The Cambridge Companion to the Circus (Cambridge Companions to Theatre and Performance)

Cambridge University Press, 7/1/2021
EAN 9781108719223, ISBN10: 1108719228

Paperback, 330 pages, 22.9 x 15.2 x 1.9 cm
Language: English
Originally published in English

The Cambridge Companion to the Circus provides a complete guide for students, scholars, teachers, researchers, and practitioners who are seeking perspectives on the foundations and evolution of the modern circus, the contemporary extent of circus studies, and the specialised literature available to support further enquiries. The volume brings together an international group of established and emerging scholars working across the multi-disciplinary domain of circus studies to present a clear overview of the specialised histories, aesthetics and distinctive performances of the modern circus. In sixteen commissioned essays, it covers the origins in commercial equestrian performance during the late-eighteenth century to contemporary inflections of circus arts in major international festivals, educational environments, and social justice settings.

Introduction. The circus
reflecting and mediating the world Gillian Arrighi and Jim Davis
Part I. Trans-national Geographies of the Modern Circus
1. The origins and growth of the modern circus Matthew Wittmann
2. Reconstruction, railroads, and race
the American circus in the gilded age and progressive era Sakina Hughes
3. Circus, colonialism and empire
the circus in Australasia and Asia Gillian Arrighi
4. The criollo circus (circus theatre) in Argentina
the emergence of a unique circus form in connection with the consolidation of the Argentine nation state Julieta Infantino
5. The past and present of Czech circus Hanuš Jordan and Veronika Štefanová
6. Catching on
Chinese acrobatics from China to the west in the twenty-first century Rosemary Farrell
Part II. Circus Acts and Aesthetics
7. The equestrian circus Kim Baston
8. Animals, circus and war re-enactment
military action to colonial wars Peta Tait
9. Circus clowns Louise Peacock
10. Aerial performance
aerial aesthetics Kate Holmes
Part III. Circus
A Constantly Evolving Form
11. Circus and somatic spectacularity on stage in the variety era Catherine M. Young
12. Becoming an art form
from 'Nouveau Cirque' to contemporary circus in Europe Agathe Dumont
13. Risky play and the global rise in youth circus Alisan Funk
14. Social circus
the rise of an 'inclusive' movement for collective creativity Jennifer Beth Spiegel
Part IV. Circus Studies Scholarship
15. Methodologies in circus scholarship Charles R. Batson and Karen Fricker
16. Through the looking glass
multi-disciplinary perspectives in circus Anna-Sophie Jürgens.