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Actors and Icons of the Ancient Theater

Eric Csapo author

Format:Paperback

Publisher:John Wiley and Sons Ltd

Published:27th Dec '13

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Actors and Icons of the Ancient Theater cover

Actors and Icons of the Ancient Theater examines actors and their popular reception from the origins of theater in Classical Greece to the Roman Empire

  • Presents a highly original viewpoint into several new and contested fields of study
  • Offers the first systematic survey of evidence for the spread of theater outside Athens and the impact of the expansion of theater upon actors and dramatic literature
  • Addresses a study of the privatization of theater and reveals how it was driven by political interests
  • Challenges preconceived notions about theater history

"Csapo's book covers an impressive range of different topics and periods in ancient theatrical history." (The Times Literary Supplement, 8 July 2011)

"No scholar of the ancient theater can afford to ignore the arguments put forward in this stimulating and exciting book." (Bryn Mawr Classical Review, 1 April 2011)

"Csapo provides an excellent collection of Oxford lectures (all revised) that rehearse and challenge old evidence and preconceived theories on the history and image of actors from classical Greece to early imperial Rome...What sets this book apart from similar work is its superb collection and socioeconomic study of extant ancient artifacts. This is a fascinating read of the ancient world and the dynamic relationships between its theatre, politics, and popular culture." (Choice, January 2011)

"Actors and Icons is a compelling account of the development of acting in antiquity, taking actors all the way from adjuncts (hypokritai who ‘answer' the chorus), to famous, favoured members of the imperial circle." (Scholia Reviews, 1 October 2010)

ISBN: 9781118782880

Dimensions: 229mm x 153mm x 12mm

Weight: 322g

248 pages