Unit 9: AP English Lit Faculty Lecture with Associate Professor Kim Coles (and Keith Hamilton Cobb)

Summary

In this lecture, English professor Kim Coles explores the complexities of Shakespeare's 'Othello' within the context of American history and race relations. She discusses the play's themes of rank and bloodline, and how they contrast with contemporary notions of race based on skin color and nationality. Coles also speaks with actor Keith Hamilton Cobb, who shares his experiences as a black actor and the inspiration behind his play 'American Moor,' which delves into the challenges of performing 'Othello' in modern America. Together, they examine the fluidity of racial identity and the impact of societal structures on the interpretation and performance of Shakespeare's works.

Takeaways

• 🎭 The lecture discusses William Shakespeare's 'Othello' and its interpretation in the context of America, focusing on the play's exploration of race and its historical significance.
• 📚 Professor Kim Coles highlights the dual concepts of race in 'Othello': one based on bloodline and authority, and the other on skin color, religion, and nationality.
• 🌍 The early modern period's globalism, mercantilism, and politics, which led to chattel slavery and the British Empire, are reflected in the literature of the time, including 'Othello'.
• 👑 In Shakespeare's England, 'race' was associated with noble blood and birthright, determining one's social status and the right to rule.
• 🔥 Iago's jealousy and desire for a meritocracy drive the play's conflict, as he resents being passed over for promotion in favor of Cassio, who is noble.
• 🖤 Iago's strategy in 'Othello' uses the emerging concept of race to isolate Othello, marking him as a foreign body and an outsider in Venetian society.
• 🤝 Othello's relationships, including his marriage, are based on a sense of shared identity, which Iago tries to dismantle through his manipulations.
• 🎭 The play 'American Moor' by Keith Hamilton Cobb is mentioned, which explores the experience of a black actor auditioning for the role of Othello and the contemporary racial dynamics.
• 👨‍🎨 Keith Hamilton Cobb discusses his personal connection to Shakespeare's works and how his play 'American Moor' allows for a deeper understanding of Othello's story in a modern context.
• 🔄 The lecture emphasizes the importance of who tells the story of 'Othello' and how the play is reinterpreted in different cultural moments, challenging the notion of cultural dominance in storytelling.

Q & A

Who is Kim Coles and what is her academic focus?

Kim Coles is an English professor at the University of Maryland, with a focus on 16th and 17th century English literature.

What is the main topic of Kim Coles' lecture?

The main topic of Kim Coles' lecture is William Shakespeare's play 'Othello' and its understanding in the context of America.

Who is Keith Hamilton Cobb and how does he relate to the lecture?

Keith Hamilton Cobb is a brilliant actor and author of 'American Moor'. He is invited to speak with Kim Coles later in the lecture to discuss his play and his relationship to Shakespeare's work.

How does the history of race and racism in America affect the perception of 'Othello'?

The history of race and racism in America has made 'Othello' a complex cultural object, partly due to how race is explored in the play and how contemporary notions of race influence its interpretation.

What are the two different concepts of race that collide in Shakespeare's 'Othello'?

The two concepts of race in 'Othello' are one based on bloodline and authority, and the other based on skin color, religion, and nationality.

How was the authority to rule perceived in Shakespeare's England?

In Shakespeare's England, the authority to rule was seen as an inherited trait, a birthright based on the quality of blood and lineage, which determined one's social rank or 'race'.

What is Iago's motivation for his actions in the play?

Iago's motivation stems from his jealousy and resentment towards a world that values rank and bloodline over merit, leading him to plot against Othello.

How does Iago use the concept of race to manipulate Othello?

Iago uses the emerging concept of race, marked by Othello's blackness, to isolate him and position him as an outsider, undermining his social position and relationships.

What does the play 'Othello' reveal about the fluidity of race during the early modern period?

The play reveals the fluidity of race by showing how different racial logics, one based on rank and the other on color and nation, are used to support social hierarchies and can be manipulated for personal gain.

