The Simpsons' Shakespeare: Hamlet Today. Possible Meanings and Consequences of a Parodic Appropriaton
Abstract
Within a theoretical framework which includes receptions theory and the theories on the afterlife of Shakespeare, this paper aims at illustrating how Shakespeare’s Hamlet has been formatted for contemporary audience by “The Simpsons”, the successful animated sitcom that shares with the English playwright more than one feature, primarily the fact of being a worldwide icon, thus a global phenomenon. First of all, the figure of Shakespeare will be described, as it is shown in many episodes of the series, among the hundreds aired till now. Furthermore, the parody of Hamlet played by the beloved and well known yellow characters of the cartoon will be described, mainly pointing out the contemporary reading of the Renaissance text, and the way in which it influences its circulation in our society.
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