Comments on: I think Twitter may be getting dumber

By: Rufus

Rufus — Mon, 13 Jul 2009 10:57:15 +0000

@norcross But the difference is that those references are those of pop culture, whereas Shakespeare is part of the literary Canon that used to be part of a quality education. Take a look at this: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:NastRepublicanElephant.jpg read the caption. Use a Shakespeare reference in a political cartoon now and you get blank stares. College is no longer a place for an “education.” It is a place to get career training. A BA is almost not distinguishable from a HVAC certificate. They just do different stuff, but one is no more “educated” than the other.

By: Norcross

Norcross — Mon, 13 Jul 2009 01:56:28 +0000

for what it’s worth, most people don’t recognize the Caddyshack, Blazing Saddles, and Animal House references I make, either. I think it’s more an issue of people not paying attention. But then again, I remember a lot of stuff that I have no good reason to. I’ve never read MacBeth and I knew that was Shakespeare.

By: Rufus

Rufus — Tue, 07 Jul 2009 19:03:59 +0000

@Edie Not the sole criterion. I also use Steinbeck, Dreiser, Conrad, Joyce, Twain (Clemens, either or) and Milton in a pinch, but only as a last resort when everyone is drunk because, well, it’s Milton! Shakespeare will always be relevant, even if we have to dip into him to write some lyrics for a choral group in a Harry Potter movie (Act IV, Scene 1 of MacBeth.. again “Something wicked this way comes.”) or just rely on making private jokes in our heads that spill out on Twitter.

By: Edie

Edie — Tue, 07 Jul 2009 18:24:41 +0000

I’m with Barrie — and I even have a high-faloutin’ lit degree (PhD) and have read Macbeth a couple of times. I didn’t get the allusion.

I think Shakespeare will always be relevant to a certain extent — but if he isn’t, that’s not the sole criterion by which to judge intelligence or wit. Punning Twitter aliases alone — e.g. DuncanNonuts — make me sure that cleverness lives on.

By: Shakespeare fan club | DogWalkBlog

Shakespeare fan club | DogWalkBlog — Tue, 07 Jul 2009 18:21:35 +0000

[...] in response to my tirade about how an “education” doesn’t actually result in even a cursory knowledge of [...]

By: Susan Pogorzelski

Susan Pogorzelski — Tue, 07 Jul 2009 18:14:17 +0000

I’ll admit that I didn’t see your tweet; I’ll also admit that if I had, I probably would have been among the masses who didn’t get it. Give me Hamlet, give me Lear, give me Othello and I’ll probably be one of the first to speak up and cheer, but my memory of MacBeth is hazy, at best. I do recall some of the passages and quotes, but this one slipped by me.

I feel like a failed English major. Gah.

Nice post!

By: Rufus

Rufus — Tue, 07 Jul 2009 13:18:47 +0000

Yes, in Shakespeare, there is always 90% credit for showing up!

By: barrie

barrie — Mon, 06 Jul 2009 22:30:18 +0000

Hey! *I’m* on twitter! I have to admit that I didn’t get that joke however…sorry…Macbeth was never my thing although I do recognize out out damned spot. Do I get 1/2 credit for that at least?