Theatricality and the Arts

Theatricality and the Arts presents a series of investigations of the notion of 'theatricality'. Primarily, theatricality is associated with theatre, but the term has always carried with it the potentially pejorative connotations of exaggeration and fakery, associations which are questioned and contested throughout this collection. Divided into four sections, fifteen chapters provide a comprehensive interrogation of theatricality. Beginning with multimedia, theatricality is examined in relation to mixed modes of media (internet art, painting, performance and digital display). The second section interrogates theatricality through a philosophical lens, followed by an investigation into the historical contexts of art, photography and other media in the third section. The final section features reflections on theatre and cinema, often in conjunction. Considered as a whole, the collection contributes to debates on theatricality in various fields, while also enabling a thorough cross-examination of the topic. Andrew Quick is Professor of Theatre and Performance at Lancaster University Richard Rushton is Professor in Film Studies at Lancaster University