So, my math has been off for a while, with the Year and Day postings. I've reset it now. Two years ago today I began this blog, and it seemed only appropriate to post on this day with my thoughts on what's going on.
Today, I get back to this education of mine on Shakespeare.
Today, Anne Rice (of Interview with a Vampire fame) posted something on her Facebook wall about always being a believer in the Oxfordian theory of authorship. In essence, believing that Edward de Vere, the Earl of Oxford, wrote all of Shakespeare's plays. She also said that there was going to be a mock Trial of Shakespeare held in Stratford-upon-Avon regarding the question of authorship (she meant to say Stratford, Ontario), and that this should be paid attention to.
I am a fan of Anne Rice's novels. I am also a fan of education and the tenets of research (the first one being, actually do some research.) So, it seems that today these two concepts are mutually exclusive. If Ms. Rice had actually read any of the authorship material, or about any of the people who believe that theory, she'd know that no 'self-respecting Oxfordian' would ever show their faces anywhere near any Stratford (including Ontario) so as not to give credence to the man from Stratford's works (I say 'self-respecting Oxfordian' with a bit of sarcasm as I believe that no Oxfordian anywhere has respect for anything but themselves and their own bloated egos). So, the concept of a mock trial of authorship taking place in Stratford is either going to be a little academic tongue-in-cheek, or a whole load of trollop amounting to a man standing on a soapbox in the middle of Canada screaming at the top of his lungs, "Edward de Vere was the true Shakespeare!" (note: this chant is one syllable shy of a true pentameter, and yes, that was intentional) and passersby chuckling, shaking their heads, and giving no more thought to the man than they would that morning's visit to the restroom ("just another obstacle to the day"), for they are citizens of Stratford. It isn't likely that this Oxfordian will find any allies there.
Please note: There is positively no way to "prove" authorship of Shakespeare. I am willing to allow anyone to believe what they want to believe on this matter, as long as there is a reasonable and academic case being (even slightly) made. I live in Stratford-upon-Avon and study at the Shakespeare Institute there, so my stance on this question is that there is no question and Oxfordians can go suck it (in my humble opinion.)
I believe that Ms. Rice has never actually given thought to the question of authorship, and only believes in it because conspiracy theories are sexy, controversial, and anti-establishment. It isn't hard to psychoanalyze her motives given the subject matter of her most popular pieces of writing. The sad part comes when I realized today that Anne Rice is ignorant. Probably of a lot of things. She isn't stupid, just ignorant... and she is fine with spraying her ignorance where e'er she treads.
This isn't about Anne Rice. This is about people I have known and taken for granted as smart, well-educated people, being re-evaluated. I have re-examined my relationship with just about everyone I've ever known since reading that post from Ms. Rice and found a surprising number of the people in my life left wanting. Which is to say that they are not the people I thought them to be. Which is also to say, that I should never have taken them for granted in the first place... and being the man that I am, my hefty brain then goes back to my first meeting them and goes through what was said, and how I might have begun to assume that they were smart people. My brain then starts slapping my conscience around calling it, 'stupid,stupid,stupid' or something of that ilk for ever having fallen for that person's wily guise of intellect. I then start thinking about yet another person in my life who must be re-examined and go through the process again.
Yes, I'm over-thinking this. Have we met?
I am a researcher, a practitioner of theatre, an academic, a teacher, a graduate of two Master's programs, writing a PhD thesis on the Pivotal Production Designs of A Midsummer Night's Dream at the Royal Shakespeare Company, and I have spent twenty-six minutes today smacking myself around for ever thinking one of my casual acquaintances that I took to be smart and passionate upon first meeting her, is actually just someone out to make money and make herself appear superior to the rest of us mortals trying to make a living at the stuff we love to do. In answer to your question, "is he talking about me?" the answer is emphatically "no", because she would never read a blog about Shakespeare... or at least never get this far into one of my posts.
I guess my points today are these:
1) Anne Rice writes fiction and should not be looked to for questions you might have about anything that goes beyond her field of research. (She writes Vampire Fiction. She has plenty to say about that, and if you are interested, you should listen.)
2) Oxfordians are a befuddled group of conspiracy theorists, and I feel sorry for them.
3) You cannot change the world by presenting your ideas or opinions as facts. Keep an open mind, about everything. Discuss. Never be afraid to say that you don't know enough, and don't be scared to walk away from those that make you feel inferior for saying so. Research things that you are interested in, because you are interested in them... but do. the. research.
4) Don't spray popular tripe because it sounds interesting. Unless you are running for office, and then at least make it funny or ironic or blatantly corrupt. Tell me first before you do anything though as I'll need time to make some popcorn and find a comfortable seat.
And seeing ignorance is the curse of God,
Knowledge the wing wherewith we fly to heaven -- Henry VI, Part 2 (IV.vii)
Year 3, Day 5 - Words Written: 5,367
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