To tweet, or not to tweet: students and alumni talk Shakespeare in the Great Comedy Debate
1 October 2010
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Shakespeare's First Folio, published in 1623. Would he have tweeted it today? |
Some may argue that the man who invented the world's largest collection of pithy slogans would love the 21st century's most popular communications platform, Twitter. With only 140 characters or fewer to express an idea, who could do better than Shakespeare?
On the other hand, others may champion the notion that history's most prolific and talented writer of the most densely layered and evocative drama could never be condensed to suit the brevity of the format.
And so the Great Comedy Debate will solve the insoluble when students go head to head with alumni this Tuesday 5 October, to debate the topic Shakespeare would have tweeted.
Alumni will argue the negative with team captain Adam Spencer (BA '92) joined by Vice-Chancellor Dr Michael Spence (BA '85, LLB '87) and editor of Fairfax's Good Weekend Judith Whelan (BA '83, DipEd '84).
They'll have to face top University of Sydney Union student debaters on the affirmative, including Pat Bateman, Alex Lee and Ben Jenkins. The debate will be moderated by the USU's Julian Brophy (BA '89).
Twitter now attracts more than 100 million people worldwide, including prominent politicians, academics and celebrities, so the topic presents an intriguing proposition.
The Comedy Debate, established in 2006, is designed to be humorous as well as informative. It routinely attracts audiences of up to 400 people, including a diverse range of both students and alumni.
In the spirit of Twitter, popular opinion will help determine the winner, with the best audience response contributing to the judge's decision.
The event will also be made available as a podcast.
Event details
What: The Great Comedy Debate on Shakespeare would have tweeted
When: 6pm, Tuesday 5 October. Bar opens at 5.30pm
Where: Great Hall, Quadrangle, Camperdown Campus
Cost: Free.
Media enquiries: Katie Szittner, 9351 2261, katie.szittner@sydney.edu.au
Jacqueline Chowns, 0434 605 018, jacqueline.chowns@sydney.edu.au