The aim of the course is to understand how Shakespeare constructs culture, and cultures construct Shakespeare. The bard has already become a part of cultural language everywhere; he is seen to be not only modern but also postmodern and truly multicultural. This course will thus begin by understanding the broad concept of cultural construction as an act of meaning creation arising out of the ideological, political and social dynamics of different cultures. Students will be encouraged to explore Shakespeare’s cross cultural encounters and his appreciation of diversity, plurality and marginality in redefining race, ethnicity, gender, place and text – in other words, ‘constructing’ cultures. The students will then focus on how Shakespeare himself has been the subject of cultural construction across time, space and languages through translation, adaptation, theatrical and filmic reproduction, pop music, advertisement, cartoons, comic books and other forms of appropriation/assimilation.