Customer Reviews

The Dramatic Imagination: Reflections and Speculations on the Art of the Theatre, Reissue (Theatre Arts Book)

5 star:		(3)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

my set design professor described this as the book to read when one is disillusioned with theater and need to restore faith, and I have to agree. It reminds us of the total art of theater, where poetry is expressed verbally, visually, and through the _presence_ of actors in a setting. It describes the curious not-reality that theater should create. It was written in 1941, so some of the references ring a little false and the language can wax florid, but the essence of what theater should be is described here.

Simply put, a must have for the library of anyone interested in theatrical design.

Robert Edmund Jones was the father of the New American Stagecraft and has, as such, influenced all scenic and lighting designers who followed - even if they are not aware of it!

As someone now entering his 20th year as a college prof, and around his 30th as a professional designer, I am constantly reinvigorated and enthused by the words of Jones. He reminds us of the importance of the arts in our society and why we do what we do.

A rough paraphrase from the book - "Do we carry visions of poetry with us as we shout directions to electricians on ladders? Yes."

This book attempts to define a philosophical approach to stage design, to describe the "why" that underscores the "how" of scenery, lighting, sound, costuming. It does not prescribe or describe practical application. The writing style is flowery and a bit to get over initially. Jones's ideas are interesting, if a few are a bit old-fashioned. However, everything old is new again, including theatre design, so the ideas that Jones presents about theatre design's purpose, meaning, and value are useful to consider. This is a book to reference when considering general design goals, or to glean beautifully worded phrases from for research or concept presentations that reveal and elevate the ART in the art of stage design.

Even all these many years later the lessons in this book are valuable. REJ was a pioneer and a visionary and this book helps us to understand what he envisioned for the theatre and hopefully to help us to achieve some of his ideas. I have read this book many, many times and I never tire of it or the ideas. If only we could get to this state in American Theatre..... This is a must read for any student of theatre.

I enjoyed the passion expressed by Jones as wel as the detailed examples given in each chapter.

OK, you can't rate this book on the level of literature, cuz it's not. From that point of view it's horrible. But you can rate it on what it might teach you if you let it "speak to you." This is a book that can easily be taken two ways. 1) An inspiring look at theater and at life, and 2) the cheesiest, corniest, campiest thing ever. I myself have wondered at times how I really feel about this book. I have had it read it throughout this past quarter for my Stagecraft class, and it can say a whole lot or it can say nothing, depending on how you read it. The author's absolute passion for all aspects of theater often comes across as wishy-washy, but if you set that aside, you might, if you love theater, find that you can relate to what he is saying. Or you might make fun of it incessantly! Which I have done a few times. But seriously, it's the kind of book that if you tell yourself you'll take a lot out of it, you will. And in several ways, I have.

Received in record time and in great condition for a used book. In fact you couldn't tell that it was used at all.