Shakespeare, the illusion of depth, and the science of parts : an integration of cognitive science and performance studies

My dissertation interrogates theatre and performance theory through the lens of recent developments in cognitive science. I explore the power of poetry in performance to illuminate the connection and seams between body and language, actor and character, fact and fiction. I reexamine some of the work of new critics and new historicists given the latest developments within neuroscience and suggest a path of integration between the sciences and literary and theatre theory. Rather than simply referencing scientific research as supplemental evidentiary material to a re-reading of Hamlet& lt;i>, I investigate how cognitive science can unveil Shakespeare's textual theatrics and spot light blind spots in theatre and performance theor