Melodramatic formations : American theatre and society, 1820-1870 / Bruce A. Mcconachie.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

McConachie, Bruce A., author.

Series:

Studies Theatre Hist & Culture

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Melodrama, American--History and criticism.

Melodrama, American.

Theater--United States--History--19th century.

Theater.

Theater and society--United States.

Theater and society.

American drama--19th century--History and criticism.

American drama.

Physical Description:

1 online resource (336 p.)

Edition:

First edition.

Place of Publication:

Iowa City, Iowa : University of Iowa Press, [1992]

Summary:

The middle years of the nineteenth century were a time of dynamic artistic and social changes in America. Now, Melodramatic Formations is the first study to trace these changes in popular stage melodrama's production, dramatic form, and audience reception. Bruce McConachie shows how the theatrical mutability that characterized the years 1820 to 1870 is inextricably tied to the decline of elite paternalism and republicanism and the rise of bourgeois rationalism and respectability. Taking a rigorous interdisciplinary approach, McConachie examines several historical regularities of production, ge

Contents:

Contents; Acknowledgments; Introduction; Part I: The Waning of Paternalistic Theatre for the Elite, 1820-1835; 1. "A Spirit of Locomotiveness"; 2. "Wert Thou Not Born in Fairy-land?"; Part II: Theatre of Yeoman Independence for Jacksonians, 1830-1855; 3. "The People's Verdict"; 4. "Freedom! Revenge or Death!"; 5. "The Earthquake! The Earthquake!"; Part III: Business-Class Theatre for the Respectable, 1845-1870; 6. "We Will Restore You to Society"; 7. "How Her Blood Tells"; 8. "Built to Endure"; Notes; Index

Notes:

Description based upon print version of record.

Description based on publisher supplied metadata and other sources.

Description based on print version record.

ISBN:

9781587291470

1587291479

OCLC:

44963897