The Sunday Debate: Hip-hop vs Shakespeare

Jul 10, 2022

George the Poet, a Peabody Award-winning spoken word artist, and Howard Jacobson, a Booker Prize-winning novelist, dive into a spirited debate about the cultural resonance of hip-hop versus Shakespeare. They explore how hip-hop conveys societal narratives rooted in struggles, while Shakespeare's timeless themes reflect human complexities. The conversation highlights the importance of both art forms in understanding identity and moral dilemmas. Through their insights, they illustrate how diverse cultural expressions can coexist and enrich our perspectives.

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ANECDOTE

Hamlet Introduction

Howard Jacobson's first Shakespeare experience was an LP record of Olivier as Hamlet.
He loved the graveyard scene and frequently quoted it, concerning his parents.

ANECDOTE

Hip-Hop Introduction

George the Poet connected with hip-hop at age eight through Nas and Lauryn Hill's "If I Ruled the World."
He found the blend of history and reality meaningful, recognizing its importance early on.

INSIGHT

False Equivalence

Hip-hop and Shakespeare are difficult to compare due to their differing historical impact.
Shakespeare's influence spans centuries, while hip-hop has only had 50 years to resonate.

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If I Ruled the World

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The First Folio, published seven years after Shakespeare's death, contains 36 of his plays, including 18 that had not been previously printed. It is a crucial source for many of Shakespeare's works and was compiled by his colleagues John Heminges and Henry Condell. Without this edition, many of Shakespeare's plays would have been lost to history.

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Troilus and Cressida

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The play revolves around the doomed love affair between Troilus, a Trojan prince, and Cressida, a Trojan woman whose father has defected to the Greeks. Despite their vows of fidelity, Cressida is traded to the Greek camp and eventually betrays Troilus by accepting the attentions of Diomedes. The play also delves into the broader context of the Trojan War, highlighting the cynicism, lack of heroism, and moral disintegration on both sides. It is known for its dark and often cynical exploration of human nature and the consequences of war[1][3][4].

The Land of Oz

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The tempest

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The Tempest, written around 1610-1611, is one of Shakespeare's last solo works. The play revolves around Prospero, the former Duke of Milan, who was usurped by his brother Antonio and left to die at sea with his infant daughter Miranda. They survive and find refuge on a remote island, where Prospero masters magic and enslaves the native Caliban and the spirit Ariel. When a ship carrying his enemies passes by, Prospero conjures a tempest to bring them ashore. The play explores themes of magic, betrayal, revenge, and forgiveness as Prospero manipulates the shipwrecked characters to rectify past wrongs and ultimately forgives them. The story also includes the romance between Ferdinand, the King of Naples' son, and Miranda, and ends with Prospero's decision to return to Milan and reclaim his dukedom[2][3][5].

King Lear

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Merchant of Venice

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Macbeth

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Hamlet

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The play revolves around Prince Hamlet's journey to avenge his father's murder, which was committed by his uncle Claudius. Hamlet's father's ghost appears and reveals that he was poisoned by Claudius, who then married Hamlet's mother, Gertrude. Hamlet feigns madness while he investigates and plots his revenge. The play explores themes of betrayal, mortality, and the human condition, culminating in a tragic finale where nearly all main characters die, including Hamlet, Claudius, Gertrude, and several others[1][3][5].