David Livingstone | Palacky University, Olomouc (original) (raw)
Papers by David Livingstone
Philological Treatises, 2024
Shakespeare's Dark Lady has generated not only a great deal of speculation as to her identity, bu... more Shakespeare's Dark Lady has generated not only a great deal of
speculation as to her identity, but also a number of literary treatments in fiction, drama and even poetry. This paper will provide an overview of these depictions, only to focus on two of the most recent and most prominent examples, these being the theatre play Emilia by Morgan Lloyd Malcolm from 2018 and the ballet/spoken word production Lucy Negro Redux from 2019 based on a collection of poems of the same name by Caroline Randall Williams.
Malcolm's play focuses on the historical figure of Emilia Bassano Lanier, one of the traditional Dark Lady candidates. Malcolm portrays her, with an all female cast, as a woman of colour in three stages of her life. Williams' poetry collection and the ballet/spoken word adaptation, with original music by Rhiannon Giddens, explore the personage of Lucy Negro or Black Luce who has also been granted the status of Shakespeare's erotic muse.
Both productions focus on women of colour and attempt to provide a voice and agency for these intriguing women whose value has been traditionally only due to their connection to Shakespeare the man. Both productions have not only popularized Shakespeare with a contemporary audience but have also attempted to reach new viewers and readers.They have additionally involved media crossings into musical theatre, dance and spoken word.
Voices of Diversity, 2024
Launched on Public Television in 1969, Sesame Street is most known for its remarkable puppets (Bi... more Launched on Public Television in 1969, Sesame Street is most known for its remarkable puppets (Big Bird, Cookie Monster, Bert and Ernie, etc.), later known as muppets, created by the legendary puppeteer Jim Henson. These muppets were often larger-than-life, especially in the case of Big Bird, and have become part of the imagination of generations of Americans, and not only. A number of new muppets have been added over the years, some remaining as stalwarts, while others only for a certain period of time. I will argue, among other things, that the eccentric muppets normalized alternative lifestyles, behaviour, body sizes, racial tolerance, different skin colours and diversity. It was also revolutionary, however, for its focus on intercity minority children and inclusion of a diverse range of crew members (women, African-Americans, Latinos, disabled people, LGBT, among others). The regular inclusion of guest celebrities (the list is extensive to say the least) also provided not only entertainment, but progressive ideas concerning race, class, ethnicity, sexuality, etc. This paper will explore the cultural significance of this awardwinning and groundbreaking television classic, which celebrated eccentricity, creativity, tolerance and diversity.
Explorations: A Journal of Language and Literature
W. H. Auden famously both celebrated and criticized his renowned Irish predecessor in the poem "I... more W. H. Auden famously both celebrated and criticized his renowned Irish predecessor in the poem "In Memory of W. B. Yeats" from 1940. His lines, "The words of a dead man / Are modified in the guts of the living.", are very much relevant to his own critical legacy and reputation. A great deal has been written concerning, for example, Auden's politics, his sexuality, his interest in psychology, his religious beliefs, his move to the United States and his practically unmatched virtuosity in verse. One might therefore assume that the critical approaches had already been exhausted. Ladislav Vít has managed, however, to find not only a new perspective on the poet's work, but has also wisely limited himself chronologically in order to narrow the focus on this ever-evolving artist. The Landscapes of W. H. Auden's Interwar Poetry: Roots and Routes is part of the book series Perspectives on the Non-Human in Literature and Culture published by Routledge. Launched in 2017, the series consists of 27 books thus far, this being among the latest to be published. Ladislav Vít is a graduate of the doctoral program at Charles University in Prague. He currently works at the University of Pardubice in Czechia where he teaches British literature with a special focus on the Interwar period and the work of W. H. Auden in particular. He is also the editor of the academic journal American and British Studies Annual published at his home institution. Vít, in the monograph, argues convincingly for the centrality of Auden's interest in geology (having planned to be a mining engineer as a boy) for his poetic vision. "Above all, Auden himself weaved into his writing a geography of the unique and sacred places which occupied his imagination, providing him with an important source of reference and allowing him to elicit his strong topophilic sentiments" (2). He counters the pervasive view that Auden somehow lacked a visual sense and argues for the contrary perspective, arguing that his "prose and poetry are replete with insights into human spatial experience, the artistic representation of place, and references to landscapes, ranging from generic types to particular places" (4). One of the key concepts in the monograph, is the concept of a 'good place' (Auden's expression for a personal idea of Eden), which, at least in this
Litteria Pragnesia, 2024
Although most well-known for his plays and prose, the Irish writer Brendan Behan also recorded a ... more Although most well-known for his plays and prose, the Irish writer Brendan Behan also recorded a number of songs, some of his own composition and others either traditional or written by contemporaries. His best-known recording, Brendan Behan Sings Irish Folk Songs and Ballads, remarkably captures not only his voice, but also his wit and distinct joie de vivre. The collection from 1960 includes not only the songs themselves (with Behan still in fine singing form), but also his introductions and wry comments on a range of subjects. The article looks at the circumstances behind the recording, the actual songs included on the album, and Behan's ongoing commentary about a range of topics. The focus is on the first half of the recording which consists of songs from his play The Hostage, with an additional short discussion of one of his most well-known pieces, "The Auld Triangle," which serves as an ongoing leitmotif in his earlier play, The Quare Fellow.
