The 5th Annual Central Massachusetts Undergraduate Shakespeare Conference

2006 Theme: Shakespeare and the Popular

Sunday, April 23, 2006
Worcester Polytechnic Institute
100 Institute Road, Worcester, MA

This year's theme will be "Shakespeare and the Popular." Paper topics might address a wide range of issues and topics related to Shakespeare's life and work, including but not limited to:

• popular reception of Shakespeare (during his time or in later eras)
• Shakespeare in modern popular culture (adaptations and allusions)
• Shakespeare's representation of popular ideas
• the influence of popular literature on Shakespeare (including the Bible, classics, ballads, drama, poetry)
• inclusion and exclusion (for example, social, political, religious, racial, sexual)
• populations or types of people
• social pressure, social ideals
• the populous, commoners vs. upper class, social tensions
• successful leaders, charismatic people
• frustrated and fulfilled desire
• common language: swearing, dialect, popular sayings
• popular music and entertainment

$10 conference fee covers luncheon and coffee breaks.