How does Keith Hamilton Cobb's play 'American Moor' connect to the themes of Shakespeare's 'Othello'?

'American Moor' connects to 'Othello' by exploring the experiences of a black actor auditioning for the role of Othello, highlighting the ongoing issues of race and identity in contemporary society.

What does Keith Hamilton Cobb believe about the reimagining of Shakespeare's plays in modern theater?

Keith Hamilton Cobb suggests that modern theater often recycles Shakespeare's plays without significant innovation, and that true reimagining comes from the perspectives of artists and scholars like himself.

Outlines

00:00

🎭 Introduction to Shakespeare's Othello and its American Context

Professor Kim Coles introduces the lecture on William Shakespeare's 'Othello,' focusing on its interpretation in the context of America. She discusses the play's exploration of race and its historical significance in America, shaped by the country's history of race and racism. Coles also mentions an upcoming conversation with actor and author Keith Hamilton Cobb, whose work 'American Moor' delves into the experiences of a black actor auditioning for the role of Othello. The lecture aims to explore the inspiration behind Cobb's play and its relation to Shakespeare's work, emphasizing the early modern period's globalism and politics that influenced the development of racial concepts and the British Empire.

05:02

🌐 The Concept of Race in Shakespeare's England and 'Othello'

This section delves into the concept of race as portrayed in Shakespeare's 'Othello' and its connection to the social hierarchy of 16th and 17th century England. It explains how 'race' was associated with bloodline and nobility, determining one's rank and ability to rule. The summary highlights how Othello's character is a product of this system, with his rank derived from noble blood. The paragraph contrasts this with Iago's resentment, who sees himself as meritorious but is held back by a system that values lineage over merit. Iago's jealousy and his plot to undermine Othello are driven by this social structure, revealing the fluidity and instrumental nature of race in the play.

10:05

📚 Literature as a Reflection of Past Politics and Present Usage

The paragraph discusses how literature, specifically 'Othello,' reflects the politics of the past but also how it is interpreted and used in contemporary politics. It emphasizes that while Shakespeare was ahead of his time in perceiving modern racial constructs, the play's interpretation is influenced by the cultural moment in which it is produced or read. The lecture transitions into a discussion with Keith Hamilton Cobb about his play 'American Moor,' which explores the complexities of being a black actor in the context of performing Shakespeare's works. Cobb shares his personal journey and the significance of telling stories from his perspective, challenging the cultural dominance of traditional interpretations.

15:05

🎭 The Personal and Cultural Relevance of Shakespeare's Plays

In this section, the conversation with Keith Hamilton Cobb continues, focusing on his personal relationship with Shakespeare's works and their cultural relevance. Cobb expresses his critical view of Shakespeare, acknowledging the genius of the playwright while also recognizing the plays' historical role in cultural dominance and 'othering.' He discusses the importance of allowing for diverse interpretations and cultural moments in the presentation of Shakespeare's plays, particularly emphasizing the contributions of black artists and scholars. Cobb also shares his creative process in incorporating Shakespeare's language into 'American Moor,' reflecting on the complex dynamics of language, identity, and expression.

20:06

🌟 Conclusion and Gratitude for the Discussion

The final paragraph summarizes the insightful discussion with Keith Hamilton Cobb, expressing gratitude for his contributions and the depth of understanding he has brought to the lecture. It highlights the value of exploring Shakespeare's 'Othello' through the lens of contemporary actors and authors like Cobb, who offer fresh perspectives and challenge traditional interpretations. The paragraph concludes the lecture on a note of appreciation for the enriching dialogue on race, literature, and cultural identity.

Keywords

💡Othello

Othello is one of William Shakespeare's most famous plays, focusing on themes of race, jealousy, and betrayal. In the context of this video, 'Othello' is discussed both as a cultural artifact reflecting racial and social hierarchies of its time and as a work whose interpretations continue to evolve in modern contexts, particularly in relation to America's racial history.

