Drugs and Theater in Early Modern England

Zusatztext thought-provoking and important...a genuinely illuminating book...It gives a fresh and provocative set of ideas to bring to bear...and for that it deserves high praise. Klappentext Drugs and Theater in Early Modern England asks both why Shakespeare and his contemporary playwrights were so preoccupied with drugs and poisons, and why critics, supporters, and writers of plays adopted a chemical vocabulary to describe the effects of the theater on audiences. Through original medical and literary research, Pollard shows that the link between pharmacy and theater in the period demonstrates a model of drama in which plays exert a material impact on spectators' bodies. This book argues that the power of the theater in early modern England, as well as the striking hostility to it, stems from the pervasive contemporary idea that drama altered the body as well as the mind. Zusammenfassung Asks why Shakespeare and his contemporary playwrights were preoccupied with drugs and poisons, and why critics, supporters, and writers of plays adopted a chemical vocabulary to describe the effects of the theater on audiences. Inhaltsverzeichnis 1.: "Unnatural and Horrid Physic": Pharmaceutical Theatre in Jonson and Webster 2.: "A Thing Like Death": Shakespeare's Narcotic Theatre 3.: "Polluted with Counterfeit Colours": Cosmetic Theatre 4.: "Kiss His Lips to Death": Poisonous Seductions in Massinger and Middleton 5.: The Vulnerable Ear: Hamlet's Poisonous Theatre Epilogue: Theatre's Antidotes

Product details

• Authors: Tanya Pollard, Tanya ( Pollard, Tanya (Assistant Professor of English Lit Pollard, Pollard Tanya
• Publisher: Oxford University Press
• Languages: English
• Product format: Hardback
• Released: 17.02.2005
• EAN: 9780199270835
• ISBN: 978-0-19-927083-5
• No. of pages: 224
• Subjects: Humanities, art, music > Linguistics and literary studies > General and comparative literary studies; England, European History, English, LITERARY CRITICISM / Drama, PERFORMING ARTS / Theater / General, HISTORY / Europe / Great Britain / Stuart Era (1603-1714), LITERARY CRITICISM / Modern / General, Theatre Studies, British & Irish history, 17th century, c 1600 to c 1699, Early modern history: c 1450/1500 to c 1700, Literary studies: c 1600 to c 1800, 16th century, c 1500 to c 1599, C 1600 To C 1700, Shakespeare Studies & Criticism, Literary studies: plays and playwrights, Relating to Shakespeare / Shakespearean