Before taking this class I though I would hate it and that it would be boring and hard. It turned out to be my favorite class that I have taken at UCSB! Prof Kearney is very knowledgable and engaging. If you study over the class notes and do the readings, the tests are a cinch! I got 95% on midterm and final with minimal studying. Great lecturer

Kearney speaks very poetically and gives students a rich understanding of the material. I adored this class and ADORED him. He's a sweet man and makes the tests very fair. During lecture he integrates quotations from the readings, analysis of his own, and clips from the film versions of the books you read. Awesome professor, awesome class.

Kearney made Shakespeare so easy to understand! Everything that was on the test was highly covered in lecture, making exams fairly easy. Very interesting and never boring! LOVED this class! The readings are 5 Shakespeare plays, grading is based on section, midterm, final and two essays (final essay is 25% of grade!)

If you read before class, Prof. Kearney's lectures are fascinating and the material is impressive. Every sentence from his mouth is gold. He brings Shakespeare to life, and has great music taste, playing music to introduce every lecture. It's a long lecture, but fun and interesting if you keep up.

Very interesting and loves what he teaches (helps if you have interest in the subject, too). Great lectures, very clear, informative, and easy to follow. Exams were fair and, because I loved the subject, the papers were fun.

This class was very easy. He loves what he teaches and does voices for the characters. If you are looking for an easy literature requirement with no discussion section-this is a good one.

I took Shakespeare in Pop Culture, which was a super fun and creative class. Kearney tells you exactly what you need to do from the start to earn the grade you want. There's plenty of time for the course readings and assignments, lots of variety in content, and a passionate lecturer. Definitely take a class if you have a chance.

Professor Kearney is an absolute sweetheart and his love for Shakespeare shows every time he talks! His smile will light up your world, seriously. This class was the absolute best way to be introduced to UCSB, and I know for certain my classmates can say the same!

Far and above my absolute favorite professor at UCSB. I've taken multiple classes from Professor Kearney and have seriously enjoyed every single one. He makes his courses super engaging and entertaining and unique. Even if you aren't an English major, you'll leave his class as a better reader, writer, thinker, and human.

He is brilliant. He comes to every lecture with a clear thesis and outline for his argument. Easy to follow, interesting to learn from, and super nice guy. I took him again because he is just so good! Grading is fair & easy to get an A if you do the reading and pay attention. Went from hating Shakespeare to loving it.Can't wait to take him again!

he is an amazing professor- really well organised and structured lectures and picks interesting texts which he makes very clear. really nice guy!

easy and straightforward class,nice teacher.

Jim is easy to understand. He made Shakespeare bearable for me. Participation is encouraged, but not necessary. Jim is very theatrical and is really into Shakespeare. Assignments weren't too hard, but the final was pretty hard, but doable.

Extremely pretentious! Horrible class, even if you go into it with a mild interest in Shakespeare. Attendance is mandatory and he gives you busy work. Do not take this class!

Kearney is intensely theatrical. IF you enjoy Shakespeare you'll probably like this class. If you are taking it for fun, can be boring and pointless at times. Midterm and final are both pretty easy.

He reads his lectures! This is so annoying and makes you feel like you're there just for him to showoff his orator skills. Class is interesting for the fact its about shakespeare, concentrate on themes in play not storyline, participate heavily in sections and get paper started early. He also likes to pronounce o's in words really weirdly.

very uninteresting lectures. but the shakespeare books are pretty interesting. Got most of my help from sections