A university has slapped Shakespeare’s works with hundreds of bizarre trigger warnings, warning nervous Gen Z students to watch out for everything from ‘dirt’ to ‘puppetry’.
The University of the West of England (UWE), in Bristol, hit out at 220 of the Bard’s works and famous TV and stage adaptations of them in guidance for drama students.
For one of the writer’s final plays, The Tempest, intrepid viewers are warned that there may be ‘extreme weather’, ‘depiction of magic’ and – in one particular 2016 stage version – ‘popping of balloons’ involved.
Warnings on The Winter’s Tale – remembered for its famous line, ‘Exit, pursued by a bear’, referencing death by bear claws for one of the characters – caution of ‘references to wild animal attack’.
Terrifying scenes of ‘puppetry’ and ‘pregnancy’ are among the long list of things to watch out for in this particular play too, as reported by the Sun.
A university has branded Shakespeare’s works with hundreds of bizarre trigger warnings, warning nervous Gen Z to watch out for everything from ‘dirt’ to ‘puppetry’ (pictured, the 1996 film adaptation of Romeo and Juliet)
The University of the West of England (pictured) in Bristol hit out at 220 of the bard’s works and famous TV and stage adaptations of them in guidance for drama students
Beware of ‘family trauma’ and ‘psychological distress’ in Macbeth, UWE warns (pictured, David Tennant starring in a production of Macbeth in London late last year)
Beware of ‘family trauma’ and ‘psychological distress’ in Macbeth, UWE warns, the tragedy about a man obsessed with kingship for which many a famous actor has treaded the boards – including most recently David Tennant.
For Much Ado About Nothing, a comedy centering on a tangled quartet of lovers, students are advised it contains ‘treatment of women’ – inevitable, perhaps, for a play featuring female characters.
Romeo and Juliet – famous for its tale of star-crossed lovers who both die at the end – contains, to not many people’s surprise, ‘death’, ‘suicide’, ‘violence’, ‘knives’ and ‘blood’.
UWE said: ‘Content warnings were previously requested by students with sensory processing issues and experiences of trauma.’
UWE has been contacted for comment.
