Product Description

Modern Theories of Drama concentrates on the developments in dramatic theory over the last 150 years, providing a crucial resource for students of drama and theatre studies. From Aristotle's Poetics onwards, drama - especially 'serious' drama - has been encased in a framework of theory, although the more popular forms of theatre have often chosen to ignore this. However, from the eighteenth century until the present day, theoretical questioning of the 'rules' (Aristotelian and other) has constantly grown in scope and strength. This attack was to become more and more vigorous in the second half of the nineteenth century and reach gale force in the twentieth. Different audience profiles and new performance venues; innovative methods of presentation; a changing sense of the purposes of drama and of its philosophical content, have resulted in the striking instability of theory which confronts us today. Quite new concepts have arisen in this century, seemingly outdated ones have been resurrected.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #1654300 in Books
• Published on: 1998-12-17
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Hardcover
• 360 pages

Customer Reviews

A useful anthology for students of the theatre
This collection contains most of the famous names of the past century of theatre. Included are prefaces from plays, theories of the stage and manifestos of the beliefs of various practioners. I found this book highly valuable as a 'beginners guide' to modern drama, or as a collection of edited highlights. Those wishing to study this area in more depth may find it useful only as a starting point however, as there is little comment on each playwright/practioner, only their own somewhat limited notes. In conclusion though, I would certianly recommend this book, and can see myself using it as a reference guide for many years to come.