My friend Doris Barkin is presenting a paper on the Politics of the Pantsuit Nation as exemplified in TWO GENTLEMAN OF VERONA. Its focus is on Julia and her codpieced costume. It further elaborates on the level of cross-dressing that occurred during Shakespeare's time, and the openness to it, suggesting a fear and titillation of the opposite sex. It also gives rise to a male's homo-erotic feelings. After I read this brilliant essay, I understood, on yet another level, why Hillary lost the vote, and some of it had to do with a man's fear of a strong woman. I always said there was a level of misogyny and racism in this loss, yet this paper carefully elaborates the FEAR and VULNERABILITY, but also ADMIRATION Shakespearean male characters had for the women who dared to pretend to be men in disguise.
And what about our contemporary culture? America in 2017 only has the fear. How pathetic is that?
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