Poets, painters and musicians in Shakespeare's England

Aims 

This course aims to:   

• develop a greater knowledge of the arts in Shakespeare’s time  
   
• evaluate the relationship between poetry, painting and music  
   
• understand the cultural, social and political influences at work in the arts 

Content 

In this course we will explore the many different ways that the visual, literary and musical arts interrelated in the Elizabethan and Jacobean periods. Three sessions devoted to the individual arts will be followed by sessions exploring the way that the arts interacted in religious contexts, at court rituals and entertainments, and in the home. We will consider the ways that courtiers and monarchs employed artisans to create works that reflected their power, celebrated their glory, and consolidated their positions in the highly volatile world of the early modern English court. Classes will include readings from period literature, samples of musical pieces, and an array of visual sources and material. 

Presentation of the course  

Each session will consist of an illustrated lecture discussing major themes and interpretations and will then open up to a wider class discussion.  

Course sessions 

1. Introduction: Poets, Painters and Musicians in Shakespeare’s England 
   In this introductory session we’ll explore the place of the artisan in Elizabethan and Jacobean society, their training, interests and relationships with audiences. 
    
2. Poetry and Potency 
   This session will introduce the social and political functions of poetry at the Elizabethan and Jacobean courts, with reference to key examples of poets and their work. 
    
3. Visual Art and Verisimilitude 
   In this lecture we will explore the period’s expectations of visual art, and how they differ from our expectations today. 
    
4. Music and Magnificence 
   This session will introduce some key musicians in Tudor and Jacobean society, and give an overview of the ways music was used by patrons and others. 
    
5. Religious Controversy 
   This lecture will review some of the effects of the Reformation on music, art and poetry, from Protestant ‘sensory’ objections to secret Catholic continuity. 
    
6. What Can Artisans Do For Us? Patrons and the Arts 
   This session will explore the patron’s role in influencing artisans, and vice versa. 
    
7. Elizabeth I and the Artisans 
   This lecture explores the use made of the arts by Elizabeth I and her courtiers to promote her reign at home and abroad. 
    
8. Entertainments: The Arts in Concert 
   This lecture will home in on examples of the arts working together to entertain the courts of Elizabeth I and James I and VI, especially the development of the court masque. 
    
9. Pretty Morals: Poetry, Painting and Music in Domestic Decoration 
   This lecture explores the role of musical, poetic and pictorial themes in the period’s interior decoration, including furniture, wall paintings and hangings. 
    
10. Shakespearean Essentials 
    This lecture explores the role of the arts in Shakespeare’s plays, and what this can tell us about the role of the arts more generally. 

Learning outcomes 

You are expected to gain from this series of classroom sessions a greater understanding of the subject and of the core issues and arguments central to the course.  

 The learning outcomes for this course are:  

• to increase awareness of the roles that the arts could play in English society  
   
• to discover key examples of visual, verbal and musical art from the period  
   
• to better understand the impact of social, religious and political changes on the arts  
   
• to acquire a greater understanding of English society, history and culture 

Required reading  

There is no required reading for this course.  

Typical week: Monday to Friday 

Courses run from Monday to Friday. For each week of study, you select a morning (Am) course and an afternoon (Pm) course. The maximum class size is 25 students.   

Courses are complemented by a series of daily plenary lectures, exploring new ideas in a wide range of disciplines. To add to your learning experience, we are also planning additional evening talks and events. 

Evaluation and Academic Credit  

If you are seeking to enhance your own study experience, or earn academic credit from your Cambridge Summer Programme studies at your home institution, you can submit written work for assessment for one or more of your courses.  

Essay questions are set and assessed against the University of Cambridge standard by your Course Director, a list of essay questions can be found in the Course Materials. Essays are submitted two weeks after the end of each course, so those studying for multiple weeks need to plan their time accordingly. There is an evaluation fee of £75 per essay. 

For more information about writing essays see Evaluation and Academic Credit. 

Certificate of attendance 

A certificate of attendance will be sent to you electronically after the programme.