Folium, 2024
This paper will focus on how Shakespeare often introduces characters with language challenges or ... more This paper will focus on how Shakespeare often introduces characters with language challenges or difficulties in his plays. These come in a range of forms and include, to name but a few, malapropisms with unintentional comic effect, non-native English speakers whose mispronunciation of English provides much amusement and misunderstandings and various other garblers of the English language. These verbal failings are usually viewed as Shakespeare poking fun at the ignorance of commoners or foreigners, in contrast, of course, to the more eloquent voices of their social superiors. One can, however, view these utterances as a subversive means of ridiculing or deflating the pompous language of the rich and powerful. Perhaps these garblers are yet another kind of wise clown or fool used by Shakespeare, so effectively in the comedies in particular, to comment insightfully on the events transpiring on stage.
Literary Oracle, 2024
The American folk singer and activist Malvina Reynolds (1900-1978) was truly instrumental in spre... more The American folk singer and activist Malvina Reynolds (1900-1978) was truly instrumental in spreading awareness of environmental and ecological issues through her songs. Reynolds only began composing in her forties and performing in her fifties, but soon made a name for herself, starting in the early 1960s, with her topical protest songs touching on a range of issues, most notably the environment. Her compositions have been covered and popularized by folk and pop giants such as Pete Seeger, Joan Baez, Harry Belafonte and many others. This paper will focus on her most well-known ecological songs: God Bless the Grass, What Have They Done to the Rain, Little Boxes, etc. With her white hair and granny glasses, Reynolds did not at all fit the image of the beatnik folk singer of the 1950s or the hippie movement which followed. She did, however, pioneer the embracing of environmental protection as an important theme in folk music and popular culture in general.
Od folkloru k world music: NEW WAYS TO OLD MUSIC, 2023
This paper explores the unfortunately frequent manner in which African-American musicians fell of... more This paper explores the unfortunately frequent manner in which African-American musicians fell off the grid after being initially recorded in the late 1920s or were never discovered at all, only to be ‘rediscovered’ in the late 1950s and early 1960s in connection with the Folk Revival. These two folk and blues musicians, Mississippi John Hurt and Elizabeth Cotten, only received much deserved recognition in their sixties and seventies after having worked their whole lives doing manual labour jobs; better late than never.
These elderly black musicians, versed in the older traditions of country blues, consequently
provided routes for a whole new generation of mostly white musicians and listeners.
Multicultural Shakespeare: Translation, Appropriation and Performance
Although no longer American President, Donald Trump still manages to upstage the current administ... more Although no longer American President, Donald Trump still manages to upstage the current administration. An explanation for his “sinister aesthetics”, to use Joel Elliot Slotkin’s concept, can be seemingly found in developing a comparison with the eponymous king of Shakespeare’s Richard III, who masterfully employs soliloquies and asides to draw the audience and reader into his evil plots and dealings. Donald Trump also managed something similar by means of Twitter, constantly tweeting out vicious comments and insults, which kept both his followers and opponents engaged. This theatrical skill is also compared to the ‘heat’ generated by villains in professional wrestling, whose popularity is marked by how much hatred they can produce.
Linguaculture, 2020
Pete Seeger would have turned one hundred and one on May 3 of this year. To commemorate these ten... more Pete Seeger would have turned one hundred and one on May 3 of this year. To commemorate these ten decades plus one year, I would like to look at eleven of the most remarkable aspects of Pete Seeger’s life, work and legacy. This paper will examine the cultural impact and oral tradition of the music, songs and books of Pete Seeger. This legendary folk musician's career spanned eight decades and touched on many of the key historical developments of the day. He is responsible for some of the iconic songs which have not only helped define American culture, but even beyond. Seeger was also a pioneer in a number of fields, using his music to propagate political convictions, ecological themes, civil rights, world music, education, etc. The folk singer also had his finger on the pulse of a number of developments in American history and culture. He was friends with a number of prominent musicians and artists and influenced an entire range of younger musicians and activists.
Ostrava Journal of English Philology, 2021
This essay examines the literary output of Marcela Sulak, a Texas‑born Czech poet and academic no... more This essay examines the literary output of Marcela Sulak, a Texas‑born Czech poet and academic now living and working in Tel Aviv, Israel. There is a focus not only on her recently published memoir, but on her poetry and her translations of two Czech classics (Mácha and Erben) into English. The primary interest of the essay is in exploring her search for identity, not only geographically, but also spiritually. Increased attention is paid to those aspects of her life and work connected with the Czech nation, history, culture and language.