💡Race

Race in this video refers to both early modern and contemporary notions of identity based on skin color, bloodline, religion, and nationality. The video explores how these concepts are central to understanding 'Othello,' particularly in the way Iago weaponizes Othello's racial identity as a black man in Venice. It also delves into how Shakespeare's exploration of race resonates with modern-day discussions on race in America.

💡Rank

Rank refers to the hierarchical social structures of Shakespeare's time, where nobility was determined by bloodline and one's natural right to rule. In the video, Kim Coles explains how Othello is of noble rank, but his social status is contested by Iago, who manipulates emerging racial ideas based on skin color, thus making Othello vulnerable to social exclusion.

💡Iago

Iago is the antagonist of 'Othello,' known for his manipulative and duplicitous nature. In the video, Iago is discussed as a representation of racial and social resentment. He seeks to destroy Othello by exploiting racial tensions, showing the fluidity of racial logic in the play. His desire for revenge stems from feeling sidelined in a society where rank and bloodline often override merit.

💡American Moor

'American Moor' is a play written by Keith Hamilton Cobb, which explores the experiences of a Black actor auditioning for the role of Othello. In the video, Cobb explains how the play interrogates contemporary racial politics and the ways in which Shakespeare's works, particularly 'Othello,' are interpreted and controlled by white cultural gatekeepers. It ties the historic themes of race in 'Othello' to modern racial struggles in America.

💡Bloodline

Bloodline, as discussed in the video, refers to the concept in Shakespeare's time where nobility and the right to govern were determined by one's lineage. This idea of inherited superiority is a key theme in 'Othello,' where Othello's noble heritage is recognized but challenged by Iago through emerging ideas of race based on skin color and nationality.

💡Venice

Venice, the setting of 'Othello,' is a central motif in both the play and the video discussion. In the play, Venice represents a politically complex and cosmopolitan city where Othello, a foreigner of noble rank, is both accepted and alienated. The video contrasts Othello's military status with his social outsider status due to his race, highlighting Venice's role in the tension between rank and racial identity.

💡Racial Logic

Racial logic refers to the competing ideas of race that exist within 'Othello' and the historical context of early modern England. In the video, Coles explains how Othello represents an older logic based on bloodline and nobility, while Iago uses a newer racial logic focused on skin color and national identity to undermine Othello. This contrast reflects the transitional racial thinking of Shakespeare's time.

💡Cultural Dominance

Cultural dominance is a concept discussed by Keith Hamilton Cobb in the video, where he critiques how Shakespeare's plays, particularly 'Othello,' have historically been controlled by white cultural gatekeepers. Cobb's play 'American Moor' challenges this by reclaiming the narrative for Black actors and exploring how Shakespeare's works are still used to enforce societal hierarchies.

💡Meritocracy

Meritocracy is discussed in the video in relation to Iago's resentment towards Cassio and Othello. Iago believes that merit, particularly in terms of military experience, should determine social advancement. However, the Venetian society in 'Othello' values rank and bloodline over merit, which fuels Iago's jealousy and desire for revenge. The video uses this to explore the broader theme of how social hierarchies are maintained.

Highlights

Kim Coles, an English professor, discusses Shakespeare's 'Othello' in the context of America's history of race and racism.

The concept of race in 'Othello' is explored through the lens of 16th and 17th century English literature.

Shakespeare's 'Othello' is a cultural object in America, shaped by the country's history with race and racism.

The play's exploration of race is influenced by contemporary notions of race and the play's own treatment of the concept.

Early modern period literature reflects the globalism and politics that led to chattel slavery and the British Empire.

In Shakespeare's England, the authority to rule was an inherited trait, closely tied to the concept of 'race'.

Othello's rank and noble bloodline are central to his identity and social position in the play.

Iago's jealousy and desire for a meritocracy drive the play's conflict and his schemes against Othello.

The play shows the fluidity of race and the different racial logics that support social hierarchies.

Othello's marriage to Desdemona is seen as a violation of social norms by Iago due to their differing ranks.

Iago uses the emerging concept of race based on skin color to mark Othello as an outsider.

