Prepared by:- krupali K Lewade

M.A Sem-2

Roll no :- 12

Paper No :-8

Subject :- cultural studies

Submitted to -

Maharaja       krishnakumarsinhji 

Topic of Assignment :

           What is cultural studies?

How it apply in hamlet & Frankenstein

Guided by: Dr. Dilip Barad

Submitted to :Dr. Dilip Barad

What is cultural studies? And How it apply in Hamlet and Frankenstein

Introduction-

               After so many years ago the “cultural studies” has developed diverse and lively international intellectual field. The institutional success of cultural studies is demonstrate by a number of major international journals, global and national associations, increasing numbers of international conference, academic programmers, publishers’ catalogues advertising new and essential publication in the field. So we can say that cultural studies affects each and every field. Before take it to consideration what is cultural studies it is necessary to know about. Dictionary cultural means “relating to the cultural of society”, “relating to the  arts and intellectual”.

      

                 It’s not proper definition of cultural because cultural can’t define because it is related to our way of living. What we do every it becomes cultural or civilization. It includes   

           So, we can say that “ journey of man from cave man to present day”. The cultural becomes kind of chain its depend upon Majority and Minority. Cultural and civilization control and constructed by someone. What Majority of the people does that becomes culture and others are in minority. Now I am going to discuss

                    According to the dictionary cultural studies means….

               

So we can say that every thing is include in cultural study (image)

What cultural means now in cultural studies:

·      ‘culture’ is the mode of generating meaning and ideas.

·      This ‘mode’ is a negotiation over which meanings are valid.

·      Meanings are governed by the power relation.

·      Elite culture controls meanings because it control the terms of the debate.

·      None-elite culture views on life and art rejected as ‘tasteless’, ’useless’ or even stupid  by the elite.

·      What this implies is that certain components of culture get more visibility and significance.

Why cultural studies in literature:-

Cultural  studies is not part of literature but it is kind of an approach  to look literature. It gives method to read literature. As a field of study cultural studies has had important effect on literature. It has challenged the idea of canonical literature it means it question on Christian church and beliefs. It has a sought of theorized the role of literature in society in new ways, and to look at literary texts in relation to cultural history  and other cultural text, forms, and practice.

              Cultural studies is Deconstructive Approach because the cultural is studied in literature and studies are always critical. so we can say that cultural studies not only appreciate literature but also criticize literary text.

           So, now let’s have look upon How cultural studies apply in Shakespeare’s play hamlet.

Cultural study of “Hamlet”:-

       The history of England itself affect by the power. The era of Elizabeth is well-known witness of power, especially the fight of second Earl of Essex, whose attempt at rebellion led to this own, execution. Merry queen’s execution who had been imprisoned by Elizabeth for years before Elizabeth signed death warrant. With this history we can say understand that how long it had been going on and why Shakespeare’s work shows power conflict.

         

                             

Power plays vital role in cultural studies. There is connection between power and cultural. All aspects of society and cultural are related to and embedded in power relation. Cultural studies is controversial term because it speak against power. The person who has power he is in center and other are marginalized character. It is not matter a person really deserve or not.    

         

         

             

    
  

Ø Hamlet was the son of late king hamlet and belonged to royal family.

Ø They both were not at the centre because they were not having any inheritance like hamlet. They were educated and intelligent.

Hamlet has many lacks though he is Hero :

          He has lack of determination he miss the chance to Claudius while he is praying. He thinks that if he kills Claudius his soul directly goes to heaven.

             He unknowingly kills Polonius. He does so without knowing the identity of his victim. He should have repented after killing innocent Polonius. But he should not guilty that he killed the father of the whom he has loved truly but he does not think so and goes on. He was not a man of action. Such a primitive hero was not likely to be of interest to Shakespeare when he was at the height of creative powers.

          Hamlet has capacity for bitter and cynical wit. When hamlet is asked what he has done with the dead body of Polonius. He replies that “ compounded it with dust.

           So, we can say that he has many lacks but he is hero of the play because he has power. The word “Prince of Denmark” shows that he has a authority that’s why he is central figure of the play.