Linguaculture
Charles Williams has been and will undoubtedly continue to be the third wheel in the literary cir... more Charles Williams has been and will undoubtedly continue to be the third wheel in the literary circle of the Inklings, behind his celebrity colleagues J. R. R. Tolkien and C. S. Lewis. The reasons for this are manifold and partially deserved. Williams was a prolific writer who published books in various genres (novels, poetry, drama, non-fiction) and on a wide range of subjects (theology, literary criticism, history, biography, the occult, etc.). Williams was also an influential editor at Oxford University Press and a respected lecturer. This article will focus on the most well-known area of his writing, his novels, which C. S. Lewis referred to as “spiritual shockers”, not in disdain, but in admiration. Attention will be on what I believe are his most important and accomplished novels: Descent into Hell and All Hallow’s Eve. My particular interest will be on his remarkably realistic treatment of the supernatural.
Theory and Practice in English Studies , 2022
Hamlet seems to be everywhere, from t-shirts encouraging the drinking of "two beers or not two be... more Hamlet seems to be everywhere, from t-shirts encouraging the drinking of "two beers or not two beers" to advertisements for everything under the sun. Hollywood has entered the fray with its box-office animated hit The Lion King or the popular motorcycle gang television series Sons of Anarchy, to name but a few examples. We would seem to have reached Hamlet overload. Does the Prince of Denmark have anything left in the tank for contemporary readers of serious fiction? This paper will examine three recent Hamlet adaptation novels: Lisa Klein's Ophelia (2006), Ian McEwan's Nutshell (2016) and Maggie O'Farrell's Hamnet (2020). The above-mentioned novels will be used to exemplify three of the most frequent current approaches, all amounting to forms of intertextuality: the Joycean, involving tracing links between Shakespeare's life and the plays; the Stoppardian, consisting of spin-offs of the play focusing on characters other than Hamlet himself; the 'updating' approach where the bare bones of the plot of the play are employed for a narrative taking place in the present day. Hamlet, despite his fears of falling into oblivion, very much lives on "to tell my [his] story" (Shakespeare, 5.2 302).
Linguaculture, 2022
Charles Williams has been and will undoubtedly continue to be the third wheel in the literary cir... more Charles Williams has been and will undoubtedly continue to be the third wheel in the literary circle of the Inklings, behind his celebrity colleagues J. R. R. Tolkien and C. S. Lewis. The reasons for this are manifold and partially deserved. Williams was a prolific writer who published books in various genres (novels, poetry, drama, non-fiction) and on a wide range of subjects (theology, literary criticism, history, biography, the occult, etc.). Williams was also an influential editor at Oxford University Press and a respected lecturer. This article will focus on the most well-known area of his writing, his novels, which C. S. Lewis referred to as "spiritual shockers", not in disdain, but in admiration. Attention will be on what I believe are his most important and accomplished novels: Descent into Hell and All Hallow's Eve. My particular interest will be on his remarkably realistic treatment of the supernatural.
University of Bucharest Review, 2022
This article will explore American folk songs dealing with disasters, mostly from the first half ... more This article will explore American folk songs dealing with disasters, mostly from the first half of the twentieth century. These songs dealt with shipwrecks, train-wrecks, fires, tornadoes and drought and even the so-called Dust Bowl. Along with murder ballads, these songs functioned as a kind of oral newspaper providing information to even illiterate people in rural America. The songs also served an a stimulus to imagination, opening up exotic worlds to people often isolated and sedentary. The songs provided an opportunity for the listener/singer/musician to experience vicarious pain and catharsis in relation to the particular disaster. Finally, there was often a religious dimension to the songs and disasters which were being memorialised in song. The paper will conclude with a demonstration of how the disaster song finally became politicized with the example of Woody Guthrie. The primary source for the songs was the anthology of disaster songs entitled People Take Warning released in 2007. The artists included in the collection and discussed in this paper range from wellknown figures such as the Carter Family and Charlie Poole to lesser known musicians who are practically forgotten. There will also be a discussion of the predecessors to these songs as well as the successors.
Explorations: A Journal of Language and Literature, 2022
W. H. Auden famously both celebrated and criticized his renowned Irish predecessor in the poem "I... more W. H. Auden famously both celebrated and criticized his renowned Irish predecessor in the poem "In Memory of W. B. Yeats" from 1940. His lines, "The words of a dead man / Are modified in the guts of the living.", are very much relevant to his own critical legacy and reputation. A great deal has been written concerning, for example, Auden's politics, his sexuality, his interest in psychology, his religious beliefs, his move to the United States and his practically unmatched virtuosity in verse. One might therefore assume that the critical approaches had already been exhausted. Ladislav Vít has managed, however, to find not only a new perspective on the poet's work, but has also wisely limited himself chronologically in order to narrow the focus on this ever-evolving artist. The Landscapes of W. H. Auden's Interwar Poetry: Roots and Routes is part of the book series Perspectives on the Non-Human in Literature and Culture published by Routledge. Launched in 2017, the series consists of 27 books thus far, this being among the latest to be published. Ladislav Vít is a graduate of the doctoral program at Charles University in Prague. He currently works at the University of Pardubice in Czechia where he teaches British literature with a special focus on the Interwar period and the work of W. H. Auden in particular. He is also the editor of the academic journal American and British Studies Annual published at his home institution. Vít, in the monograph, argues convincingly for the centrality of Auden's interest in geology (having planned to be a mining engineer as a boy) for his poetic vision. "Above all, Auden himself weaved into his writing a geography of the unique and sacred places which occupied his imagination, providing him with an important source of reference and allowing him to elicit his strong topophilic sentiments" (2). He counters the pervasive view that Auden somehow lacked a visual sense and argues for the contrary perspective, arguing that his "prose and poetry are replete with insights into human spatial experience, the artistic representation of place, and references to landscapes, ranging from generic types to particular places" (4). One of the key concepts in the monograph, is the concept of a 'good place' (Auden's expression for a personal idea of Eden), which, at least in this
Multicultural Shakespeare: Translation, Appropriation and Performance, 2022
Although no longer American President, Donald Trump still manages to upstage the current administ... more Although no longer American President, Donald Trump still manages to upstage the current administration. An explanation for his "sinister aesthetics", to use Joel Elliot Slotkin's concept, can be seemingly found in developing a comparison with the eponymous king of Shakespeare's Richard III, who masterfully employs soliloquies and asides to draw the audience and reader into his evil plots and dealings. Donald Trump also managed something similar by means of Twitter, constantly tweeting out vicious comments and insults, which kept both his followers and opponents engaged. This theatrical skill is also compared to the 'heat' generated by villains in professional wrestling, whose popularity is marked by how much hatred they can produce.
