[QUOTE= Even worse, when we pander to their tastes(nothing wrong with personal taste, but it shouldn't be the basis of a curriculum), or allow them to read only what they will find enjoyable, we legitimize this anti-thinking perspective, that all that matters is what they find pleasurable and easy. [/QUOTE]
[QUOTE= The most important reason you study Shakespeare, especially if you live in an English-speaking country, is that he is the greatest writer in the history of the language. [/QUOTE]
I have to agree. I certainly understand having difficulty understanding Shakespeare if English is not your first language, and Chaucer is even harder in my opinion, but I managed to struggle through it. Every persons experience is different, what might dissuade one person may spark a love in another.
I have been an avid reader from a young age, I read anything I could lay my hands on from Graeham Green to mills & boon romances.
At age 11 in school we started reading Shakespeare - A midsummer's nights dream actually. All of our grade started by reading the play. Breaking down the text understanding the basic plot.
I was blessed that the town where I grew up had an excellent playhouse, and Theatre companies. The whole grade went to a production of A Midsummer's Night's Dream, in which 'Puck' pranced on stage, in what can only be described as wide leather belts wrapped around his person, bondage style and rollerskates. And Titania 'court' wore gold lame disco shorts and sunglasses & rollerskates. Needless to say we were mesmerized.
(can still see the look of horror & embarrassment on my English Lit. teachers face)
But there was no way we would have been able to follow the nuances of the play if we had not studied and read the play beforehand.
When I was older we studied Hamlet & 'that Scottish play'. We were able to watch several films of the plays & I was blessed to be able to see both plays performed live 4 or 5 times by several different theatre groups. One being the Royal Shakespeare Company. Be it Manga, audio, film or live performance they are all great way to introduce a person to Shakespeare. But for one to truly appreciate the beauty and nuances of his work YOU HAVE TO READ THE PLAYS. In turn I gained a love of Theatre and the performing arts through being exposed to Shakespeare.
By the way, I love the quote by Russell.