[MR] Cultural context around Shakespeare's Taming of the Shrew

[Lara Coutinho]

Atlantians, especially those who are interested in Shakespeare and this
weekend's special performance of Taming of the Shrew at the Festival of
Elvegast...

The play, Taming of the Shrew, has some content that can be considered
cringy from a modern point of view. On the surface, some of the lines and
actions promote behavior we would not consider acceptable today. Petruchio
verbally abuses his servants and wife. Insults are hurled between all the
characters throughout the play. Women are treated as lesser people than
men.

We have created numerous educational resources to help the audience, all of
you, to understand more of what Shakespeare's play means than what one sees
on the surface.  This playlist of videos shows 4 interviews with SCA
leaders from Lochac, Drachenwalt, Atlantia, and The Kingdom of the West -
modern-day Korea. These SCAdians have expertise in Shakespeare and the
16th-century culture around him.
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL9aorWZlo-mb0-1c5DTXan4l8JsLtRwM2

The event's website has a page devoted to providing cultural context to the
play:  https://the-festival-of-elvegast.windmastershill.org/shakespeare/

Also, the Scrap Paper Shakespeare company (
https://scrappapershakespeare.org) is providing a few informational posters
for reading throughout the day at the event.

The SCA was built to enable learning about history by recreating it. Please
take advantage of this rare opportunity to learn about the Shakespearian
era, the gender roles they experienced, and the many aspects of culture
that influenced Shakespeare's words.

Sincerely yours,
Dame Sophia the Orange, OL