Od folkloru k world music: Hudba a Slovo, 2022
The paper focuses on several of the most well-known spirituals (Sing Low, Sweet Chariot; Go Down ... more The paper focuses on several of the most well-known spirituals (Sing Low, Sweet Chariot; Go Down Moses; Down by the Riverside) and looks at how the words of the Bible and the sermons of preachers inspired the lyrics of these songs. The words of the spirituals, inspired in particular by the Biblical stories of the enslavement of the Israelites in Egypt, liberation
and the reaching of the Promised Land, mirrored the plight of African Americans not only during slavery, but during the Reconstruction era and up to the time of the Civil Rights movement. The Fisk Jubilee Singers were pioneers in introducing the genre, not only to the rest of the United States, but also to the world.
Hradec Králové Journal of Anglophone Studies, 2022
This article focuses on two novels by women writers from the Hogarth Shakespeare project. The boo... more This article focuses on two novels by women writers from the Hogarth Shakespeare project. The books are Vinegar Girl by Anne Tyler based on The Taming of the Shrew and Margaret Atwood’s Hag-Seed
drawing inspiration from The Tempest. The project was launched with great fanfare and with high anticipation on the part of readers and critics, this being a result of not only the two above-mentioned writers,
but also the involvement of renowned figures such as Jeanette Winterson, Howard Jacobson and Jo Nesbø, among others. The combination of the canonical source material and the highly respected and awarded
contributors arguably proved to be more of a curse in the end than a blessing as the expectations were inevitably unrealistic. In the case of the two scrutinized novels, I approached them (and I was certainly not alone in this) with the assumption that the two renowned women writers would attempt to come to terms with the problematic subject matter and themes of the two plays. The article posits whether these expectations were justified and whether adaptations along these lines are of particular value in the end.
Overtones Ege Journal of English Studies, 2023
The children's television programme Fat Albert and the Cosby Kids was, along with Sesame Street, ... more The children's television programme Fat Albert and the Cosby Kids was, along with Sesame Street, a pioneer project blending entertainment with edifying educational content. Launched in the early 1970s, this animated show, mixed with live scenes involving Bill Cosby's commentary, opened up a whole new world to child viewers. Set in inner city Philadelphia, with many of the scenes in a junk yard, the programme not only acquainted the child viewers with African-American culture, music and language, but also provided useful lessons on a range of still very much relevant topics: racism, sexism, bullying, teasing, etc. This article article primarily focus on the first set of series which ran in the first half of the 1970s, which corresponds to the author's own exposure to the show.
Polish Journal of English Studies, 2023
There will be an attempt to demonstrate how Henry, contrary to expectations, makes profitable use... more There will be an attempt to demonstrate how Henry, contrary to expectations, makes profitable use of his time to "learn the ropes". Henry in his interactions with Falstaff and others employs a wide range of comic techniques: jokes, insult comedy, imitations, political satire, etc. In contrast, however, with Zelensky who has bravely rallied his country and inspired the world with resistance to a larger aggressor in a defensive war, Henry V does the exact opposite invading neighbouring France on the most flimsy of pretexts. Although lionized in many productions as a great military leader, icon of Englishness and man of the people, this paper will argue for his ultimate failure as a leader, failing to heed the lessons of his comic "apprenticeship", in stark contrast to Zelensky.
Philological Treatises, 2024
Shakespeare's Dark Lady has generated not only a great deal of speculation as to her identity, bu... more Shakespeare's Dark Lady has generated not only a great deal of
speculation as to her identity, but also a number of literary treatments in fiction, drama and even poetry. This paper will provide an overview of these depictions, only to focus on two of the most recent and most prominent examples, these being the theatre play Emilia by Morgan Lloyd Malcolm from 2018 and the ballet/spoken word production Lucy Negro Redux from 2019 based on a collection of poems of the same name by Caroline Randall Williams.
