Description
Book SynopsisAspects of medieval theatre examined for reflection of contemporary life.The essays in this volume explore ways in which plays and public spectacles mirrored the beliefs and values of the late medieval world. Topics covered include seasonal festivals, trade gilds, stagecraft, and the role played by themunicipal governments in fostering and controlling dramatic productions. The geographic range takes in all western Europe, with particular consideration of the connections between the various medieval European dramatic traditions. Inter-disciplinary in approach, perspectives range from the history of theatre to cultural and political history and literary criticism. There is particular emphasis on the real advances that can be made in expanding knowledge of medieval theatre through research in local and regional archives. ALAN E. KNIGHT is professor emeritus of French at the Pennsylvania State University. Contributors: ALEXANDRA F. JOHNSTON, LYNETTE R. MUIR, PAMELA SHEINGORN, R.B. DOBSON, GERARD NIJSTEN, CLIFFORD DAVIDSON, WIM HÜSKEN, STEPHEN SPECTOR, ALAN E. KNIGHT
Trade ReviewDemonstrates the continuing excellence and vitality of scholarship in this field...the essays are of an extremely high standard. * TIMES HIGHER EDUCATION SUPPLEMENT *
Table of Contents`The Stage as Context: Two Late Medieval French Susanna Plays'. - Alexandra F. Johnston `Playing God in Medieval Europe'. - Lynette Muir `The Bodily Embrace or Embracing the Body: Gesture and Gender in Late Medieval Culture'. - Pamela Sheingorn `Craft Guilds and City: The Historical Origins of the York Mystery Plays Reassessed'. - R B Dobson `Feasts and Public Spectacle: Late Medieval Drama and Performance in the Low Countries'. - `Civic Drama for Corpus Christi at Coventry: Some Lost Plays'. - Clifford Davidson `Politics and Drama: The City of Bruges as Organizer of Drama Festivals'. - Wim Husken `Time, Space and Identity in the 'Play of the Sacrament''. - Stephen Spector `The Stage as Context: Two Late Medieval French Susanna Plays'. - Alan E. Knight
