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Author:   Franziska Trapp
Publisher:   Taylor & Francis Ltd
Imprint:   Routledge
ISBN:  

9781032041223

ISBN 10:   1032041226
Pages:   190
Publication Date:   26 December 2025
Audience:   Professional and scholarly ,  Professional & Vocational
Format:   Paperback
Publisher's Status:   Forthcoming
Availability:   Not yet available  
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Table of Contents

Foreword Chapter 1: Introduction Chapter 2: Theory Chapter 3: Contemporary circus readings: an analysis model Chapter 4: Come wander with me: on narration in “Fragments of a Mind” by Squarehead Productions Chapter 5: Metonymic and metaphorical readings: on ambiguity in “I am (k)not” by Ana Jordão Chapter 6: A balancing act between novel and circus: intertextuality and intermediality in “Le fil sous la neige” by Les Colporteurs Chapter 7: “Show me where you play, and I’ll tell you what you are”: on the relevance of performance context in “L'Argile” by Jimmy Gonzalez Chapter 8: “Otherness is the craziness we carry inside”: on the discursive context of “L'Autre” by Cie Claudio Stellato Chapter 9: Welcome to the Wonderland of contemporary circus: on metadiscourse in “Les Princesses” by Cheptel Aleïkoum Chapter 10: Conclusion and outlook: toward a dramaturgy of contemporary circus Appendix Bibliography Index

Reviews

''A welcome addition to the rich paradigm of circus research to which Dr. Franziska Trapp had already significantly contributed through organizing ground-breaking conferences on circus studies, in which her scholarly leadership achieved a powerful synergy, bringing together academic researchers and circus artists. In this innovative book, based on hands-on research and precise analyses, she explores, with theoretical and methodological virtuosity, the artistic creativity of contemporary acrobatic performances emancipated from the historical constraints of the traditional circus. It is a first and highly successful attempt to engage the challenging complexity of the contemporary acrobatic circus and to elaborate a persuasive semiotics and poetics of this new, emergent genre.'' Prof. Dr. Paul Bouissac, Emeritus at the University of Toronto ''This book sets new standards for our understanding and interpretation of circus performances. It is an essential resource for students and scholars alike interested in the emerging discipline of circus studies. No one working in the field will be able to ignore this work in the future. It is remarkable.'' Prof. Dr. Erika Fischer-Lichte, Professor of Theatre Studies and the Director of the International Research Center 'Interweaving Performance Cultures' at Freie Universität Berlin. ''Combining insights of cultural semiotics, dramaturgy and performance analysis Readings of contemporary circus will prove to be a landmark study within the emerging new field of circus studies. Through careful case study analyses Franziska Trapp’s book offers an innovative perspective on the thriving field of contemporary circus. Travelling between disciplines, people and environments, the book provides new insights in the different ways circus artist represent the world of today, deploying the language of circus as a complex and poetic means to challenge our perspective as a spectator.'' Prof. Dr. Karel Vanhaesebrouck, Université Libre de Bruxelles (ULB) ''This substantial book sets out to engage with essential questions about circus as it perceptively explains processes of reading performance and ‘methodological density’. In delving into a range of possible theoretical interpretations of well-chosen examples of contemporary circus and the significance of context, the discussion illuminates cultural meaning. This timely publication offers a valuable precedent for the study of circus.'' Peta Tait, Theatre Scholar, La Trobe University Melbourne, Australia

Author Information

Franziska Trapp is a postdoctoral researcher at the Université Libre de Bruxelles, Belgium.

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