I love the arts, especially literature and the arts. Shakespeare and Modern Culture by Marjorie Garber is an example.
Not so much as a critique of modern culture, or some kind or re-imagined version of modern culture as seen through Shakespeare-adjusted vision, just a modern, post-modern gaze through some of the works.
Worthy of a glance, the author carries all the correct heavyweight credentials needed to make her look like a serious academic.
Dense but easily accessible, the book looks at underlying thematic points. I was particularly drawn to the bit about Shakespeare’s Richard III as political fiction, or historical fiction that held important sway in the reign of Shakespeare’s Queen Elizabeth.
Interesting, from an arts view.