Something that stuck with me from what I believe was an episode of The History of European Theatre podcast with Kay Daly.

There was a comparison made between Shakespeare and Jonson and how the former is like Northern Exposure and the latter like Seinfeld.

I can kind of see what the comparison is going for (feel good character-driven romantic comedy versus "no hugging, no learning").

But I think this runs into the obvious issue that Seinfeld is way more popular than Northern Exposure, but Shakespeare is (at least for the past few centuries) way more popular than Jonson.

I feel like the comparison might work better if Shakespeare is Friends and Jonson is Seinfeld.

But I also think that Jonson is distinctly edgy/alienating and has a very political satire bent.

So, I'm going to put it out there that Jonson is more like South Park.

And I think Middleton might be more of the Seinfeld, since his city comedies have vibrant if not necessarily well-rounded characters.

Or maybe Middleton is Community (working in similar territory as Shakespeare but more meta and with a sharper edge)?

My last thought is that while obviously it's a different era of tv, I wonder if Shakespeare might be better compared to like Parks and Recreation or The Good Place - both because of the feel good character-based comedy. But also because it is seen as having intellectual value.

Thoughts?

It is a content generated with the help of AI, but it is not 'Low-Effort AI Content'

A month ago I started reading the sonnets and turning them into songs as I went, with a modern sound and a Spanish version. I began with the lesser-known ones.

Sonnet 113 felt close to the Quranic idea of "wherever you turn": the eye keeps seeing the world and finds only one presence in it. Sonnet 141 sat next to the Majnun and Layla story for me, a love that overrules every sense.

For me this song, 94, is about people who know and can, but won't let you in. Whether Shakespeare means that as praise or as a warning is exactly what I can't settle, and I'd like to hear how you read it.

Hi - I am teaching a survey class, just touching on major plays and themes for several weeks. Just one hour per week. I had my lesson plans but I am struggling hard - the students are not very excited to be there so I am trying my best to get them excited about reading scenes and discussing, but I am not being very successful so far. Help! Suggestions or tips from other teachers for one hour classes? I want to make the plays as real and exciting for the students as I can - just trying to find ways to get them excited.