<abstract xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><p> Shakespeare’s plays have been universally praised for centuries. However, Titus Andronicus was not included in this positive evaluation until the second half of the 20th century, when mainly feminist criticism contributed to an academically kinder re-assessment of this generally gory play. This paper, focusing on the issues of aesthetic value and the deletion of empathy, proposes a defamiliarized, a different reading of this Shakespearean play, from the perspective of the Japanese people, ‘famous’ for aesthetically enjoying the cathartic showing of gratuitous violence.</p></abstract>

Shakespeare’s plays have been universally praised for centuries. However, Titus Andronicus was not included in this positive evaluation until the second half of the 20th century, when mainly feminist criticism contributed to an academically kinder re-assessment of this generally gory play. This paper, focusing on the issues of aesthetic value and the deletion of empathy, proposes a defamiliarized, a different reading of this Shakespearean play, from the perspective of the Japanese people, ‘famous’ for aesthetically enjoying the cathartic showing of gratuitous violence.

READING LIKE THE JAPANESE: THE GOTHIC AESTHETICS OF HORROR IN SHAKESPEARE’S TITUS ANDRONICUS

Yeditepe University, Istanbul, Turkey 26 Agustos Yerlesimi, Kayisdagi Cad. 34755, Atasehir/ Istanbul, Turkey

Gender Studies

Shakespeare’s plays have been universally praised for centuries. However, Titus Andronicus was not included in this positive evaluation until the second half...

READING LIKE THE JAPANESE: THE GOTHIC AESTHETICS OF HORROR IN SHAKESPEARE’S TITUS ANDRONICUS

Published Online: Feb 14, 2014

Page range: 144 - 163

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/genst-2013-0009

Keywords
aesthetics, alienation effect, empathy, Gothic, horror

This content is open access.

READING LIKE THE JAPANESE: THE GOTHIC AESTHETICS OF HORROR IN SHAKESPEARE’S TITUS ANDRONICUS

Published Online: Feb 14, 2014

Page range: 144 - 163

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/genst-2013-0009

Keywordsaesthetics, alienation effect, empathy, Gothic, horror

This content is open access.

Keywords
aesthetics, alienation effect, empathy, Gothic, horror