The University of Warwick hosts a discussion on the film 'Anonymous'

Exploring the theory that Edward de Vere, Earl of Oxford, wrote the plays that we attribute to Shakespeare, Roland Emmerich's new film Anonymous has re-opened the Shakespeare authorship debate. In this video, Professor Carol Rutter, English and Comparative Literary Studies, and Professor Stanley Wells CBE, Honorary President of the Shakespeare Birthplace Trust discuss their reactions to the film and address some of the claims made by it.

Category:

Education

Tags:

• Professor Carol Rutter
• Professor Stanley Wells
• Anonymous
• Shakespeare
• William Shakespeare
• Anonymous (film)
• Earl of Oxford
• Edward de Vere
• Roland Emmerich
• University
• Warwick
• Warwick University
• University Of Warwick

[ImaginedWriter]

As someone who has travelled I can attest to the great ability of children being able to memorise vast lines. One need only go to an Islamic country and seek out those they refer to as "Hafiz", these boys can recite the entire Quran off by heart with perfect pace, tempo and pronunciation.

A child's mind is incredibly plastic so with the right education one can do wonders with him or her.

[Steerpike07]

At last I find an attempt at a reasoned response from the pro-Shakespeare people. Accusations of 'snobbery' belong back in the 1970s which is when I last heard, usually snobby people accusing others of snobbery. Such ad hominem invective is insubstantial. The pro-Shakespearians ought to avoid missing an great opportunity here. Any publicity is great publicity. Everyone wins from increasing awareness of and talk about Ed and Bill. The pro-Shakspere camp can make money and get the plays read more.

[goosey77ski]

@turnerolza finally, put as a search in youtube "edward de vere lord oxford was william shakespeare" and listen to the talk given in that video, it deals with all the "arguments" put forward in this one.

[goosey77ski]

@turnerolza That's why he continually trots out the argument of new plays appearing after 1604 when de Vere died, even though nothing surfaced for 4 years after that date, and there is nothing at all in the later plays to suggest they weren't written before 1604. He knows that but he won't say it and let people make up their own minds. And he even goes so far as to say "it's immoral to question history" (23.20). I'm sorry, but i think that position from a scholar is disgraceful.

[goosey77ski]

@turnerolza Ok, fair enough, i'll tone it down a bit. The reason i got worked up about this is that i have a theory of my own. It is that Prof Stanley Wells, knowing as he must do the ins and outs of this, knows fine well who really wrote the plays. His problem, however, is that he is president of the Shakespeare birthplace trust (who obviously profit from the Stratford myth, although i'm not suggesting for a second that he does). And that also he has staked his academic reputation on this issue

[turnerolza]

@goosey77ski I don't know the truth, but it seems to me that they're dealing with the Oxfordian arguments head on. The Oxfordians have a right to reply - not all debates have to take place in the same room. Calling it "a disgraceful, shameful video" seems a bit over the top.

[turnerolza]

@goosey77ski They're not wrong - they've put forward a reasonable argument. What's your response, other than personal attacks?

[rerevisionist]

Astonishingly, this is from the official University of Warwick website. If you think this is feeble, look at their other stuff. Very sad.

[goosey77ski]

it gets worse as you watch on..."it's immoral to question history". What a disgraceful, shameful video. Lets have one where you actually debate this topic with someone who knows about the Oxfordian theory, you won't last two minutes. It's all very easy when you and you're questioner believe the same thing. Go and reread crime and punishment, not as an academic, but as a human being. You'll realise that you have to own up before you're caught, as you will be soon, because then it will be too late

[goosey77ski]

there's no fool like an old fool. It's actually genuinely sad to see people who feel they have so much at stake, due to a life spent advocating a particular theory, that they can't actually see the truth when it slaps them in the face. Admit you were wrong and move on, for god's sake people, is it so difficult?