Performing Disability in Medieval and Early Modern Britain

Erscheinungsjahr 2024
ISBN: 978-1-80270-009-1
Verlag: Amsterdam University Press

Buch, Englisch, 200 Seiten, Format (B × H): 152 mm x 229 mm

Reihe: Early Social Performance

Performing Disability is a landmark examination of performance history in the medieval and early modern era. Seeking to provide a fact-based assessment of disabled performance, this survey examines the nature and socialization of disabled performers in the medieval and early Tudor periods. Using Records of Early English Drama, literary representations, and targeted histories of disability in the medieval period, this study takes a new and welcome look at the evidence for, and the conceptualization of, “impairment” as a performative act in the premodern era.

It features discussions on the different societal constructions pertaining to “disability” (mental incapacity, blindness and deafness, dwarfism, gigantism, etc.), and how the evidence for such conditions was socialized through performance.

Taking an evidence-based and multidisciplinary approach to perceptions of identity and “othering” in premodern society, this study is certain to appeal to a wide audience, including historians of theatre and performance, disability advocates and theorists, and social historians.

Autoren/Hrsg.

Chambers, Mark C.

Fachgebiete

• Geisteswissenschaften Geschichtswissenschaft Geschichtliche Themen Kultur- und Ideengeschichte
• Geisteswissenschaften Geschichtswissenschaft Geschichtswissenschaft Allgemein
• Geisteswissenschaften Theater- und Filmwissenschaft | Andere Darstellende Künste Theaterwissenschaft
• Geisteswissenschaften Literaturwissenschaft Literaturgeschichte und Literaturkritik
• Geisteswissenschaften Geschichtswissenschaft Geschichtliche Themen Mentalitäts- und Sozialgeschichte
• Geisteswissenschaften Geschichtswissenschaft Alte Geschichte & Archäologie Vor- und Frühgeschichte, prähistorische Archäologie

Inhaltsverzeichnis

Preface / Acknowledgements

Introduction

Chapter 1: “The number of fuillis ar infinite:” Framing "Foolery" as Disability in Premodern Performance.

Chapter 2: "All Fools to Christ": The Patronage of Fools in English Monasteries

Chapter 3: Blyndharpours and kakeharpours: Accommodating Blindness in Pre-Modern Performance

Chapter 4: "Dwarves" and "Giants": Size and Shape as Aspects of Performance

Chapter 5: Physical Disability as Performance

Conclusion

Bibliography

Index

Über Autor(innen)

Chambers, Mark C.
Mark C. Chambers is Assistant Professor in the Department of English Studies at Durham University and co-editor of the Records of Early English Drama collection for County Durham