Dissecting the “China Doll” Stereotype Through Shakespeare’s Taming of the Shrew
Content warning: descriptions and discussion of domestic abuse and racial prejudice
Description
This piece is a reimagining of one of Shakespeare’s most controversial plays, The Taming of the Shrew. There are prevalent themes of sexism, misogyny, and abuse that were normalized during its time of writing. Shakespeare plays are known to be reinvented to meet the modern eye. In retellings of this play, the problematic themes are often either skipped, like in 10 Things I Hate About You, or spun into a comedy, as in Kiss Me, Kate. When I first read the play, I felt a strange connection to the themes. Plot points such as having a perfect sibling, a father focused on the marriages of his daughters, and suitors from another land pining for the affection of local girls made me think of themes of my own culture. As a theatre artist, I aimed to visualize these themes through costume design and a character breakdown, imagining how this reimagined Shakespearean world might look.
About the Artist
Katherin ‘KAT’ Poon is a theatre designer focused in costume design. She is currently a student at Michigan State University, pursuing her BFA in theatre design. Most recent works include Associate Direction for A Beautiful Day…, Costume Design for Stevie in the Real World, Asst. Director for Spring Awakening. Upcoming in the spring she will be doing Hair and Makeup Design for 9 to 5.
In addition to being a costume designer and director, Kat serves as the President/Artistic Director of Second Stage Productions, a student-run organization dedicated to giving undergraduate students the opportunity to collaborate with their peers and utilize their education in a professional setting.