The Art of Crime: The Plays and Film of Harold Pinter and David Mamet

by Kane,Leslie; Kane,Leslie

• ISBN13: 9780415968300
• ISBN10: 0415968305
• eBook ISBN(s): 9781135883553
• Format: Hardcover
• Copyright: 2004-04-28
• Publisher: Routledge

Summary

This collection of 15 original essays, assembled by renowned Mamet and Pinter scholar Leslie Kane, examines the pervasiveness of crime and criminality in the plays and screenplays of two of the most influential contemporary dramatists. The contributors generally focus on one or more works by a single writer, while a few take a comparative approach. Often the works studied are lesser-known or infrequently discussed works, thereby making this volume a valuable addition to current scholarship. In addition, this volume complements other works on Mamet and Pinter on our backlist, including Kane's earlier edited volumes on Mamet which both received solid sales and accolades from Choice. Assembled by a Garland/Routledge author with a proven sales record and impressive critical reception, this collection should be an easy sell to academic and theater libraries, as well as Pinter and Mamet specialists.

Table of Contents

Acknowledgment	ix
Introduction	1	(160)
1 A POETICS FOR THUGS	15	(16)
VARUN BEGLEY
2 "YOU'LL NEVER BE WITHOUT A POLICE SIREN": PINTER AND THE SUBJECT OF LAW	31	(24)
MARC SILVERSTEIN
3 HAROLD PINTER'S "BEFORE THE LAW"	55	(16)
STEVEN PRICE
4 HAROLD PINTER'S ASHES TO ASHES: THE CRIMINALITY OF INDIFFERENCE AND THE FAILURE OF EMPATHY	71	(18)
CHARLES V. GRIMES
5 COMEDY AND CRIME: PINTER'S PRIMAL POWER	89	(16)
PENELOPE PRENTICE
6 LOST IN THE FUNHOUSE: CRIME AND SPECTACLE IN PINTER'S SCREENPLAY OF KAFKA'S THE TRIAL	105	(14)
ANN C. HALL
7 LIE DETECTORS: PINTER/MAMET AND THE VICTORIAN CONCEPT OF CRIME	119	(18)
IRA B. NADEL
8 GRADATIONS OF CRIMINALITY IN THE PLAYS OF DAVID MAMET	137	(14)
KIMBALL KING
9 MELVILLE'S THE CONFIDENCE MAN AND HIS DESCENDANTS IN DAVID MAMET'S WORK	151	(10)
BARRY GOLDENSOHN
10 FANTASY CRIMES/FICTIONAL LIVES: LAKEBOAT	161	(14)
ANNE M. DEAN
11 DAVID MAMET'S HOUSE OF GAMES AND THE ALLEGORY OF PERFORMANCE	175	(14)
ELIZABETH KLAVER
12 MORE USES OF THE KNIFE AS SIGNIFIER IN THE CRYPTOGRAM, THE OLD RELIGION, AND THE EDGE	189	(14)
THOMAS P. ADLER
13 A THEATER OF THE SELF: MAMET'S THE EDGE AS A FIGURA OF OTHERNESS	203	(14)
CLAIRE MAGAHA
14 SUCKERED AGAIN: THE PERFECT PATSY AND THE SPANISH PRISONER	217	(16)
LESLIE KANE
Contributors	233	(4)
Index	237