The play's exploration of identity, power, and authority is negotiated through cultural contexts.

Keith Hamilton Cobb's 'American Moor' explores the experience of a black actor auditioning for Othello.

Cobb discusses what inspired him to write 'American Moor' and his relationship with Shakespeare's work.

The full title of 'Othello' and its implications on the play's focus and the character of Iago.

Cobb's play addresses the contemporary moment and the politics of performing Shakespeare's works today.

The importance of allowing diverse perspectives on Shakespeare's plays to challenge cultural dominance.

Cobb's thoughts on the reimagining of Shakespeare and the role of black artists and scholars in interpreting his works.

The decision-making process behind including Shakespeare's lines in 'American Moor' and their significance.

The juxtaposition of early modern and modern language in 'American Moor' to highlight the policing of voice.

Transcripts

my name is kim coles i'm an english

professor at the university of maryland

in 16th and 17th century english

literature

and today i'm going to talk to you about

william shakespeare's othello

and how we understand it in the context

of america

i'm also excited to share that later in

the lecture i'll be speaking with keith

hamilton cobb

a brilliant actor and author of

americanmoore

americanmoore explores the experience of

a black actor auditioning for the role

of

othello we'll discuss what inspired

keith to write his play

and how he relates to shakespeare's work

shakespeare's othello has a particular

history

in america the history of race and

racism in america has made othello

a vexed cultural object

this has partly to do with the play

itself and how the concept of race is

explored in the play

and partly to do with how our

contemporary notions

of race bear down on the play

the world of shakespeare's play is not

our own

but there's no question that we learn a

lot about how our world came

to be by looking at our past

particularly through literature in fact

the literatures of this

early modern period the 16th and 17th

centuries are shot through with the

globalism

mercantilism and politics that

ultimately produce

chattel slavery the forced migration of

enslaved africans

and the development of british empire

these forces shaped the world in which

the texts of the early modern period

were written and read

and they form the contours of thought

that animate the works

at this moment that shakespeare conveys

so

vividly in othello is when two different

concepts of race

one of rank based on bloodline and a

thor and

bloodline 2 authority and one based on

skin color religion and nationality

come into combustible contact

now to explain shakespeare's england

um the authority to rule

was an inherited trait it was an

inherited privilege

we call the status of nobility rank not

class because one was born to the right

to rule

a county or a country and could not be

disenfranchised from it

you couldn't be born

common if you were noble or vice versa

you couldn't change your status these

were essential facts about a human being

it was a birthright based upon

assumptions of the quality of blood

based upon the humors which were the

medical theory of the time

that literally made nobility superior

to other humans the social hierarchy of

shakespeare's time

was based upon blood and one's

birthright

or lineage and was considered or

actually called

race one's race

while the term didn't have the same

meaning as it does in our vernacular

it did refer to those who were entitled

to govern

based upon ideas of what was natural to

them

what they were born with what they

inherited

certain people were superior and natural

rulers

and this fiction resided completely

in ideas about their blood and bloodline

othello is in fact one of these people

in the political environment of venice

a fellow in casio or social equals

othello's life and being as he says are

derived from men

of royal siege or rank

and his relationships reflect his own

assumptions about his rank

exactly who in venice is acquainted with

his rank

is unclear it seems clear that iago

knows him as a military superior not

a social one because he assumes that

othello's marriage is a violation of the

law

and it would be at least in

shakespeare's england if othello and

desdemona were not of the same

social status othello himself

also states that he's not promulgated

his heritage

but iago certainly knows that cassio is

a nobleman

and he understands that he's been passed

over for promotion

in favor of cassio a man whose education

has

rendered him a great arithmetician

or a soldier of strategy not experienced

like himself yaga wants to live in a

meritocracy

where his performance at cyprus or at

rhodes has

value but the world he inhabits

inhibits his rise his jealousy at this

fact begins the play

he cannot earn a lieutenancy even at the

recommendation

of great ones or noblemen

instead cassio is advanced by family

education and social affiliation

cassio and othello are friends iago's

experience in war

or even his ability to serve in his

