The Shakespeare Conference: SHK 13.07397 Thursday, 14 March 2002 From: Andrew Walker White <This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. > Date: Wednesday, 13 Mar 2002 11:15:49 -0500 (EST) Subject: 13.07383 Re: Shakespearean FA Cup Promos Comment: Re: SHK 13.07383 Re: Shakespearean FA Cup Promos With regard to stage combat and its possible associations with ritual warfare: I'd prefer to think that staged combat is designed, when it is designed well, to use combat as a means of revealing character. It's not just there to purge emotions or shock or dismay, it's an essential part of the plot. Shakespeare, to my mind, made good use of stage combat and only showed us the stuff that a) was doable, and more importantly b) furthered his story. I agree that combat and ritual (and certainly dance and music, which were a standard part of the curriculum in Ancient Greece for the ephebes) go together, and can have that bloody association. But let's distinguish between the more grotesque, Roman influence on spectacle and the more ethical uses of stage violence by others. Andy White _______________________________________________________________ S H A K S P E R: The Global Shakespeare Discussion List Hardy M. Cook,This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. The S H A K S P E R Web Site <http://www.shaksper.net> DISCLAIMER: Although SHAKSPER is a moderated discussion list, the opinions expressed on it are the sole property of the poster, and the editor assumes no responsibility for them.
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