When Taylor Swift named a new song after Ophelia, fans worldwide began poring over Shakespeare’s Hamlet—a reminder that while society grows angrier and more divided, the Bard’s words can still cut through and connect people.
It is this enduring resonance—even after more than 400 years—that will be explored at the upcoming 2025 Shakespeare Symposium at Sydney’s Campion College on Sept. 6 and 7.
Swift and Ophelia
The artwork for Swift’s latest album, The Life of a Showgirl, seems to lack context—the singer appears underwater except for her face.
Crystal-Rose Jones is a reporter based in Australia. She previously worked at News Corp for 16 years as a senior journalist and editor.