military posting

is made insignificant when rated with

his rank

iago conspires to bring down a nobleman

he might even be indifferent whether it

is othello or

someone else that he hates othello is

certain

that he hates nobles othello

cassio desdemona banchio rodrigo

generally is more certain

but he picks othello as a target

because othello is vulnerable

shakespeare has perspective enough

to see another mode of race being

ushered

in and it's that that makes othello

susceptible

to yago's poison othello

understands his place in the world

through rank

he sees noble blood as a substance

shared

among his peers aniago's strategies

isolate him as a foreign body

yago's able to understand

he's able to even use an emergent

category of race as blackness because

blackness marks othello

as an outsider and marks his outside

status

to chart his revenge

othello clearly forms his attachments

both friendships and marriage on a sense

of shared identity

and it is this identity that iago tries

to eradicate

he cannot achieve the meritocracy that

he wants

and so will settle for revenge upon one

noble

in particular as compensation for all

but the very contest between othello's

identity

and iago's attempt to dismantle it shows

the fluidity of race

at this early modern moment it affirms

more than one racial logic that supports

social hierarchies

and in their use of different discourse

of race

iago and othello reveal the instrumental

nature

of race itself othello

asserts the parts title and perfect soul

that assure his social position based

upon

blood while yago

resorts to racialize categories of climb

complexion and degree in order to set

othello outside of venetian society

in othello we see two kinds of racial

logic

put into combat othello defends his

position

assured that his royal heritage entitles

him

to as proud of fortune as the one he has

achieved

his rank sanctions his marriage to a

woman

who is a social peer

iago the new man who covets his position

assails his confidence with country

forms

asserting that the principal category of

racial identity

is color and nation and not rank

iago fashions himself as an ambassador

to the unknown world of venice

he says i know our country disposition

well

a strategy that puts othello outside of

it

but if othello's blackness signals his

outside

status happily for i am black

and have not those soft parts of

conversation

that chambers have if this

renders him foreign and religiously

suspect

there's much in the play to challenge

this construction

not least the voice of venetian

authority

authority identity power

these are the terms of the world of

othello

negotiated contested and finally

violently resolved

this gives us some insight into how

literature presents the politics of the

past

but it doesn't tell you much about how

it's used in the politics of the present

we tend to read race and othello as that

of our own world

and our own context this isn't wrong

for two reasons shakespeare is

perceiving

our modern racial construction one that

naturalizes the characteristics

assigned to a group based upon nation

religion or skin color as the

construction that's emerging

in his own time but two

every time the play is produced or read

it inhabits the particular contemporary

moment

of that time a wonderful place been

written

and is being performed both nationally

and internationally by keith hamilton

cobb

that explores this very issue

american moore stages an actor's

encounter with shakespeare

with othello and with a white american

director

power and authority even what it means

to be human

are constantly negotiated through

culture

it matters then who tells these stories

american more explores how we tell the

story of othello today

keith hamilton cobb has graciously

agreed to join me for the conclusion of

this

lecture in order to talk about these

issues more

fully keith hamilton cobb welcome

and thank you thank you happy grateful

to be here

now what made you write this play

oh i

i wrote this play as an expression

of a life lived first as an

african-american male

replete with all of what that entails

then

as an actor under the same set of

societal structures that dictated the

parameters of my life

as an african-american male coming into

adulthood and all my powers and prowess

and talents

uh there came a point in my adulthood

where i realized that

they were one in the same thing um

you know i i i think that large amounts

of emotional matter accumulate within

every human being

during the course of their lives and it

is bound to come out somewhere

and american more was a point of egress

for

massive amounts of thought opinion

emotion

pain frustration and a great deal of joy

as well but really

ultimately it is a claiming

of self-ownership in life and art and

a a deep expression of understanding

regarding who i

am and where i stand as a human being

well tell us about the title of your

play

and how it informs our understanding of

time

and cultural context as it relates to

othello

in my fraught and often

reluctant explorations of othello i have

