What is Scenography? (Theatre Concepts) [Paperback]

Pamela Howard (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: January 1, 2002 | ISBN-10: 0415100852 | ISBN-13: 978-0415100854 | Edition: 1

Pamela Howard's What is Scenography? has become a classic text in contemporary theatre design and performance practice. In this second edition, the author expands on her holistic analysis of scenography as comprising space, text, research, art, performers, directors and spectators, to examine the changing nature of scenography in the twenty-first century. The book includes:

• case studies and anecdotes from Howard's own celebrated career

• illustrations of her own recent work, including black and white illustrations throughout and an eight page colour section

• an updated 'world view' of scenography, with definitions from the world's most famous and influential scenographers

 

A direct and personal response to the question of how to define scenography by one of the world's leading practitioners, What is Scenography? continues to shape the work of visual theatremakers throughout the world.

Editorial Reviews

Review

'Lovingly compiled and stunningly produced, What is Scenography begs to be revisited, and is sure to be a welcome addition to the bookshelves of theatrical devotees everywhere.' - Neil Eckersley, Manchester on Stage

'This is a passionate, unassuming corker of a book.' - Plays International

About the Author

Professor Pamela Howard is a practicing scenographer, theatre director, writer and teacher. Credits include work for the Royal Shakespeare Company, Royal National Theatre and English Touring Theatre, as well as original creations for Opera Transatlantica. She is professor of Scenography at Central Saint Martins College of Art and Design, London and a visiting Professor at Tel-Aviv University.

Product Details

• Paperback: 192 pages
• Publisher: Routledge; 1 edition (January 1, 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0415100852
• ISBN-13: 978-0415100854
• Product Dimensions: 8.7 x 6.3 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,433,732 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars What Is Scenography?, June 15, 2003

By 

T. B. Markus "Tom Markus" (Salt Lake City, Utah United States) - See all my reviews
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Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: What is Scenography? (Theatre Concepts Series) (Hardcover)

An exciting and stimulating book that will make every serious theatre artist think, and think hard. This book will be used as a teaching tool in advanced courses and should be welcomed as a touchstone for discussions amongst serious directors and designers. Maybe it's not at quite the same level as The Dramatic Imagination or The Empty Space, but it's surely in the same category of seminal works that will exert a positive influence for years to come. I can't wait to use its insights and methodologies as I begin the creative process for my next production.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars a brilliant and utterly fresh approach to theatre design, February 24, 2002

By 

Robert Potter (Santa Barbara, California USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: What is Scenography? (Theatre Concepts Series) (Hardcover)

This book is an eye-opener, a brilliant and utterly fresh approach to the art of theatre design. Pamela Howard leads the reader through the revolution in stage visualization that has taken us from decoration and backdrop to the astonishing complexities (and, more important, the visionary minimalism)of theatre at its highest levels of achievement in the 20th century. I can think of no better introduction for a beginning designer to the limitless possibilities of her or his medium. And I believe even the most accomplished experts in the field will find original and provocative challenges to conventional wisdom here. Best of all, the book is written as an intensely-felt personal statement, based on wide world experience of working with the great theatre practitioners of our time. And it's written with a directness and clarity worthy of a great stage design.

0 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Not so sure..., December 8, 2002

By 

Jeffrey R H Rogers (Kalamazoo, Mi United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: What is Scenography? (Theatre Concepts Series) (Hardcover)

I have used the book only for research purposes, and I have to say, its scope is narrow and fails to credit the history of its subject. A book on scenography that contains only a cursory comment on Josef Svoboda seems a bit unsupported to me. As far as a very general look at the ideas of scenography it is mediocre at best. When defining an inherently undefinable term, it seems only appropriate to describe some the individuals which have coined the term, Howard fails to do this, and I feel the book suffers because of it.