{"product_id":"the-necessity-of-theater-the-art-of-watching-and-being-watched-9780195332001","title":"The Necessity of Theater: The Art of Watching and Being Watched","description":"What is unique and essential about theater? What separates it from other arts? Do we need theater in some fundamental way? The art of theater, as Paul Woodruff says in this elegant and unique book, is as necessary - and as powerful - as language itself. Defining theater broadly, including\u003cbr\u003esporting events and social rituals, he treats traditional theater as only one possibility in an art that - at its most powerful - can change lives and (as some peoples believe) bring a divine presence to earth. \u003cbr\u003e\u003cem\u003eThe Necessity of Theater\u003c\/em\u003e analyzes the unique power of theater by separating it into the twin arts of watching and being watched, practiced together in harmony by watchers and the watched. Whereas performers practice the art of being watched - making their actions worth watching, and paying attention\u003cbr\u003eto action, choice, plot, character, mimesis, and the sacredness of performance space - audiences practice the art of watching: paying close attention. A good audience is emotionally engaged as spectators; their engagement takes a form of empathy that can lead to a special kind of human wisdom. As\u003cbr\u003ePlato implied, theater cannot teach us transcendent truths, but it can teach us about ourselves. \u003cbr\u003eCharacteristically thoughtful, probing, and original, Paul Woodruff makes the case for theater as a unique form of expression connected to our most human instincts. \u003cem\u003eThe Necessity of Theater\u003c\/em\u003e should appeal to anyone seriously interested or involved in theater or performance more broadly.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eAuthor:\u003c\/b\u003e Paul Woodruff\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003ePublisher:\u003c\/b\u003e Oxford University Press, USA\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003ePublished:\u003c\/b\u003e 04\/30\/2008\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003ePages:\u003c\/b\u003e 272\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eBinding Type:\u003c\/b\u003e Hardcover\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eWeight:\u003c\/b\u003e 0.90lbs\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eSize:\u003c\/b\u003e 8.02h x 6.77w x 0.91d\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eISBN:\u003c\/b\u003e 9780195332001\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eReview Citation(s): \u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003ci\u003eNew York Times Book Review\u003c\/i\u003e 06\/01\/2008 pg. 35\u003cbr\u003e\u003ci\u003eChoice\u003c\/i\u003e 01\/01\/2009\u003cbr\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eAbout the Author\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003ePaul Woodruff\u003c\/strong\u003e is Professor of Philosophy, University of Texas\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003ci\u003eThis title is not returnable\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Oxford University Press, USA","offers":[{"title":"Hardcover","offer_id":39930759839859,"sku":"9.78E+12","price":38.95,"currency_code":"EUR","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0555\/9255\/0515\/products\/img_bce526c2-28fc-4de3-8dc7-68f6105adbf5.jpg?v=1647699207","url":"https:\/\/bookstorenmore.com\/en-de\/products\/the-necessity-of-theater-the-art-of-watching-and-being-watched-9780195332001","provider":"Bookstore N More","version":"1.0","type":"link"}