MULTIVERSAL SHAKESPEARES

Repositioning the notion of a singular global Shakespeare to that of a plural universe of Shakespeares addresses the ways in which ‘the planetary’ speaks to the term ‘universal’ resonating with ‘multiversal’, as recently discussed by Valerie M. Fazel and Louise Geddes, Shakespeare Multiverse (2021). The notion of multiverse can help us reflect on the implications of moving beyond global Shakespeare and renewing critical discussion of his oft-praised ‘universality’ by seeking to confront and examine a plurality of coexisting ‘Shakespeare universes’ where canons and fanons (or fan canons) are not mutually exclusive.