Malcolm's play focuses on the historical figure of Emilia Bassano Lanier, one of the traditional Dark Lady candidates. Malcolm portrays her, with an all female cast, as a woman of colour in three stages of her life. Williams' poetry collection and the ballet/spoken word adaptation, with original music by Rhiannon Giddens, explore the personage of Lucy Negro or Black Luce who has also been granted the status of Shakespeare's erotic muse.
Both productions focus on women of colour and attempt to provide a voice and agency for these intriguing women whose value has been traditionally only due to their connection to Shakespeare the man. Both productions have not only popularized Shakespeare with a contemporary audience but have also attempted to reach new viewers and readers.They have additionally involved media crossings into musical theatre, dance and spoken word.
Voices of Diversity, 2024
Launched on Public Television in 1969, Sesame Street is most known for its remarkable puppets (Bi... more Launched on Public Television in 1969, Sesame Street is most known for its remarkable puppets (Big Bird, Cookie Monster, Bert and Ernie, etc.), later known as muppets, created by the legendary puppeteer Jim Henson. These muppets were often larger-than-life, especially in the case of Big Bird, and have become part of the imagination of generations of Americans, and not only. A number of new muppets have been added over the years, some remaining as stalwarts, while others only for a certain period of time. I will argue, among other things, that the eccentric muppets normalized alternative lifestyles, behaviour, body sizes, racial tolerance, different skin colours and diversity. It was also revolutionary, however, for its focus on intercity minority children and inclusion of a diverse range of crew members (women, African-Americans, Latinos, disabled people, LGBT, among others). The regular inclusion of guest celebrities (the list is extensive to say the least) also provided not only entertainment, but progressive ideas concerning race, class, ethnicity, sexuality, etc. This paper will explore the cultural significance of this awardwinning and groundbreaking television classic, which celebrated eccentricity, creativity, tolerance and diversity.
Explorations: A Journal of Language and Literature
W. H. Auden famously both celebrated and criticized his renowned Irish predecessor in the poem "I... more W. H. Auden famously both celebrated and criticized his renowned Irish predecessor in the poem "In Memory of W. B. Yeats" from 1940. His lines, "The words of a dead man / Are modified in the guts of the living.", are very much relevant to his own critical legacy and reputation. A great deal has been written concerning, for example, Auden's politics, his sexuality, his interest in psychology, his religious beliefs, his move to the United States and his practically unmatched virtuosity in verse. One might therefore assume that the critical approaches had already been exhausted. Ladislav Vít has managed, however, to find not only a new perspective on the poet's work, but has also wisely limited himself chronologically in order to narrow the focus on this ever-evolving artist. The Landscapes of W. H. Auden's Interwar Poetry: Roots and Routes is part of the book series Perspectives on the Non-Human in Literature and Culture published by Routledge. Launched in 2017, the series consists of 27 books thus far, this being among the latest to be published. Ladislav Vít is a graduate of the doctoral program at Charles University in Prague. He currently works at the University of Pardubice in Czechia where he teaches British literature with a special focus on the Interwar period and the work of W. H. Auden in particular. He is also the editor of the academic journal American and British Studies Annual published at his home institution. Vít, in the monograph, argues convincingly for the centrality of Auden's interest in geology (having planned to be a mining engineer as a boy) for his poetic vision. "Above all, Auden himself weaved into his writing a geography of the unique and sacred places which occupied his imagination, providing him with an important source of reference and allowing him to elicit his strong topophilic sentiments" (2). He counters the pervasive view that Auden somehow lacked a visual sense and argues for the contrary perspective, arguing that his "prose and poetry are replete with insights into human spatial experience, the artistic representation of place, and references to landscapes, ranging from generic types to particular places" (4). One of the key concepts in the monograph, is the concept of a 'good place' (Auden's expression for a personal idea of Eden), which, at least in this
Litteria Pragnesia, 2024
Although most well-known for his plays and prose, the Irish writer Brendan Behan also recorded a ... more Although most well-known for his plays and prose, the Irish writer Brendan Behan also recorded a number of songs, some of his own composition and others either traditional or written by contemporaries. His best-known recording, Brendan Behan Sings Irish Folk Songs and Ballads, remarkably captures not only his voice, but also his wit and distinct joie de vivre. The collection from 1960 includes not only the songs themselves (with Behan still in fine singing form), but also his introductions and wry comments on a range of subjects. The article looks at the circumstances behind the recording, the actual songs included on the album, and Behan's ongoing commentary about a range of topics. The focus is on the first half of the recording which consists of songs from his play The Hostage, with an additional short discussion of one of his most well-known pieces, "The Auld Triangle," which serves as an ongoing leitmotif in his earlier play, The Quare Fellow.
