'Honouring Shakespeare and German Unity' |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Engagement focused website, blog or social media channel |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
Results and Impact | A blog about an item from the Shakespeare Birthplace Trust's German collection, which features in my thesis, related to the anniversary of the unification of German. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |
URL | https://www.shakespeare.org.uk/explore-shakespeare/blogs/honouring-shakespeare-and-german-unity/ |
Description | Blog: 'Our German Shakespeare' |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Engagement focused website, blog or social media channel |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
Results and Impact | A blog to accompany the online exhibition 'Our German Shakespeare' and talk given at the Shakespeare Centre for the 'Shakespeare Connected' project at the Shakespeare Birthplace Trust. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |
URL | https://www.shakespeare.org.uk/explore-shakespeare/blogs/shakespeare-connected-our-german-shakespear... |
Description | Blog: 'The Waco Women's Shakespeare Club' |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Engagement focused website, blog or social media channel |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
Results and Impact | A blog about an item from the Shakespeare Birthplace Trust's US collections, which features in my thesis, and related to the celebration of International Women's Day. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
URL | https://www.shakespeare.org.uk/explore-shakespeare/blogs/waco-womens-shakespeare-club/ |
Description | Panel discussion at Shakespeare Birthplace Trust Winter School |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | National |
Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
Results and Impact | As part of the leisure-learning series the Winter School at the Shakespeare Birthplace Trust, this panel, entitled 'Shakespeare and Museums' was designed to discuss the given topic in relation to the group's viewing of the play 'A Museum in Baghdad'. Between 100 and 200 people were in attendance and expressed interest in the conversation about how museums create as well as narrate history, and the importance in the current political climate of bringing forward narratives that have been previously elided in the name of the glorification of the British Empire. Audiences members had further queries about absentee slave ownership in this country as they had not previously been aware of the practice's existence or impact on the wealth and institutions of Britain. As a result of the success of this event the Shakespeare Courses Development Manager at the Shakespeare Birthplace Trust has asked me to give a 45 minute talk on the topic as part of the 'Living Shakespeare' series of courses in May 2020. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2020 |
Description | Shakespeare Connected |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | National |
Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
Results and Impact | I gave a talk at the Shakespeare Centre to introduce my online exhibition of German responses to Shakespeare in the Shakespeare Birthplace Trust's collections. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |
URL | http://collections.shakespeare.org.uk/exhibition/exhibition/shakespeare-connected-our-german-shakesp... |