Synopses & Reviews
A study of contemporary theatre from the perspective of chaos theatre and quantum mechanics.
Synopsis
In this study, chaos theory and quantum mechanics are employed as the basis for a clearer understanding of the often confusing contemporary theatre world. Examining numerous antecedents to contemporary thought on chaos and the cultural roots of the notion of chaos, William Demastes links playwrights ranging from Shakespeare to Sam Shepard.
Table of Contents
Acknowledgements; Preface: awash in chaos; Introduction: the new science metaphor and modern drama: a brief history of western thought; 1. Quantum physics as metaphor: elliptical beginnings of the new paradigm; 2. Chaos and theatre: sensitive dependence on initial conditions; 3. Intuitive intersections: American drama confronts orderly disorder; 4. Theatre of chaos, past and future; Conclusion; Chaos and cultural futures; Notes; Bibliography; Index.