Perspectives on Contemporary Spanish American Theatre (Bucknell Review)
Publisher: Bucknell University Press
Published: January 1997
Language: eng
Format: Hardcover
Number of pages: 160
ISBN-13: 9780838753453
Subjects: Theatre, drama; American - Hispanic American; Literature - Classics / Criticism; 20th century; History; History and criticism; Latin America; Spanish American drama; Theater; Performing Arts/Dance
Description: In this collection, nine specialists in Spanish American theatre examine social and aesthetic issues reflected in today's vital drama.

The essays in this volume reflect a pattern of interests rapidly becoming dominant among scholars. Several of them deal with questions of genre or focus on metatheatre and parody, theatrical techniques widespread in Latin America. The majority treat these topics in conjunction with their social context.

Dominant themes include the question of whether there can be culture-specific genres, incorporating the extremely varied ethnic and cultural strands of the Spanish American social fabric, or the use (and reinterpretation) of tragic and comic structures and classical myths to express social marginality or demythologize received history. A number of essays focus on the problematic situation of women in Spanish American society and their struggle to achieve equality in a highly traditional culture.

At the same time the authors examine the role of women in the theatre, both as protagonists and as creative artists, and their struggle to gain acceptance of nontraditional roles and lifestyles.