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.