Performing Disability in Medieval and Early Modern Britain (Early Social Performance)

Chambers, Mark C.

Arc Humanities Press（2024/04発売）

• 製本 Hardcover:ハードカバー版／ページ数 200 p.
• 言語 ENG
• 商品コード 9781802700091
• DDC分類 940.1

Full Description

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.

Contents

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