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Ever wondered how the timeless tale of Romeo and Juliet has been reimagined across cultures and mediums, from ancient Persian epics like Layla-Majnun to modern films like Ram Leela and Arshinagar? This live, interactive, and certified course, spanning four weekends, invites you to explore the multifaceted world of Shakespeare’s iconic play. Together, we’ll delve into how the Bard’s vision has been adapted and reinterpreted globally, examining the cultural, social, and emotional nuances that make this story universally resonant. Along the way, you will gain a critical understanding of literature’s power to question borders of community and desire.
Designed for high schoolers (Grades 9-12), this course offers a university-level insight into the transformative world of literature and its role in shaping our collective imagination.
APPLICATIONS ARE CLOSED.*
Small cohorts, big impact.
*tentative schedule and details, subject to change
Register InterestThis course is for high schoolers studying literature or film/ media studies/ social sciences or considering them for higher education. It’s also ideal for those who enjoy reading, bringing a more nuanced understanding to their love for literature.
Prerequisites: High proficiency in written & spoken English. You will be required to submit your latest mark sheet in the application form.
By the end of this course, you will:
| Week | Lecture Module | Project Module |
|---|---|---|
| Week 1 | Shakespearean Context & Language | Character Blueprint: Modernizing Romeo & Juliet |
| Week 2 | Romeo & Juliet: Core Themes | Setting & Context: Choosing Your Verona |
| Week 3 | Global Reinterpretations: Layla-Majnun to Ram Leela | Conflict Reimagined: Social Norms & Taboos |
| Week 4 | Ethics & Emotions in Literature | Enact Your Own Romeo & Juliet |
Madhavi Menon is Professor of English at Ashoka University. She earned her Bachelors and Masters in English from St. Stephen’s College, Delhi University, and her PhD from Tufts University. Prior to joining Ashoka, she taught at Ithaca College and American University.
Her latest book is titled The Law of Desire (Speaking Tiger, 2021). She is also the author of Infinite Variety: A History of Desire in India (Speaking Tiger, 2018), and several books on queer theory , as well as editor of Shakesqueer: A Queer Companion to the Complete Works of Shakespeare (Duke University Press, 2011).
Professor Menon’s research interests include, among other things, Queer Theory, Renaissance Literature, and Shakespeare. Broadly, Professor Menon works with questions of sexuality, desire, gender, politics, and identity.
Shohini Ghosh completed her Masters from AJK MCRC, Jamia Millia Islamia and MPS from Department of Communication, Cornell University, USA. She began teaching at the MCRC from 1990. Prior to starting her career as an academic, Ghosh worked as a producer of UGC educational films at the MCRC where she produced, directed and edited educational films and documentaries for the Country-wide classroom project. She is co-founder of Mediastorm Collective, India’s first all women documentary production collective which received the Chameli Devi Jain Award for Outstanding Work among Women Media Professionals in 1992. Ghosh writes extensively on cinema, contemporary media, speech and censorship, documentary and issues of gender and sexuality. She has been Visiting Associate Professor at the Department of Communication, Cornell University, USA (1990-1996); Globalization-McArthur Fellow at the University of Chicago, Fellow at the Gender, Sexuality and Law Research Group of the Law Department at Keele University, UK and Visiting Professor to the Summer Institute on Sexuality, Culture and Society at the International School for Humanities and Social Sciences, University of Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
All Ashoka Horizons courses offer a certificate on satisfactory completion of the course. The 2 components of student assessment are-
Class participation will be assessed based on your active engagement in live sessions, contributions to discussion forums, and involvement in Teaching Fellow-led activities. Letters of Appreciation will be issued for select students based on exceptional performance in the course.
This programme is administered through an online platform. Students are expected to have a foundational understanding of computer usage, including but not limited to sending emails and conducting Internet searches. Consistent access to the Internet and a computer that aligns with the recommended minimum specifications are also requisite for participation in the programme.
Have a question about Ashoka Horizons Achievers Programme? Write to us on horizons@ashoka.edu.in
The Horizons Course will definitely help me in my application. Applications to the UK and Ireland look for demonstrated interest in the subject of the degree applied for. I will be able to write about my experience in the Horizons course as one that deepened my interest in literature beyond the classroom (something the universities I’m applying to are looking for) and which developed the way in which I read literature, helped my close reading skills, allowed me to see the different themes of the play as working in conversation with each other rather than discreetly. I can use it to answer a question about demonstrated interest in the subject (which will definitely come up in some form or the other).
My 3 key takeaways from the course are: how to analyse certain lines, how to not always stick to the plot and read between the lines, and how to express my thoughts better.
Naincy Catherine
Writing Pedagogy Expert
M.Phil. (Sociology), Delhi School of Economics, University of Delhi
Schedule:
May 17, 2025 (Saturday) – June 14, 2025 (Saturday)*
Dr Brainerd Prince
Associate Professor, Plaksha University
PhD, Middlesex University
Schedule:
May 17, 2025 (Saturday) – June 14, 2025 (Saturday)*
