BOOKS: Shakespeare and Modern Culture

“Shakespeare makes modern culture and modern culture makes Shakespeare.” Well that’s according to Marjorie Garber in her recent book, “Shakespeare and Modern Culture.” Garber in this book sets out to prove her premise that Shakespeare’s writings, mainly ten plays which she cites as examples, have influenced society and individuals ever since they were written. Does Garber succeed? Yes for the most part. According to Garber Shakespeare actually makes modern culture and modern culture through reinterpretation of Shakespeare remakes Shakespeare. And round and round it goes! For example psychiatrists use Shakespearean constructs to advise their patients, modern advertisements abound with Shakespearean phrases, rock music lyricists apply the Shakespearean magic__well it does get a bit trite as Garber tries to apply Shakespeare to inconsequential things. And that’s the only problem with this book. Garber tries to go to far. Does Shakespeare really reach down into the inconsequential vagaries of modern life? Garber should have stopped short. Have the ideas in Macbeth been used to demonize woman politicians? Well maybe? But who is actually to say? Did George Bush use the same arguments we see in Richard the III when with his claims about weapons of mass destruction in Iraq? Did George Bush ever read Richard III? Perhaps, but ironically we learn that Laura Bush provided George with a list of Shakespeare’s plays he should read. I wonder if he got bogged down in Richard III? Don’t get me wrong there is a lot of Shakespearean scholarship in this book and it is a worthwhile read. The real strength of Garber’s work becomes evident when she discuses Shakespeare’s impact on modern art and thought. Here her thesis is strong and her work becomes a fine analysis. On balance the book works and Garber’s premise is sound. If nothing else this book encourages a much deeper engagement with Shakespeare’s plays than we might otherwise likely experience. And I think this is what Garber’s main intention was, to shows the glory of the plays, how deep they are and how pervasive their influence has been. Shakespeare is ubiquitous in modern culture and Garber’s book goes a long way to prove that point, but on the other hand I think she stretched the bards influence a bit to thin, especially when applying it to some of the triteness in modern culture. But don’t let that discourage you this is a good read. Recommended.