Should more schools consider swapping Shakespeare for hip-hop music?
Given that many students find Shakespeare difficult to engage with and to understand, is there an argument for replacing it with a literary form more reflective of today's world?
Many would disagree. Norman Lund for example argues that Shakespeare continues to inspire new generations; reflects high quality work; that he effectively communicates the human character; and offers a "bridge" for discussing the great questions of life.
Read his perspectives here:
www.oxfordtutorials.com/why_study_shakespeare.htm But couldn't the same be said for hip-hop?
Britain's Hip Hop Shakespeare Company see significant overlap between hip-hop music and Shakespeare’s theatre. They offer hip hop versions of Shakespeare as well as other hip-hop productions to engage youth with words, music and meaning.
Their website explains that both Shakespeare and hip-hop music "represent energetic and inventive forms of expression. Both are full of poetry, word play and lyricism. Both deal with what it is to be human, and issues from people’s lives, and of course just like Shakespeare’s work, hip-hop is all about the rhythmic tension of words. The similarities between hip-hop music and Shakespeare’s theatre are striking".
www.hiphopshakespeare.com/site/ Although there are many modern adaptations of Shakespearean plays used in the classroom should schools be looking wider to utilise today's talent to inspire our young people? Has Shakespeare had his day or is his work timeless?
Does hip-hop have the potential to help young people learn about the world around them?
Watch the two clips and see what you think?
It is proposed that hip-hop music should be considered a suitable replacement for Shakespeare within the school curriculum.