<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

Publié en ligne: 14 févr. 2014

Pages: 144 - 163

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

Mots clés
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

Publié en ligne: 14 févr. 2014

Pages: 144 - 163

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

Mots clésaesthetics, alienation effect, empathy, Gothic, horror

This content is open access.

Mots clés
aesthetics, alienation effect, empathy, Gothic, horror