Subscribe to get Parts 1 and 2 ad-free, plus a supporter exclusive Part 3, which you can preview. Continuing from part one, instead of Jonathan, now actor Sarah Manton (from our performance) joins us, plus Seth is back. We start out by re-litigating what Timon's problem is at the beginning of the play, which sets up his fall. Then we move to explicitly considering the Continue Reading …
Ep. 299: Philosophy in Shakespeare’s “Timon of Athens” (Part Three for Supporters)
Mark, Wes, and Dylan conclude our discussion of Shakespeare's play. We talk about the exchanges about art in the play: How does art relate to life and to commerce? This leads us to consider more generally Shakespeare's language and how we moderns can be good spectators of these plays. Are we meant to just get the gist, or is study and preparation necessary before Continue Reading …
Ep. 299: Philosophy in Shakespeare’s “Timon of Athens” (Part Two for Supporters)
Continuing from part one, instead of Jonathan, now actor Sarah Manton (from our performance) joins us, plus Seth is back. We start out by re-litigating what Timon's problem is at the beginning of the play, which sets up his fall. Then we move to explicitly considering the Cynic school the historical figure of Diogenes. Is Timon really a Cynic? For a nice, concise Continue Reading …
Ep. 299: Philosophy in Shakespeare’s “Timon of Athens” (Part One for Supporters)
What role does money have in human psychology? This is one of several philosophical questions that William Shakespeare's least popular play explores, and Mark, Wes, and Dylan start off our rumination on these with special guest Sir Jonathan Bate, editor of this new complete edition of Shakespeare's plays for the Royal Shakespeare Company, who played Flavius in our Continue Reading …
Not Ep. 299: Shakespeare’s “Timon of Athens” Audioplay (Part Two)
Subscribe to get Parts 1 and 2 ad-free plus tons of bonus content. Continuing our performance from part one of William Shakespeare's play, finishing things up with acts 4 and 5 plus some post-performance discussion with the cast. This is the part of the play where Timon either has gone crazy or become enlightened, such that he's trying to out-cynic the cynic philosopher Continue Reading …
Not Ep. 299: Shakespeare’s “Timon of Athens” Audioplay Feat. Jay O. Sanders, Michael Ian Black, and Michael Tow (Part One)
Subscribe to get parts 1 and 2 of this now, ad-free. The PEL Players are back, with more players than ever, doing an unrehearsed reading of William Shakespeare's least popular play, co-written with Thomas Middleton in Shakespeare's later years, probably around 1605. The play is about money and cynicism, where a man gets to see where his friends go when his money runs Continue Reading …
Shakespeare’s “Timon of Athens” Audioplay (Part Two for Supporters)
Continuing our performance from part one of William Shakespeare's play, finishing things up with acts 4 and 5 plus some post-performance discussion with the cast. This is the part of the play where Timon either has gone crazy or become enlightened, such that he's trying to out-cynic the cynic philosopher Apemantus. Meanwhile, Socrates' former admirer Alcibiades has been Continue Reading …
Shakespeare’s “Timon of Athens” Audioplay Feat. Jay O. Sanders, Michael Ian Black, and Michael Tow (Part One for Supporters)
The PEL Players are back, with more players than ever, doing an unrehearsed reading of William Shakespeare's least popular play, co-written with Thomas Middleton in Shakespeare's later years, probably around 1605. The play is about money and cynicism, where a man gets to see where his friends go when his money runs out and let's say doesn't react well. This is our largest Continue Reading …
Ep. 242: Stanley Cavell on Tragedy via King Lear (Part Two)
Continuing on Cavell's essay "The Avoidance of Love: A Reading of King Lear" (1969), shifting away from Lear in particular to a more general discussion of tragedy and Cavell's psychological insights. Begin with Part One or get the ad-free, unbroken Citizen Edition. Please support PEL! End song: "Out of Your Hands" by Gretchen's Wheel, i.e., Lindsay Murray, as interviewed Continue Reading …
Ep. 242: Stanley Cavell on Tragedy via King Lear (Part One)
On Cavell's essay "The Avoidance of Love: A Reading of King Lear" (1969). Can money buy you love? What is tragedy? In this first Mark-free episode ever, Wes's new (sub)Text co-host, the poet Erin O'Luanaigh, joins Wes, Seth, and Dylan to discuss this major figure in literary theory. To get the most out of this, check out some performance of King Lear or just read the plot Continue Reading …
Ep. 242: Stanley Cavell on Tragedy via King Lear (Citizen Edition)
On Cavell's essay "The Avoidance of Love: A Reading of King Lear" (1969). Can money buy you love? What is tragedy? In this first Mark-free episode ever, Wes's new (sub)Text co-host, the poet Erin O'Luanaigh, joins Wes, Seth, and Dylan to discuss this major figure in literary theory. To get the most out of this, check out some performance of King Lear or just read the plot Continue Reading …
Combat & Classics #30: Shakespeare’s “King Lear”
Brian is joined by guest George Eckerle, St. John's College grad and co-founder (with Brian) of the Plato Project, a series of online seminars for discussion of Plato’s complete works. In this episode they discuss one of William Shakespeare’s most well-known tragedies, King Lear. Get more C&C on the PEL site or at combatandclassics.org. Continue Reading …
(sub)Text Prototype #1: Shakespeare’s “The Tempest”: Poesis as Revenge Forsaken (Full Release)
In light of our Calderón discussion, and the fact that Wes Alwan has not yet committed to spin off his solo podcast, we thought it was high time to unveil in its entirety to the general public the full discussion between Wes and the excellent and renowned Broadway actor Bill Youmans covering Shakespeare's 1611 play about revenge, forgiveness, and authorship. Or maybe it's about Continue Reading …
Bonus: (sub)Text #1: Shakespeare’s “The Tempest”: Poesis as Revenge Forsaken (Part One)
Wes Alwan is joined by Broadway veteran and previous PEL guest Bill Youmans to discuss Shakespeare's 1611 play about revenge, forgiveness, and authorship. Or maybe it's about exploitation, or how we react to changes in status, or perhaps how a liberal education can give you magical powers! Note: This is only the first half; the second half will NOT be appearing on this feed. Continue Reading …
Combat & Classics #7: Shakespeare’s “Coriolanus”
How do military leaders relate to the civilians they protect? In this episode, Lise, Jeff and Brian discuss that and other questions raised by this Shakespearean tragedy. The story of Coriolanus, a Roman general, starts with an heroic victory for Rome, but ends with exile, defection to the enemy, and ultimately death. Listen to more Combat and Classics. Continue Reading …