Friday, 17 October 2014

New Books for Costume Production & Associated Crafts

Look at the following key Class Marks for books of interest for your Course:-  391 (Costume & Fashion) 646.4072 (Pattern Cutting) and 792 (Theatre Arts). 

The following new books were purchased with the Costume Production & Associated Crafts Course in mind.

This is a comprehensive guide to understanding and creating men's costumes and fashions of the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries. As well as being historically accurate, Mr. Davis' patterns have been prepared so that they fit the modern male figure and adapted so that they can be readily constructed using today's fabrics and sewing techniques. The book includes a collection of scaled patterns, instructions to make the costumes, historical references, comparative and alternate costumes, numerous visual representations, and specific tailoring notes from Mr. Davis' long years of experience. It is considered the most comprehensive book on the subject of men's costume and fashion of the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries. Whether you are an amateur of professional costume maker, costume historian, costume and fashion student, or just a costume buff, you will find this book an invaluable source of practical patterns, techniques and historical information. Building on nearly 60 years' experience as the master cutter for Angels Costumes of London, Davis outlines two centuries of men's fashion with patterns and notes on how to build each garment. Following an introduction, chapters detail the Baroque fashion (1630-1700), the three-piece suit (1670-1800), and cutaways and tailcoats (1760-1800). Everyday fashion and military uniforms of the 17th and 18th centuries are also included. Davis offers a detailed study of men's fashions from hats to shoes and everything in between: breeches, capes and cloaks, top coats, waistcoats, and pantaloons. Amply supplied plates, figures, and diagrams support the text. While the scaled patterns were developed as a guide to clothing construction for period costuming, only a skilled seamstress or tailor could use them despite a final chapter sharing tips on measuring and how to make adjustments. A listing of major rulers of the 17th and 18th centuries is included.

What is implied when we refer to the study of performing arts as 'drama', 'theatre' or 'performance'? Each term identifies a different tradition of thought and offers different possibilities to the student or practitioner. This book examines the history and use of the terms and investigates the different philosophies, politics, languages and institutions with which they are associated. Simon Shepherd and Mick Wallis:
• analyse attitudes to drama, theatre and performance at different historical junctures
• trace a range of political interventions into the field(s)
• explore and contextualise the institutionalisation of drama and theatre as university subjects, then the emergence of 'performance' as practice, theory and academic disciplines
• guide readers through major approaches to drama, theatre and performance, from theatre history, through theories of ritual or play, to the idea of performance as paradigm for a postmodern age
• discuss crucial terms such as action, alienation, catharsis, character, empathy, interculturalism, mimesis, presence or representation in a substantial 'keywords' section. Continually linking their analysis to wider cultural concerns, the authors here offer the most wide-ranging and authoritative guide available to a vibrant, fast-moving field and vigorous debates about its nature, purpose and place in the academy.

The relationship between philosophy and theatre is a central theme in the writings of Plato and
Aristotle and of dramatists from Aristophanes to Stoppard. Where Plato argued that playwrights and actors should be banished from the ideal city for their suspect imitations of reality, Aristotle argued that theatre, particularly tragedy, was vital for stimulating our emotions and helping us to understanding ourselves. Despite this rich history the study of philosophy and theatre has been largely overlooked in contemporary philosophy. This is the first book to introduce philosophy and theatre. It covers key topics and debates, presenting the contributions of major figures in the history of philosophy, including:
• what is theatre? How does theatre compare with other arts?
• theatre as imitation, including Plato on mimesis
• truth and illusion in the theatre, including Nietzsche on tragedy
• theatre as history
• theatre and morality, including Rousseau’s criticisms of theatre
• audience and emotion, including Aristotle on catharsis
• theatre and politics, including Brecht’s Epic Theatre.
Including annotated further reading and summaries at the end of each chapter, Philosophy and Theatre is an ideal starting point for those studying philosophy, theatre studies and related subjects in the arts and humanities.

Offering essential guidance to students throughout their undergraduate studies, this companion  explores the development of a discipline that is still in flux, offers practical advice about how   to study it and where this study might lead, and provides a useful reference resource on key   practitioners, debates, performances and terms.  This one-stop companion is your complete introduction to all aspects of Drama, Theatre and   Performance, whether you are studying at university or drama school. Designed as a single reference   resource, it takes you from studio to stage, from lecture theatre to workshop, covering practice   as well as theory and history. The Companion offers: - practical sections on acting, devising and   directing an extensive list of key concepts with clear explanations- a select encyclopedia of entries   on major practitioners, theorists and performances- tips on study skills such as using journals and   navigating the library- career advice to help you get the most out of your studies and plan your future. Reliable and comprehensive, this guide will be invaluable throughout your degree or course.

Erika Fischer-Lichte's introduction to the discipline of Theatre and Performance Studies is a strikingly authoritative and wide ranging guide to the study of theatre in all of its forms. Its three-part structure moves from the first steps in starting to think about performance, through to the diverse and interrelated concerns required of higher-level study:
Part 1 – Central Concepts for Theatre and Performance Research – introduces the language and key ideas that are used to discuss and think about theatre: concepts of performance;  the emergence of meaning; and the theatrical event as an experience shared by actors and spectators. Part 1 contextualizes these concepts by tracing the history of Theatre and Performance Studies as a discipline.
Part 2 – Fields, Theories and Methods – looks at how to analyse a performance and how to conduct theater-historiographical research. This section is concerned with the 'doing' of Theatre and Performance Studies: establishing and understanding different methodological approaches; using sources effectively; and building theoretical frameworks.
Part 3 – Pushing Boundaries – expands on the lessons of Parts 1 and 2 in order to engage with theatre and performance in a global context. Part 3 introduces the concept of 'interweaving performance cultures'; explores the interrelation of theatre with the other arts; and develops a transformative aesthetics of performance.
Case studies throughout the book root its theoretical discussion in theatrical practice. Focused accounts of plays, practitioners and performances map the development of Theatre and Performance Studies as an academic discipline, and of the theatre itself as an art form. This is the most comprehensive and sophisticated introduction to the field available, written by one of its foremost scholars.

This is a new and enlarged edition of Mark Fortier's very successful and widely used essential text for students. Theory/Theatre provides a unique and engaging introduction to literary theory as it relates to theatre and performance. Fortier lucidly examines current theoretical approaches, from semiotics, post-structuralism, through cultural materialism, postcolonial studies and feminist theory.
This new edition includes:
* More detailed explanation of key ideas
* New 'Putting it into practice' sections at the end of each chapter so you can approach

Theory/Theatre is still the only study of its kind and is invaluable reading for beginning students and scholars of performance studies.

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