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Course: CT 496 Seminar in Theatre, Dance and Speech

Performance Reviewing And Criticism (for 4/5/99)

1. Difference between review and critique: 2. Four types: 3. Functions:

Critical Approaches:

Textual-linguistic:

Concentrates on the accuracy of the historical aspects of the source materials. In the case of literature and some kinds of theatre, it is the authenticity of the text. In the case of music, it may be the authenticity of the score and the interpretation of the markings. A similar case may be made for reconstructions of choreography, or other historic or folk-derived dance.

Historical-Biographical:

Sees a work chiefly, if not exclusively, as a reflection of its author’s life and times, or the life and times of the characters in the work.

Expressive:

Generally a product of the Romantics, considers artwork as a source of unique knowledge deriving from the imagination and, therefor, glorifies "self expression" as the true function of art.

Moral-Philosophical:

Larger function of literature is to teach morality. Purely aesthetic considerations are secondary.

Formalistic:

Object is to find the key to the structure and meaning of the work. "What is the literary work, what are its shape and effect, and how do these come about?"

-Search for a unifying pattern from hints and clues — it informs or shapes the work inwardly and gives its parts a relevance to the whole and vice versa. (New Criticism of 30s and 40s)

-Objected to matters outside the work for interpretation.

-Seeks meaning of everything and all allusions.

-Seeks point of view.

Psychological:

Limitation is its aesthetic inadequacy; augments other approaches.

-Tendency to interpret all images in terms of sexuality.

Mythological and Archetypal approaches:

"The myth critic is concerned to seek out those mysterious artifacts built into certain literary "form" which elicit, with almost uncanny force, dramatic and universal human reactions."

-Close connection to the psychological approach.

-Myths are the symbolic projections of a people’s hopes, values, fears, and aspirations. Collective and communal. Not surface reality — more profound — archetypes - images that elicit comparable psychological responses: Images: Water, sun colors, circle, woman, wind, ship, garden, desert; Motifs/patterns: creation immortality heroes.

Exponential:

(quote 153) Following themes; Recognition of images and symbols woven into patterns as motifs. "any interpretation must be supported logically and fully from the evidence within a literary work and that the ultimate test of the validity of an interpretation must be its self-consistency."

 

Also:

Sociological / Marxist:

Examines all images and other aspects of the artwork for their assumptions about social order and class.

Linguistic:

Semantics, meaning, the meaning of meaning. Usually characterized by a basis in semiotics.

Impressionistic / Appreciative

Highly subjective responses of the viewer/audience member. Often reduces critique to personal taste.

Conventional / Aristotelian:

Greatest concern, beyond all other values, for the degree to which the work adheres to existing prescriptions and conventions.




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