Overview

This treatise sets forth a theory of theatre as a coherent total process. It examines the ways meanings are conveyed in theatre, as well as the impact of social factors on the kinds of meanings conveyed. Jean Alter analyzes the basic duality of theatre, at once performant (setting forth a show on stage) and referential (telling a story set in another time and place). He shows how the two aspects always compete yet complement each other, and how their operations are affected by social and cultural change. The author develops a formal grammar of theatre signs, articulating the mechanism of their referential operations in different kinds of performance. He then proposes a ""transformational grammar"" of theatre as a total process, defining the text-to-stage transition as a series of production/reception transformations. He contends that, contrary to prevailing views, theatre signs, both verbal and nonverbal, do not operate as independent systems but follow a single, properly theatrical system based on a mirror image iconicity.

Full Product Details

Author:   Jean Alter
Publisher:   University of Pennsylvania Press
Imprint:   University of Pennsylvania Press
Dimensions:   Width: 15.20cm , Height: 2.70cm , Length: 22.90cm
Weight:   0.650kg
ISBN:  

9780812230543

ISBN 10:   081223054
Pages:   296
Publication Date:   29 November 1990
Audience:   College/higher education ,  Undergraduate ,  Postgraduate, Research & Scholarly
Format:   Hardback
Publisher's Status:   Active
Availability:   Awaiting stock  
The supplier is currently out of stock of this item. It will be ordered for you and placed on backorder. Once it does come back in stock, we will ship it out for you.

Table of Contents

Reviews

Author Information

Jean Alter was Professor or Romance Languages at the University of Pennsylvania.

Tab Content 6

Author Website:  

Customer Reviews

Recent Reviews

No review item found!

Add your own review!

Countries Available

All regions