Folium, 2024
This paper will focus on how Shakespeare often introduces characters with language challenges or ... more This paper will focus on how Shakespeare often introduces characters with language challenges or difficulties in his plays. These come in a range of forms and include, to name but a few, malapropisms with unintentional comic effect, non-native English speakers whose mispronunciation of English provides much amusement and misunderstandings and various other garblers of the English language. These verbal failings are usually viewed as Shakespeare poking fun at the ignorance of commoners or foreigners, in contrast, of course, to the more eloquent voices of their social superiors. One can, however, view these utterances as a subversive means of ridiculing or deflating the pompous language of the rich and powerful. Perhaps these garblers are yet another kind of wise clown or fool used by Shakespeare, so effectively in the comedies in particular, to comment insightfully on the events transpiring on stage.
Literary Oracle, 2024
The American folk singer and activist Malvina Reynolds (1900-1978) was truly instrumental in spre... more The American folk singer and activist Malvina Reynolds (1900-1978) was truly instrumental in spreading awareness of environmental and ecological issues through her songs. Reynolds only began composing in her forties and performing in her fifties, but soon made a name for herself, starting in the early 1960s, with her topical protest songs touching on a range of issues, most notably the environment. Her compositions have been covered and popularized by folk and pop giants such as Pete Seeger, Joan Baez, Harry Belafonte and many others. This paper will focus on her most well-known ecological songs: God Bless the Grass, What Have They Done to the Rain, Little Boxes, etc. With her white hair and granny glasses, Reynolds did not at all fit the image of the beatnik folk singer of the 1950s or the hippie movement which followed. She did, however, pioneer the embracing of environmental protection as an important theme in folk music and popular culture in general.
Od folkloru k world music: NEW WAYS TO OLD MUSIC, 2023
This paper explores the unfortunately frequent manner in which African-American musicians fell of... more This paper explores the unfortunately frequent manner in which African-American musicians fell off the grid after being initially recorded in the late 1920s or were never discovered at all, only to be ‘rediscovered’ in the late 1950s and early 1960s in connection with the Folk Revival. These two folk and blues musicians, Mississippi John Hurt and Elizabeth Cotten, only received much deserved recognition in their sixties and seventies after having worked their whole lives doing manual labour jobs; better late than never.
These elderly black musicians, versed in the older traditions of country blues, consequently
provided routes for a whole new generation of mostly white musicians and listeners.
Multicultural Shakespeare: Translation, Appropriation and Performance
Although no longer American President, Donald Trump still manages to upstage the current administ... more Although no longer American President, Donald Trump still manages to upstage the current administration. An explanation for his “sinister aesthetics”, to use Joel Elliot Slotkin’s concept, can be seemingly found in developing a comparison with the eponymous king of Shakespeare’s Richard III, who masterfully employs soliloquies and asides to draw the audience and reader into his evil plots and dealings. Donald Trump also managed something similar by means of Twitter, constantly tweeting out vicious comments and insults, which kept both his followers and opponents engaged. This theatrical skill is also compared to the ‘heat’ generated by villains in professional wrestling, whose popularity is marked by how much hatred they can produce.
Linguaculture, 2020
Pete Seeger would have turned one hundred and one on May 3 of this year. To commemorate these ten... more Pete Seeger would have turned one hundred and one on May 3 of this year. To commemorate these ten decades plus one year, I would like to look at eleven of the most remarkable aspects of Pete Seeger’s life, work and legacy. This paper will examine the cultural impact and oral tradition of the music, songs and books of Pete Seeger. This legendary folk musician's career spanned eight decades and touched on many of the key historical developments of the day. He is responsible for some of the iconic songs which have not only helped define American culture, but even beyond. Seeger was also a pioneer in a number of fields, using his music to propagate political convictions, ecological themes, civil rights, world music, education, etc. The folk singer also had his finger on the pulse of a number of developments in American history and culture. He was friends with a number of prominent musicians and artists and influenced an entire range of younger musicians and activists.
Ostrava Journal of English Philology, 2021
This essay examines the literary output of Marcela Sulak, a Texas‑born Czech poet and academic no... more This essay examines the literary output of Marcela Sulak, a Texas‑born Czech poet and academic now living and working in Tel Aviv, Israel. There is a focus not only on her recently published memoir, but on her poetry and her translations of two Czech classics (Mácha and Erben) into English. The primary interest of the essay is in exploring her search for identity, not only geographically, but also spiritually. Increased attention is paid to those aspects of her life and work connected with the Czech nation, history, culture and language.
Linguaculture
Charles Williams has been and will undoubtedly continue to be the third wheel in the literary cir... more Charles Williams has been and will undoubtedly continue to be the third wheel in the literary circle of the Inklings, behind his celebrity colleagues J. R. R. Tolkien and C. S. Lewis. The reasons for this are manifold and partially deserved. Williams was a prolific writer who published books in various genres (novels, poetry, drama, non-fiction) and on a wide range of subjects (theology, literary criticism, history, biography, the occult, etc.). Williams was also an influential editor at Oxford University Press and a respected lecturer. This article will focus on the most well-known area of his writing, his novels, which C. S. Lewis referred to as “spiritual shockers”, not in disdain, but in admiration. Attention will be on what I believe are his most important and accomplished novels: Descent into Hell and All Hallow’s Eve. My particular interest will be on his remarkably realistic treatment of the supernatural.
