Product Description

A unique and engaging introduction to literary theory as it relates to theatre and performance. Fortier lucidly examines theoretical approaches from semiotics to postcolonial studies and feminist theory.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #87229 in Books
• Published on: 2002-05-09
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 304 pages

From the Back Cover
This is a new and enlarged edition of Mark Fortiers very successful and widely used essential text for students, Theory/Theatre provides a unique and engaging introduction to literary theory as it relates to theatre and performance. Fortier lucidly examines current theoretical approaches, from semiotics and poststructuralism, through cultural materialism, postcolonial studies and feminist theory.
This new edition includes:
more detailed explanation of key ideas
new question sections at the end of each chapter the reader can use to approach performances from specific theoretical perspectives
annotated further reading section and glossary.
Theory/Theatre is still the only study of its kind and is invaluable reading for beginning students and scholars of performance studies.

About the Author
Mark Fortier is Professor of English at the University of Winnipeg. He has published on Shakespeare, contemporary theatre, cultural studies and theory.

Customer Reviews

In depth and multi-dimensional
Fortier somehow masters an introduction to many theoretical perspectives and their relation to theatre in a relatively small volume. The book focuses on theatre as performed rather than as writen.

After consideration of the various ways in which theatre and theory can interact, Fortier dedicates nine chapters to nine theoretical perpectives. Each chapter outlines the major approaches and writings in the field and inter-relates them to oneanother before giving a few examples of how the theory can be applied to certain appropiately selected performances.

The first 3 chapters (Semiotics, Phenomenology, Post-strucuralism) are geared towards the relationship to text.
The second 3 chapters (Psychoanalytic, Feminist, Reception) is conscious of subjectivity as motivation of practitioners.
The third 3 chapters (Materialist, Post-modernism, Post-colonial) is geared towards theatre's relationship to 'the outside world'.

The writing style is very open and avoids any dogmatic statements; which can be annoying if you are trying to find quick answers or a definition of a theory, but is an overall strength as it provokes a deeper understanding.

This is the only book I know of which relates more than one theory specifically to theatre. It is also rare to find works that inter-relate more than two theories. It is supprising "Theory/Theatre" is so easy to follow.

It breifly covers a magnitude of practitioners and theorists, then closes with a comprehensive list of further works for each area. It includes a glossary and bibliography.

an essential read
To anyone studying or interested in modern theatre movements and literary critism this book surely is a must. Fortier's language is concise and defined and allows for confortable reading. For anybody studying theatre, especially before you get into an exam this book is essential and key to hightened understanding.
truly recommended

A well put together book
As an introduction to theatre theory this book is a pleasure to read, and what's more - it is understandable! So many authors of these type of books write with their head in the clouds, flexing their vocabulary muscles so much that it becomes a bore to read. No so with this. It is a well focused down to earth book that gets to the point. Well recommended.