Look for an allusion to Hamlet in an advertisement, short video, song, comic strip, TV show, film (not Hamlet 2000 or any of the other movies assigned for this unit), poster, magazine article, or another cultural artifact that uses the play and/or its characters in an interesting way and then complete the following assignment:

Post the cultural reference you have chosen to examine under the unit "Popular Culture Reference Post and Analysis" link. Then  I need to write a short essay explaining the cultural significance of this reference. Address the following questions in your essay:

 

Where did you find this reference?

What drew you to this particular reference and what did you find interesting about it? How does it reference the original play?

What advantages and disadvantages do you see to using Shakespeare in this particular context?

Cultural Reference: Cartoon/TV Show

Name of show: Animaniacs

Analysis:

In one of the episodes of the show Animaniacs, Yakko, Wakko, and Dot parody William Shakespeare's Hamlet. The particular episode features Hamlet's speech about Yorick (Act 5 Scene 1). The "Alas, poor Yorick!" monologue is one of the most recited and quoted in lines in the play, bringing many pop culture references. However, this particular reference is different in the sense that despite it being from a cartoon, it actually provides a rough translation of what the monologue is actually all about. In the episode, Yakko acts as Hamlet while Dot acts as the translator of the monologue. Wakko, on the other hand, is supposed to be the gravedigger. Even though the delivery is done in a comedic manner (because it is a cartoon), Dot's commentary actually equates to the meaning of the scene.  

In the original play, Hamlet is actually telling Horatio that he has known Yorick as a child. He informs him that he recalls how amusing he was and how many times he rode piggyback on Yorick's back. All those jokes, the singing, the sparks of merriment that set the king's guests on fire at the dinner table have all come down to this, "a grinning skull coated in muck." In the parody, Dot says the following about Yorick: "He was funny... He gave me piggyback rides... We kissed a lot, not... How come you're not funny now?... No one's laughing now and by the way, your lower jaw is missing... Follow that woman and tell her that no matter how much makeup she wears, she still gonna end up looking just like you and see if she laughs...". One can perceive how the translation has its own 90s flare, given that the episode aired in 1993. 

Step-by-step explanation

Dear student,

For your reference, you can watch the episode I'm referring to through this link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mtz7IwgQvNc

You may also add how the popularity of Hamlet produced many pop culture materials, including cartoons which can be the most feasible way to understand such complicated texts. Do let me know if you need further assistance!

Good luck!