Theory and Practice in English Studies , 2022
Hamlet seems to be everywhere, from t-shirts encouraging the drinking of "two beers or not two be... more Hamlet seems to be everywhere, from t-shirts encouraging the drinking of "two beers or not two beers" to advertisements for everything under the sun. Hollywood has entered the fray with its box-office animated hit The Lion King or the popular motorcycle gang television series Sons of Anarchy, to name but a few examples. We would seem to have reached Hamlet overload. Does the Prince of Denmark have anything left in the tank for contemporary readers of serious fiction? This paper will examine three recent Hamlet adaptation novels: Lisa Klein's Ophelia (2006), Ian McEwan's Nutshell (2016) and Maggie O'Farrell's Hamnet (2020). The above-mentioned novels will be used to exemplify three of the most frequent current approaches, all amounting to forms of intertextuality: the Joycean, involving tracing links between Shakespeare's life and the plays; the Stoppardian, consisting of spin-offs of the play focusing on characters other than Hamlet himself; the 'updating' approach where the bare bones of the plot of the play are employed for a narrative taking place in the present day. Hamlet, despite his fears of falling into oblivion, very much lives on "to tell my [his] story" (Shakespeare, 5.2 302).
Linguaculture, 2022
Charles Williams has been and will undoubtedly continue to be the third wheel in the literary cir... more Charles Williams has been and will undoubtedly continue to be the third wheel in the literary circle of the Inklings, behind his celebrity colleagues J. R. R. Tolkien and C. S. Lewis. The reasons for this are manifold and partially deserved. Williams was a prolific writer who published books in various genres (novels, poetry, drama, non-fiction) and on a wide range of subjects (theology, literary criticism, history, biography, the occult, etc.). Williams was also an influential editor at Oxford University Press and a respected lecturer. This article will focus on the most well-known area of his writing, his novels, which C. S. Lewis referred to as "spiritual shockers", not in disdain, but in admiration. Attention will be on what I believe are his most important and accomplished novels: Descent into Hell and All Hallow's Eve. My particular interest will be on his remarkably realistic treatment of the supernatural.
University of Bucharest Review, 2022
This article will explore American folk songs dealing with disasters, mostly from the first half ... more This article will explore American folk songs dealing with disasters, mostly from the first half of the twentieth century. These songs dealt with shipwrecks, train-wrecks, fires, tornadoes and drought and even the so-called Dust Bowl. Along with murder ballads, these songs functioned as a kind of oral newspaper providing information to even illiterate people in rural America. The songs also served an a stimulus to imagination, opening up exotic worlds to people often isolated and sedentary. The songs provided an opportunity for the listener/singer/musician to experience vicarious pain and catharsis in relation to the particular disaster. Finally, there was often a religious dimension to the songs and disasters which were being memorialised in song. The paper will conclude with a demonstration of how the disaster song finally became politicized with the example of Woody Guthrie. The primary source for the songs was the anthology of disaster songs entitled People Take Warning released in 2007. The artists included in the collection and discussed in this paper range from wellknown figures such as the Carter Family and Charlie Poole to lesser known musicians who are practically forgotten. There will also be a discussion of the predecessors to these songs as well as the successors.
Explorations: A Journal of Language and Literature, 2022
W. H. Auden famously both celebrated and criticized his renowned Irish predecessor in the poem "I... more W. H. Auden famously both celebrated and criticized his renowned Irish predecessor in the poem "In Memory of W. B. Yeats" from 1940. His lines, "The words of a dead man / Are modified in the guts of the living.", are very much relevant to his own critical legacy and reputation. A great deal has been written concerning, for example, Auden's politics, his sexuality, his interest in psychology, his religious beliefs, his move to the United States and his practically unmatched virtuosity in verse. One might therefore assume that the critical approaches had already been exhausted. Ladislav Vít has managed, however, to find not only a new perspective on the poet's work, but has also wisely limited himself chronologically in order to narrow the focus on this ever-evolving artist. The Landscapes of W. H. Auden's Interwar Poetry: Roots and Routes is part of the book series Perspectives on the Non-Human in Literature and Culture published by Routledge. Launched in 2017, the series consists of 27 books thus far, this being among the latest to be published. Ladislav Vít is a graduate of the doctoral program at Charles University in Prague. He currently works at the University of Pardubice in Czechia where he teaches British literature with a special focus on the Interwar period and the work of W. H. Auden in particular. He is also the editor of the academic journal American and British Studies Annual published at his home institution. Vít, in the monograph, argues convincingly for the centrality of Auden's interest in geology (having planned to be a mining engineer as a boy) for his poetic vision. "Above all, Auden himself weaved into his writing a geography of the unique and sacred places which occupied his imagination, providing him with an important source of reference and allowing him to elicit his strong topophilic sentiments" (2). He counters the pervasive view that Auden somehow lacked a visual sense and argues for the contrary perspective, arguing that his "prose and poetry are replete with insights into human spatial experience, the artistic representation of place, and references to landscapes, ranging from generic types to particular places" (4). One of the key concepts in the monograph, is the concept of a 'good place' (Auden's expression for a personal idea of Eden), which, at least in this
Multicultural Shakespeare: Translation, Appropriation and Performance, 2022
Although no longer American President, Donald Trump still manages to upstage the current administ... more Although no longer American President, Donald Trump still manages to upstage the current administration. An explanation for his "sinister aesthetics", to use Joel Elliot Slotkin's concept, can be seemingly found in developing a comparison with the eponymous king of Shakespeare's Richard III, who masterfully employs soliloquies and asides to draw the audience and reader into his evil plots and dealings. Donald Trump also managed something similar by means of Twitter, constantly tweeting out vicious comments and insults, which kept both his followers and opponents engaged. This theatrical skill is also compared to the 'heat' generated by villains in professional wrestling, whose popularity is marked by how much hatred they can produce.
