Shakespeare is civilisation | Andrew Doyle | Academy 2024

Shakespeare isn’t just a relic of the past—he is one of the
foundational figures of Western civilisation. Yet today,
activists and cultural gatekeepers seek to reduce him to just
another “dead white man,” claiming his legacy is nothing more
than a product of colonialism and outdated values. This couldn’t
be further from the truth.


In this talk, Andrew Doyle dismantles these ideological attacks
and makes the case for Shakespeare’s enduring importance. His
works capture the complexities of human nature, shape our
cultural identity, and stand as monuments to the heights of
artistic achievement. But in an age where art is expected to
serve politics, where great works are rewritten to fit
ideological narratives, and where our cultural institutions are
captured by identity politics, what is at stake if we let these
voices tear down our greatest playwright?


Topics Covered: Why Shakespeare is a cornerstone of Western
civilisation How ideological activists distort art to serve their
agenda The danger of politicised theatre and bad modern
adaptations Why Shakespeare’s plays are universal, not
“Eurocentric” The conditions that allowed Shakespeare to
emerge—and why we may never see his like again


“If you read Shakespeare through the lens of identity politics,
you’re not reading Shakespeare at all.”


This isn’t just a defence of a playwright—it’s a defence of the
cultural heritage under attack.