MCLC Resource Center: Tarryn Li-Min Chun’s Revolutionary Stagecraft: Theater, Technology, and Politics in Modern China reconsiders modern Chinese theater history from the 1920s to the 1980s through the focal point of stage technologies such as scene design, lighting, and stage properties. It is a much-welcomed departure from existing studies of Chinese theater history that foreground major historical events, figures, texts, and productions.
2 comments:
Seeing theaters in China is such an eye opening experience. The amount they care about the arts over there is just a testament to how much the west is missing out on possible investments into the industry. I mean their version of the sphere isn't a waste of money because of the innovation and investment into the industry. They have so much care for the story's they tell. I love the revolving theatre too such a cool concept. Sadly I think just like the sphere it's really just a gimmick rather than anything seriously innovative. But their ability to be producing shows there regularly is a testament to their commitment to the arts and I think its such a shame that the United States continues to remove itself from the arts, cutting arts programs, its just so sad to see. I think we need to have another revolution of art in America, bring some more investment into the industry, and more subsides, make the arts part of the government.
I think this kind of work is interesting and important as it pertains to discussions of theater history. Much of theater history is wrapped up in the west, and so looking at the modern history of Chinese theater is a necessary and often overlooked objective. I like how this book focusses so much on theater technology, with discussions of how theater technology and the technical aspects of productions in China have evolved since the 20th century. I think it’s interesting how the focus of the book isn’t on politics but that politics and the socio-political landscape of China throughout the 20th century had an indelible impact on the theater art that was being produced. A lot of the shows mentioned have similar messages- either in their anti-imperialist or anti-industrial message or in their pro-China messaging. I think it’s the role of theater and of art in general to reflect life and the world that artists live in, so this kind of direct one to one comparison of art and ideas is really interesting.
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