Od folkloru k world music: Hudba a Slovo, 2022
The paper focuses on several of the most well-known spirituals (Sing Low, Sweet Chariot; Go Down ... more The paper focuses on several of the most well-known spirituals (Sing Low, Sweet Chariot; Go Down Moses; Down by the Riverside) and looks at how the words of the Bible and the sermons of preachers inspired the lyrics of these songs. The words of the spirituals, inspired in particular by the Biblical stories of the enslavement of the Israelites in Egypt, liberation
and the reaching of the Promised Land, mirrored the plight of African Americans not only during slavery, but during the Reconstruction era and up to the time of the Civil Rights movement. The Fisk Jubilee Singers were pioneers in introducing the genre, not only to the rest of the United States, but also to the world.
Hradec Králové Journal of Anglophone Studies, 2022
This article focuses on two novels by women writers from the Hogarth Shakespeare project. The boo... more This article focuses on two novels by women writers from the Hogarth Shakespeare project. The books are Vinegar Girl by Anne Tyler based on The Taming of the Shrew and Margaret Atwood’s Hag-Seed
drawing inspiration from The Tempest. The project was launched with great fanfare and with high anticipation on the part of readers and critics, this being a result of not only the two above-mentioned writers,
but also the involvement of renowned figures such as Jeanette Winterson, Howard Jacobson and Jo Nesbø, among others. The combination of the canonical source material and the highly respected and awarded
contributors arguably proved to be more of a curse in the end than a blessing as the expectations were inevitably unrealistic. In the case of the two scrutinized novels, I approached them (and I was certainly not alone in this) with the assumption that the two renowned women writers would attempt to come to terms with the problematic subject matter and themes of the two plays. The article posits whether these expectations were justified and whether adaptations along these lines are of particular value in the end.
Overtones Ege Journal of English Studies, 2023
The children's television programme Fat Albert and the Cosby Kids was, along with Sesame Street, ... more The children's television programme Fat Albert and the Cosby Kids was, along with Sesame Street, a pioneer project blending entertainment with edifying educational content. Launched in the early 1970s, this animated show, mixed with live scenes involving Bill Cosby's commentary, opened up a whole new world to child viewers. Set in inner city Philadelphia, with many of the scenes in a junk yard, the programme not only acquainted the child viewers with African-American culture, music and language, but also provided useful lessons on a range of still very much relevant topics: racism, sexism, bullying, teasing, etc. This article article primarily focus on the first set of series which ran in the first half of the 1970s, which corresponds to the author's own exposure to the show.
Polish Journal of English Studies, 2023
There will be an attempt to demonstrate how Henry, contrary to expectations, makes profitable use... more There will be an attempt to demonstrate how Henry, contrary to expectations, makes profitable use of his time to "learn the ropes". Henry in his interactions with Falstaff and others employs a wide range of comic techniques: jokes, insult comedy, imitations, political satire, etc. In contrast, however, with Zelensky who has bravely rallied his country and inspired the world with resistance to a larger aggressor in a defensive war, Henry V does the exact opposite invading neighbouring France on the most flimsy of pretexts. Although lionized in many productions as a great military leader, icon of Englishness and man of the people, this paper will argue for his ultimate failure as a leader, failing to heed the lessons of his comic "apprenticeship", in stark contrast to Zelensky.
Renaissance Studies, 2022
What do cowboys, vampires, gangsters, zombies and American teenagers have in common? They are all... more What do cowboys, vampires, gangsters, zombies and
American teenagers have in common? They are all the subjects of
films inspired, to varying degrees, by Shakespeare. The wittily
entitled book Cowboy Hamlets and Zombie Romeos was written
by the Hungarian scholar Kinga Földváry, who is currently
employed at the Institute of English and American Studies,
Pázmány Péter Catholic University in Budapest. This book is
rather eclectic in its arrangement including a wide range of
genres and a long chronological time-frame. The monograph is
divided into two main sections, which are further sub-divided
into chapters.
Litteraria Pragensia, 2022
Book Of Longing: Leonard Cohen’s Wellsprings Of Inspiration by Jiří Měsíc.
Journal of Academic Writing , 2023
This is a book review of New Perspectives on Academic Writing: The Thing That Wouldn't Die, revie... more This is a book review of New Perspectives on Academic Writing: The Thing That Wouldn't Die, reviewed by David Livingstone.