          On the other side Rosencrantz and Guildenstern fellow student from wittenloery. They are intelligent, educated with proper understanding. Rosencrantz’s speech shows his excellence and mastery over language.

       -:The speech of Rosencrantz ;-

              This passage is thoughtful and praiseworthy. This is one of the example of excellence of marginalized character. So we can say that hamlet belongs to royal and wealthy family he has been put in to category of a moral hero.

          Question arises that how many of us notice this lines. This lines should have been considered as the best known line of the play, but they have been ignored because it was spoken by marginalized character or in the other word it was spoken by the person who has not power.

            Hamlet’s soliloquy of conscience his futile efforts to pray to God have been considered the best well known as compared to Rosencrantz speech.

                 If ever we wished to study two character who are marginalized, then let us look upon Rosencrantz and Guildenstern.

                The meaning of their names hardly match what seems to be the essence of their character. According to Murry J.Levith, has written that Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are from the Dutch-German: literally ‘garland of roses’ and ‘golden star’. Their names gives them position and meaning lightness.

             But it is not fit social level and their personalities. It is important to know and have a look on what they do and what is done to them.

Both were student at Denmark, because they were requested by Claudius. They try to dry from Hamlet and his inner thoughts what he has been thinking and wanting for days since his fathers death especially his ambitions and frustration about the crown.

                   Hamlet can be heartless when occasion demands it. When Horatio remarks that Guildenstern and Rosencrantz have gone to their death, hamlet feels not the least regret in having sent them to their death, but says

“ They are not near my conscious”. Hamlet is responsible for death of both.but no one consider as a murderer.

They are victim:

        First they are called and requested by Claudius to know about hamlet. Both are used by Claudius. Second they were send to their deaths by Hamlet so they used by Hamlet.

                So at last we can say that power plays vital role in once life. Claudius was aware of power. So we can say that one can gain a further insight into the play and indeed in shakespeare’s culture.

               Next we are discussing how cultural studies apply in frankenstein .

Study of Frankenstein:

                Marry shelly’s creation teaches us never underestimate the power of youth.it is powerful novel but without sound understanding of the context, in which the text was written one. With the help of scientific and philosophical context we understand.

                The creation was made of human parts. It was in essence human can on judge this as monstrous. Electricity was another creation of the time. Victor can be seen as the God who created all human being but some human did not under control of him so god departed them and they had become satan. Victor Frankenstein has made with the monster and than he wants to become emperor of world. Victor frankenstein can be seen as the modern Prometheus. again, with greater knowledge of the context the context the “spark of being” is further clarify yield. Electricity symbolize the modern heave fire. The individual and his quest can be interpreted as frankenstein or the creatures whose journey to achieve revenge.

              The historical context regard frankenstein is interpreted as allegorical of the industrial revolution

Revolutionary births: born like its creator in an age of revolution, frankenstein challenged accepted idea of the day. As it is co-modified by modern consumer culture, one wonders whether its original revolutionary spirit and its critique of scientific, philosophical and gender issues have become obscured instead its continuing transformation.

Race devils : frankenstein may be analyzed in its portrayal of different “races” though the creature’s skin is only described as a yellow, it has been constructed out of cultural tradition of threatening “other” or negro.

The philosophy to cyber : today in the age of  genetic engineering biotechnology and cooling, most far away reaching industrialization of life forms to date.  Frankenstein is more relevant than ever. Frankenstein, Shelly attended public demonstration of the effect of electricity on animal and human bodies, living and dead.

The monster: victor did intense research in trying to create his new life form. He even visited cemeteries late at night to gather body parts to aid in the construction of his creation.

               This is the point at which marry begins to portray victor in a stereotypical manner. She plays off the notion that scientists were not only loners, but also mad and unstable in the mind. She delves into victor’s obsessive and compulsive nature to complete his work at any cost.

Conclusion:

         By concluding we can say that in cultural context hegemony of power play an important role and in Frankenstein popular cultural prominent.