Writing and Rewriting National Theatre Histories (Studies Theatre Hist & Culture)

Historians of theatre face the same temptations and challenges as other historians: they negotiate assumptions (their own and those of others) about national identity and national character; they decide what events and actors to highlight--or omit--and what framework and perspective to use for telling the story. Personal biases, trends in scholarship, and sociopolitical contexts influence all histories; and theatre histories, too, are often revised to reflect changing times and interests. This significant collection examines the problems and challenges of formulating national theatre histories. The essayists included here--leading theatre scholars from all over the world, many of whom wrote essays specifically for this volume--provide an international context for national theatre histories as well as studies of individual nations. They cover a wide geographical area: Asia, the Middle East, Africa, Europe, and North America. The essays contrast large countries (India, Indonesia) with small (Ireland), newly independent (Slovenia) with established (U.S.A.), developed (Canada) with developing (Mexico, South Africa), capitalist (U.S.A.) with formerly communist (Russia), monolingual (Sweden) with multilingual (Belgium, Canada), and countries with stable historical boundaries (Sweden) with those whose borders have shifted (Germany). The essays also explore such sociopolitical issues as the polarization of language groups, the importance of religion, the invisibility of ethnic minorities, the redrawing of geographical borders, changes in ideology, and the dismantling of colonial legacies. Finally, they examine such common problems of history writing as types of evidence, periodization, canonization, styles of narrative, and definitions of key terms. Writing and Rewriting National Theatre Histories will be of special interest to students and scholars of theatre, cultural studies, and historiography. The Essayists Included Here - Leading Theatre Scholars From All Over The World, Many Of Whom Wrote Essays Specifically For This Volume - Provide An International Context For National Theatre Histories As Well As Studies Of Individual Nations. They Cover A Wide Geographical Area: Asia, The Middle East, Africa, Europe, And North America. The Essays Also Explore Such Sociopolitical Issues As The Polarization Of Language Groups, The Importance Of Religion, The Invisibility Of Ethnic Minorities, The Redrawing Of Geographical Borders, Changes In Ideology, And The Dismantling Of Colonial Legacies. Finally, They Examine Such Common Problems Of History Writing As Types Of Evidence, Periodization, Canonization, Styles Of Narrative, And Definitions Of Key Terms. Writing And Rewriting National Theatre Histories Will Be Of Special Interest To Students And Scholars Of Theatre, Cultural Studies, And Historiography.--jacket. Introduction / S.e. Wilmer -- Some Critical Remarks On Theatre Historiography / Erika Fishcer-lichte -- On Writing National Theatre Histories / S.e. Wilmer -- Theatre Historiography: General Problems, Swedish Perspectives / Willmar Sauter -- Recovering Repressed Memories: Writing Russian Theatre History / Laurence Senelick -- Nationalism, Tradition, And Transition In Theatre Historiography In Slovenia / Barbara Pušić -- Rewriting A National Theatre History In A Bilingual Country: The Case Of Belgium / Frank Peeters -- Named In Passing: Deregimenting Canadian Theatre History / Alan Filewod -- Narrative Possibilities For U.s. Theatre Histories / Bruce Mcconachie -- Performing Mexico / Stuart A. Day -- The Creation Of A Canon: Re/evaluating The National Identity Of Israeli Drama / Yael Zarhy-levo And Freddie Rokem -- When Did Brahma Create Theatre? And Other Questions Of Indian Theatre Historiography / Rakesh H. Solomon -- Shadow And Method: Meditations On Indonesian Theatre Historiography / Evan Darwin Winet -- Reassembling South African Theatre History / Loren Kruger. Edited By S.e. Wilmer. Includes Bibliographical References And Index. Contents......Page 6 Acknowledgments......Page 8 Introduction......Page 10 1 Some Critical Remarks on Theatre Historiography......Page 16 2 On Writing National Theatre Histories......Page 32 3 Theatre Historiography: General Problems, Swedish Perspectives......Page 44 4 Recovering Repressed Memories: Writing Russian Theatre History......Page 62 5 Nationalism, Tradition, and Transition in Theatre Historiography in Slovenia......Page 80 6 Rewriting a National Theatre History in a Bilingual Country: The Case of Belgium......Page 103 7 Named in Passing: Deregimenting Canadian Theatre History......Page 121 8 Narrative Possibilities for U.S. Theatre Histories......Page 142 9 Performing Mexico......Page 168 10 The Creation of a Canon: Re/Evaluating the National Identity of Israeli Drama......Page 189 11 When Did Brahma Create Theatre? and Other Questions of Indian Theatre Historiography......Page 216 12 Shadow and Method: Meditations on Indonesian Theatre Historiography......Page 239 13 Reassembling South African Theatre History......Page 259 Contributors......Page 280 Index......Page 284