Theory for Theatre Studies: Bodies

<p>How does theatre shape the body and perceptions of it? How do bodies on stage challenge audience assumptions about material evidence and the truth? <i>Theory for Theatre Studies: Bodies</i> responds to these questions by examining how theatre participates in and informs theories of the body in performance race queer disability trans gender and new media studies. <p/>Throughout the 20th century theories of the body have shifted from understanding the body as irrefutable material evidence of race sex and gender to a social construction constituted in language. In the same period theatre has struggled with representing ideas through live bodies while calling into question assumptions about the body. <p/>This volume demonstrates how theatre contributes to understanding the historical contemporary and burgeoning theories of the body. It explores how theories of the body inform debates about labor conditions and spatial configurations. Theatre allows performers to shift an audience's understandings of the shape of the bodies on stage possibly producing a reflexive dynamic for consideration of bodies offstage as well. In addition casting choices in the theatre most recently and popularly in <i>Hamilton</i> question how certain bodies are cast in social historical and philosophical roles. Through an analysis of contemporary case studies including<i> The Balcony Angels in America </i>and<i> Father Comes Home from the Wars </i> this volume examines how the theatre <i>theorizes</i> bodies. Online resources are also available to accompany this book.</p>