Darkness Representing Evil

Ripe Good Scholar

Welcome to episode 30 of Ripe Good Scholar: Darkness Representing Evil

In this episode…

We are looking at the evolution of race from the Middle Ages to Shakespeare’s time. The discussion is more complicated than we might think. This period of time was when the concept of race as we know it today was being forged. Renaissance Europe was experiencing a huge step forward in globalization. This period was the beginning of colonization and the slave trade. There was also a LOT of trade happening. This meant that what was an exotic other was suddenly very close to home. The people of Renaissance Europe had to figure out what this meant for them and how to interact with these new darker skinned people. Unfortunately, it wasn’t usually pleasant, but that is what colored Shakespeare’s writing as he introduced characters of color. That is what we are going to be exploring today.

For this episode, I read a selection from the Cambridge Companion to Shakespeare and Race, along with a number of articles you will find linked in the show notes.

Full show notes available at ripegoodscholar.com/ep30

Teller of Tales by Kevin MacLeod

Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/4467-teller-of-the-tales

License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Minstrel Guild by KevinMacLeod

Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/4056-minstrel-guild

License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/