Ritual and performativity : the chorus in old comedy / Anton Bierl ; translated by Alexander Hollmann.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Bierl, Anton, 1960-

Contributor:

Hollmann, Alexander.

Series:

Hellenic studies ; 20.

Hellenic studies ; 20

Standardized Title:

Chor in der alten Komödie. English

Language:

English

German

Subjects (All):

Greek drama (Comedy)--History and criticism.

Greek drama (Comedy).

Drama--Chorus (Greek drama).

Drama.

Aristophanes. Thesmophoriazusae.

Aristophanes.

Dionysus (Greek deity)--In literature.

Dionysus.

Phallicism in literature.

Physical Description:

xviii, 400 pages ; 23 cm.

Edition:

New and revised edition, [English edition].

Place of Publication:

Washington, DC : Center for Hellenic Studies, Trustees for Harvard University ; Cambridge, Mass. : Distributed by Harvard University Press, 2009.

Summary:

In this groundbreaking study, Anton Bierl uses recent approaches in literary and cultural studies to investigate the chorus of Old Comedy. After an extensive theoretical introduction that also serves as a general introduction to the dramatic chorus from the comic vantage point, a close reading of Aristophanes' "Thesmophoriazusae" shows that ritual is indeed present in both the micro- and macrostructure of Attic comedy, not as a fossilized remnant of the origins of the genre but as part of a still existing performative choral culture. The chorus members do play a role within the dramatic plot, but they simultaneously refer to their own performance in the here and now and to their function as participants in a ritual. Bierl's investigation also includes an unparalleled treatment of the phallic songs preserved by Semos.

Notes:

Originally presented as the author's thesis (Habilitationsschrift)--Universität Leipzig, 1998.

Includes bibliographical references and index.

ISBN:

9780674023734

0674023730

OCLC:

438056605