Thiel College English faculty members present research at Shakespeare conference

GREENVILLE, Pa.-- Thiel College Department of English faculty members Jared Johnson, Ph.D. and Sean Oros ’15 presented academic papers at The Ohio Valley Shakespeare Conference in October.

Titled “Transformative Shakespeare,” the 44th Ohio Valley Shakespeare Conference featured national and international speakers on the theme of transformation in William Shakespeare studies. Presenters explored the transformative power of Shakespeare in a variety of venues including the classroom, on the stage, and in cinema. Topics ranged from the pedagogical (teaching Shakespeare in the prison system) to the performative (staging scenes from “Hamlet”).

Johnson, a Professor of English, presented his paper, “‘Hell is empty and all the devils are here’: Westworld’s New Prospero and his Isle of Calibans,” which explored parallels between the HBO series “Westworld” and Shakespeare’s play “The Tempest” and suggested an alternative reading of the play based on simulation theory.

Oros, a first-year curriculum coordinator and Lecturer of English, presented his paper, “The Transformative Power of Political Performance.” In the essay, Oros honed in on two cinematic performances of Julius Caesar, both featuring conservative activist Charlton Heston, and unpacked the subtle power dynamics at play in the form of the proverbial patrician in plebe’s clothing.

The Ohio Valley Shakespeare Conference was hosted by Owens Community College in Toledo, Ohio, on October 14-16, 2021.

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