The Shakespeare Conference: SHK 11.1380  Tuesday, 11 July 2000.

From:           Mike Jensen <
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Date:           Monday, 10 Jul 2000 08:45:59 -0700
Subject: Re: Shakespeare as Bible
Comment:        SHK 11.1370 Re: Shakespeare as Bible

Once upon a time I wrote:

>> Can't we do both?  Can't we acknowledge that a set of circumstances
>> lent themselves to turning this playwright into the sweet swan of Avon,
>> yet also acknowledge that some of us find a fascination and challenge in
>> his work that exceeds that of most other artists? "

Mr. Stetner used this comment as springboard to say:

> It seems to me that the stricture that we can't do both comes now only
> from the anti-historicist side of the new wave of debate.  Purely
> aestheticist critics, or those who claim that such a thing is possible,
> always include an anti-historicist claim as to the "right" way to read
> poetry, while, on the other hand, there is nothing in historicist
> criticism that prevents making use of aesthetic and structural elements
> in developing a reading of literary works.

Correct me if I'm wrong, but I believe this unfairly characterizes some
of those good people who have disagreed with me.  While I stand by my
comments, I do regret that my words were used in this way.

Mike Jensen