Theatre in Latin America: Religion, Politics and Culture from Cortés to the 1980s

by Adam Versényi

• ISBN13: 9780521106344
• ISBN10: 0521106346
• Edition: 1st
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2009-04-02
• Publisher: Cambridge University Press

Summary

In this book Adam Vers_nyi explores the history of Latin American Theatre from pre-Columbian days to contemporary drama. Theatre in Latin America has historically been a powerful force for social change and has frequently combined religious and political concerns with performance practice to create a style of drama unique to the region. In this fascinating account, Vers_nyi investigates this special interconnection of religion, politics and theatre, and finds this relationship present from the earliest contacts between Cort_s and the Aztecs through Spanish-influenced theatre to the politically charged contemporary drama of Cuba, Argentina, Chile and elsewhere. The volume offers a detailed understanding of how theatrical, political and theological elements have consistently intertwined in Latin American history and why that has been the case. All quotations are translated into English and the book contains an appendix of playwrights. It will be of interest to scholars and students of theatre history, Latin American and Spanish studies and theology.

Table of Contents

Religion, politics and theatre: CortFs greets the Twelve Franciscans

Church, colonialism, and theatre in Latin America

Homegrown Empire; the contradictions of an emerging region

Religion, politics and theatre: the twentieth century and the return of ritual

Liberation theology and liberation theatre; the convergence of parallel lines

Conclusion

Appendix

Latin American playwrights

Bibliography

Index

Table of Contents provided by Publisher. All Rights Reserved.