Edward Gordon Craig

Paper Summary:

This paper discusses the influence of designer Edward Gordon Craig on theatrical production. The paper explains that Craig was not interested in being faithful to a text; he wanted to create a theater that was based upon visual suggestion, evocation and symbolic representations that disdained literalism and reproductions of reality. The paper also shows how these concepts ran contrary to the prevailing ideas of Craig's day and focuses on the problems involved in Craig's production of 'Hamlet' at the Moscow Art Theatre. The paper concludes that although many of his ideas are radical, they still influence even realist directors to create impressions in the hearts of the audience, rather than just literal representations of a drawing-room reality.

From the Paper:

"Theater is an impermanent art, yet the name of Edward Gordon Craig lives on. Not so long ago, the idea of a designer being influential in a theatrical production would have been incomprehensible. Now, in works such as "The Lion King," "Les Miserables" and countless other operas and art-house productions on the commercial and repertory stages all over the world Craig's influence is evident, even if the totality of his radical ideas and ideals have not been embraced by modern theatrical culture. Craig's symbolist vision which attempted to return theater to a series of visual, emotional impressions were ahead of their time, and are perhaps most fully realized in modern deconstructionist theaters that emphasizes gestures over words."

Sample of Sources Used:

• Duncan, Isadora. "On Gordon Craig." 1999. 2 May 2008. http://web.archive.org/web/20010910184730/http://bondo.wsc.mass.edu/faculty/cslaughter/OGCDuncan.html
• Pepiton, Charles. "Edward Gordon Crag & The Modern Theater of Devising." Perspicacity. 2 May 2008.http://perspicacity.goose24.org/20033152323.shtml
• Jason, Gillian. "Edward Gordon Craig 1872-1966." Modern & Contemporary Art2 May 2008. http://www.gillianjason.com/pages/artistinfo/39.html
• "Theatre is Style: Adolphe Appia and Edward Gordon Craig." City College: Manchester. 2 May 2008. http://www.citycol.com/perfdesn/Appia%20and%20Craig.htm#Craig

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