Titus Andronicus: Trauma in Shakespeare and Early Modern Theatre

In today's episode, we are starting off our discussions on Shakespeare's Titus Andronicus by discussing trauma and trauma theory and how trauma and trauma theory appear throughout the play.

We will discuss the cultural effect of Lavinia's trauma and the ethics involved in reproducing that trauma onstage in both Shakespeare's time and today.

Finally, we'll discuss how theatremakers and educators use trauma-informed practices to responsibly engage with early modern works that contain trauma. We reference The Pillars developed by Intimacy Directors International, which can be found here. 

Content Warning: Titus Andronicus contains depictions and descriptions of acts of mutilation, graphic discussions of sexual assault and rape, overt racism, non-consensual cannibalism, and torture. Please listen with care.

Transcript to come.

Shakespeare Anyone? is created and produced by Kourtney Smith and Elyse Sharp.

Music is "Neverending Minute" by Sounds Like Sander.

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Works referenced:

BROCKMAN, SONYA L. “TRAUMA AND ABANDONED TESTIMONY IN ‘TITUS ANDRONICUS’ AND ‘RAPE OF LUCRECE.’” College Literature, vol. 44, no. 3, 2017, pp. 344–78. JSTOR, http://www.jstor.org/stable/44504139. Accessed 11 July 2023.

Mendoza, Kirsten N. “Sexual Violence, Trigger Warnings, and the Early Modern Classroom.” Teaching Social Justice Through Shakespeare: Why Renaissance Literature Matters Now, edited by Hillary Eklund and Wendy Beth Hyman, Edinburgh University Press, 2019, pp. 97–105. JSTOR, http://www.jstor.org/stable/10.3366/j.ctvrs912p.13. Accessed 11 July 2023.

Sina, Tonia, et al. “The Pillars - IDI.” The Pillars, 2020, docs.wixstatic.com/ugd/924101_2e8c624bcf394166bc0443c1f35efe1d.pdf. 

Smith, Charlene. “Staging Sexual Assault Responsibly.” HowlRound Theatre Commons, 10 July 2019, howlround.com/staging-sexual-assault-responsibly. 

Solga, Kim. “Rape’s Metatheatrical Return: Rehearsing Sexual Violence among the Early Moderns.” Theatre Journal, vol. 58, no. 1, 2006, pp. 53–72. JSTOR, http://www.jstor.org/stable/25069779. Accessed 19 July 2023.

Willis, Deborah. “‘The Gnawing Vulture’: Revenge, Trauma Theory, and ‘Titus Andronicus.’” Shakespeare Quarterly, vol. 53, no. 1, 2002, pp. 21–52. JSTOR, http://www.jstor.org/stable/3844038. Accessed 11 July 2023.