been struck again

and again by its full title the tragedy

of

othello more of venice

and you know interestingly and unlike

any other of shakespeare's plays as

written it is often argued that it might

just as well be titled

the triumph of iago the genius villain

of venice some such

here we see the ostensible centering

of the black hero but purely on a white

playwrights terms

now you know i think that the early

moderns

of britain uh in their need to define

themselves

by defining who they were not uh

adopted the amorphous term more

which could at times literally refer to

any number of different ethnic and

religious

identities that were not white and

christian

um shakespeare's plays

have historically been used as a tool to

apply

this very very human process

of othering they often continue

to be used so but in american more the

title character is not the more of

venice he is the more

of america he like othello is the other

simply pursuing a life but

shaped and uh policed

by white overseers and it is not early

modern britain

it is here and it is now

your play shows how you as a black actor

relate to shakespeare's work can you

tell us

more about your relationship with his

plays

my my relationship i i i assume

is much like any other of the enamored

of this playwright's works

some of the plays are better than others

certainly not all of them are wonderful

some as far as i'm concerned are

outright dogs and i have

no compulsion whatsoever to pretend

otherwise

um after the appreciation

of the literary and artistic genius

itself

what each play treats on and how and why

is going to be interpreted

through the lens of the reader and

synthesized through that reader's

lived experience what rings true

uh what is plausible logical

in short what has redeeming value is

going to be a judge by that individual

with the same authority to do so as

anyone else

you say something interesting in your

lecture you say that

every time a play is produced or read it

inhabits that particular

contemporary moment and i would i would

only add that it inhabits that moment

as the producer or the director or the

reader lives

it and no one perspective

should be dismissed as a means for any

other to assume

and maintain cultural dominance

why do you think we keep wanting to

perform shakespeare's plays

why do we keep reimagining shakespeare

reproducing shakespeare

for our own cultural moment

uh i i have to say i i i am not

at all sure that we do continue to

reimagine

shakespeare as a general practice

more often than not i think that the

american theater culture

and the business that feeds it recycles

shakespeare's plays perhaps always

searching for a gimmick

or a concept to keep them appearing as

though there's something innovative

being done but very seldom do i see

anything

presented to me no significant new

thought or

idea that had not been present in the

last 40 renditions of the play that i

had seen

the the reimagining the uh innovation

if it is allowed lies elsewhere

and with respect to what you term um

our own cultural moment

that that would mean ours as in

everybody

our own cultural moment what black

artists and scholars are saying

as they undertake their own unsanctioned

explorations

and contemplations of these works is

basically

you don't have anything that i don't

have

certainly not with regard to ability and

perhaps even considerably less

in terms of awareness these are

my stories and i will tell them

as i choose so

how did you decide um

what lines from shakespeare to include

and how did the juxtaposition

of early modern language to modern

language

what does this tell us

you know honestly there wasn't a great

deal of thought that went into it

and uh i believe that this argues that

that the point of connection

for uh the african-american

shakespearean

can also be quite authentically

organic which is not to say i mean i've

certainly seen where uh

the attempting to draw parallels between

shakespeare's poetry and contemporary

counterparts can come off as being

rather strained however

consider that the protagonist in

american more is championing his

own his own linguistic eloquence

uh it is only when his natural voice is

quelled that he turns to the poetry of

shakespeare

as a means of expressing all the

myriad energies that he has enjoined

from expressing in his own voice because

as we've already discussed shakespeare's

voice is deemed

acceptable in fact superlative

and yet ironically as he finds it is a

voice also deemed by

others to be unsuitable for him

so he is left in this sort of purgatory

his own

natural voice is policed and his use

of shakespeare's voice is policed as

well

that uh in the case of american moore is

what is intended to be contemplated by

the juxtaposing

of these two forms of poetic english

one music being played by two different

instruments

both equally and and potentially

sublimely

beautiful if only both are allowed

i have to say i learned so much

about the play from you um

and from this magnificent play that

you've written

thank you so much for joining me thank

you i'm very grateful