How does a representative of elite or highbrow culture like Shakespeare end up sitting at the same table as heavy metal, one of the most debated music genres in popular culture? In the same comfortable way as the baroque English poet Milton, the Romantic poets Coleridge, Blake, and Poe, fantasy writer Tolkien, and Victorian gothic horror writer Stevenson, to mention but a few classic examples whose works have been adapted by popular bands. In this talk, we are going to explore two heavy metal concept albums inspired by Shakespeare’s tragedies, Macbeth and King Lear.
How on earth can the studded black boot of heavy metal end up on the same table as the plays of Shakespeare, a literary author who undoubtedly represents high culture? Although heavy metal is perhaps one of the most divisive musical genres in popular culture, it is connected to officially recognised culture by many more threads than one might think at first glance. Literary authors who have provided inspiration for concept albums include the Baroque poet Milton, the Romantic poets Coleridge, Blake and Poe, the fantasy genre representative Tolkien, and the Victorian Gothic horror writer Stevenson. In the lecture, we take a closer look at two concept albums inspired by Shakespeare's tragedies, Macbeth and King Lear.
We recommend the performance for both secondary school students and adults.