Intelligence Squared

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.

01:02:21

Episode guests

Howard Jacobson

George the Poet

AI Chapters

Episode notes

Intro

2min

Hip-Hop vs. Shakespeare: Cultural Conversations

29min

Exploring the Moral Dilemmas of Shakespeare's Heroes

2min

Hip-Hop Meets Shakespeare: A Clash of Cultures

8min

The Enduring Relevance of Shakespeare to Modern Humanity

3min

Hip-Hop Meets Shakespeare

15min

Comparing Classical Literature and Contemporary Music

3min

Created in partnership with Sotheby's, in a debate that spans the centuries, Peabody Award-winning spoken word performer George the Poet and Booker Prize-winning author Howard Jacobson go head-to-head over which form of cultural expression best resonates now and forever. Does hip-hop and slam poetry speak more to society than historical texts that require background knowledge to be fully understood? Or does the lasting appeal of Shakespeare and other great figures from the canon show that some works have a universal value that stands the test of time?

This event was recorded on the 9th of June 2022, at Sotheby's in London and produced by Executive Producer Hannah Kaye and Audience Development Producer Yosola Olorunshola

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