Performing Shakespeare’s Words: Textual Authority in Light of the Theory of Indeterminacy Cover Image

Performing Shakespeare’s Words: Textual Authority in Light of the Theory of Indeterminacy
Performing Shakespeare’s Words: Textual Authority in Light of the Theory of Indeterminacy

Author(s): Jacek Mydla
Subject(s): Theatre, Dance, Performing Arts, Language and Literature Studies, Studies of Literature
Published by: Wydawnictwo Uniwersytetu Łódzkiego
Keywords: indeterminacy; concretization (textual and theatrical); spoken action; social mimesis

Summary/Abstract: On the basis of Roman Ingarden’s conceptions of indeterminacy and concretization and the notion of spoken action, Jacek Mydla constructs the idea of textual authority in Shakespeare’s drama. The text is regarded as the primary source of meaning which determines theatrical representation. When reading a play actively, the reader fills out areas of indeterminacy in an attempt to build a faithful imaginary representation of the action. The thus reconstructed social mimesis can then be transferred onto the stage. Mydla argues for the precedence of textual over theatrical concretizations of Shakespeare.

  • Issue Year: 17/2018
  • Issue No: 1
  • Page Range: 35-50
  • Page Count: 16
  • Language: English