Shakespeare banned in Florida!

[douglas9]

At least five Shakespeare plays feature major characters cross-dressing: "The Merchant of Venice," "As You Like It," "Twelfth Night," "The Two Gentlemen of Verona" and "Cymbeline." Exposing students to cross-dressing was outlawed in Florida by the fatuously named “Parental Rights in Education” Bill. At least 10 other Republican-controlled states have passed similar education.

Then there’s sex — real sex. Can’t teach "Hamlet," "Macbeth," "Romeo and Juliet," "Othello," "All’s Well That Ends Well," and … oh, hell, might as well come out and say it: Shakespeare has no place in Florida school curriculum. Chaucer, too. The Wife of Bath’s Tale? Are you kidding?

Perhaps the most insane, and cowardly, law Florida has proposed would require anyone who criticizes Gov. Ron DeSantis on the internet to register with the state. This is a Soviet law. Even Newt Gingrich, who is greatly responsible for poisoning U.S. politics, called the proposal “insane.” Not to mention unconstitutional.



https://www.courthousenews.com/shakespeare-banned-in-florida/

[thucythucy]

1. Then too there's "The Rape of Lucretia."

Sexual violence, suicide...

Not to mention the dark lady of the sonnets! Good Lord, think of the children!

Come to think of it, as originally staged every Shakespeare play with female characters involved cross-dressing, since women and girls weren't permitted on the Elizabethan stage. This meant all the female characters were portrayed by males.

Again, I plead: think of the children!

[Timeflyer]

2. Next up in FL--re-education camps for teachers and librarians who promote reading.

Warning--Do not, whatever you do, click on the link inside the post and read to the end. You will be led into a Philomena Cunk and drunk Scot rabbithole you will never get out of.

[Probatim]

6. I have not read the post but would agree. Philomena Cunk is outrageously funny and addicting.

That character is truly something else.

[friend of a friend]

29. One of the best shows on Netflix.

[Probatim]

32. I agree - her deadpan delivery is fantastic, plus the reactions of the interviewees is priceless.

[friend of a friend]

33. From what I understand, the interviewees know what they are going to get some really off the wall

questions, but they don't know what the questions will be and are told to treat her like a childish person.

[Walleye]

3. I got hooked on those Shakespeare comedies when I was in seventh grade

Something about the language really sang to me. I’ve been a lover Shakespeare ever since and literature in general. I can’t even imagine being prevented from reading these things. So we are leaving the curriculum up to the right wing Christian fascist so-called parents. How many of them really have kids in school, I wonder

[bronxiteforever]

5. I will let Will reply

But man, proud man,
Dress'd in a little brief authority,
Most ignorant of what he's most assur'd—
His glassy essence—like an angry ape
Plays such fantastic tricks before high heaven
As makes the angels weep; who, with our spleens,
Would all themselves laugh mortal.”

― William Shakespeare, Measure for Measure

[WestMichRad]

30. A most excellent reply!

[Kid Berwyn]

7. Chaucer, huh?

Last edited Fri Mar 10, 2023, 11:04 AM - Edit history (1)

Note how these may be edited in future postings and articles.

[niyad]

9. Yikes!! You should have warned us! My eyes!

[Kid Berwyn]

17. Please accept my apologies.

I should have warned you.



I understand I might be a felon in Florida, unless I sign up as a critic.

Where do I register?

[area51]

15. Dang, I just had breakfast.

[Kid Berwyn]

16. Sorry...just edited.

Here’s another version…

[Prairie_Seagull]

19. Mr Bootie McBootface.

I really wish I could take credit for that one but I borrowed it from another DUer. I hope they are not waiting to get it back.

[Kid Berwyn]

28. Caligula was taken.

Seriously, though, the little NAZI would manifest Orwell’s premonition:



“If you want a picture of the future, imagine a boot stamping on a human face – for ever.”

[Seinan Sensei]

8. And whatever you do, do NOT go to Japan

Where they have Kabuki
(all roles played by men)

And they have Takarazuka Revue
(all roles played by women)

[Texin]

10. The irony is that during Shakespeare's time, all the player were male!

Women weren't allowed onstage back in the day. The movie Shakespeare in Love even depicted that fact when the character of Juliet, played by Gwyneth Paltrow, was revealed backstage at one point.

[Wicked Blue]

11. It's time to ban Florida from the civilized world

[IronLionZion]

12. They should ban the Bible

lots of rape, murder, smiting, and wrath. But they like those things

[TheBlackAdder]

13. Well, that cuts out many ancient Greek, Hindu, Italian & Norse poems and stories too.

[Ferrets are Cool]

14. Is there any cross-dressing in the bible...since rape and incest isn't enough for it to be banned.

[DFW]

18. Better ban their bibles, too, then

What about Adam "knew (wink, wink)" Eve and she conceived and bore Cain....??

[malthaussen]

20. That's also half the opera plots in the world...

... but come on, DeSantis and his ilk don't watch Shakespeare or opera.

-- Mal

[thesquanderer]

21. This post calls for a "not The Onion" disclaimer.

I can't tell what's real or not anymore.

[concretebluetwo]

23. CONservatism

CONservatism has rendered Satire obsolete.

[cbabe]

22. All denominations of priestly robes. Saudi thobes. And kilts. Don't forget kilts.

[NullTuples]

24. That's where the vague term, "prurient" comes in; they can make it whatever they need it to be.

[chowder66]

25. Next up: get rid of the people who have sex organs.

[republianmushroom]

26. Like I said DeSantis lies a lot.

Ron DeSantis's book ban mania targets Jodi Picoult -- and she hits back

https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2023/03/10/ron-desantis-book-bans-martin-county-jodi-picoult/

No paywall
https://archive.is/4kipr

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis wants you to know he’d never dream of engaging in mass censorship. He held a recent event challenging criticism of his classroom book restrictions as a “hoax,” releasing a video suggesting only “porn” and “hate” are targeted for removal.

[Aristus]

27. You'd think the hillbillies and rednecks would like "Romeo And Juliet".

Teenagers having sex. Lots of people killing each other in a pointless blood feud.

It's Redneck Wonderland with better writing.

[WestMichRad]

31. "Redneck Womderland with better writing"