Ideas Where did modern news culture come from? Think Shakespeare
May 21, 2025
Join Stephen Wittek, a Carnegie Mellon University professor specializing in the origins of news culture from Elizabethan England. He discusses how theatrical plays, especially those by Shakespeare, shaped modern news norms and public discourse. Wittek highlights the transformation of news dissemination, the impact of censorship on artistic expression, and the playful critiques of news in satire. He also explores how emotions in theater influence today's public conversations, advocating for inclusivity and diverse voices in modern media discussions.
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News Culture Had a Beginning
- News as an idea and culture had a beginning; it has not always existed in its modern form.
- Elizabethan theatre played a foundational role in shaping the norms of modern news culture.
Shakespeare Theatre for All
- Stephen Wittek shared with kindergarteners how Shakespeare's theatre was accessible to everyone across social classes.
- He emphasized the theatre's role as a gathering place where anyone could watch stories unfold live.
Theatre as Early News Network
- Elizabethan theatre functioned as a de facto news network by spreading topical conversations.
- Travelling companies extended the reach of news beyond the London stages to wider England.