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Full-Text Articles in American Studies
"The Most Insistent Subject Of Popular Music": An Exploration Of Romeo And Juliet Music Adaptations And Their Expressions Of Modern Cultural Issues, Gabrielle Sheets
"The Most Insistent Subject Of Popular Music": An Exploration Of Romeo And Juliet Music Adaptations And Their Expressions Of Modern Cultural Issues, Gabrielle Sheets
Honors Projects
Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet (1597) has been persistently popular throughout history, especially in the modern production of popular music releases. People are often widely familiar with Romeo and Juliet’s usage throughout music. However, the reasoning behind the adaptation of Romeo and Juliet is relatively undiscussed. Romeo and Juliet is a leading symbol of tragic romance, an ever-present topic in popular music. Romeo and Juliet’s canonical qualities lead music artists to adapt the original play since it permits access to an audience that is familiar with the contexts of Shakespeare’s tragedy. This essay also provides a clear definition of “adaptation,” requiring …