Poetry was declining/ Painting advancing/ we were complaining/ it was 50; recalled poet Frank OHara in 1957. Criminal Ingenuity traces a series of linked moments in the history of this transfer of cultural power from the sphere of the word to that of the image. Ellen Levy explores the New York literary and art worlds in the years that bracket OHaras lament through close readings of the works and careers of poets Marianne Moore and John Ashbery and assemblage artist Joseph Cornell. In the course of these readings; Levy discusses such topics as the American debates around surrealism; the function of the "token woman" in artistic canons; and the role of the New York City Ballet in the development of mid-century modernism; and situates her central figures in relation to such colleagues and contemporaries as OHara; T. S. Eliot; Clement Greenberg; Walter Benjamin; and Lincoln Kirstein.Moore; Cornell; and Ashbery are connected by acquaintance and affinity-and above all; by the possession of what Moore calls "criminal ingenuity;" a talent for situating themselves on the fault lines that fissure the realms of art; sexuality; and politics. As we consider their lives and works; Levy shows; the seemingly specialized question of the source and meaning of the struggle for power between art forms inexorably opens out to broader questions about social and artistic institutions and forces: the academy and the museum; professionalism and the market; and that institution of institutions; marriage.
#3684855 in eBooks 2015-04-08 2015-04-08File Name: B00W18O0CS
Review
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful. This book is a tremendous overview of and deep dive ...By CustomerThis book is a tremendous overview of and deep dive into dramaturgy; in particular how it relates to contemporary choreography. Profeta uses her own extensive experience collaborating with the acclaimed Ralph Lemon to talk through the history of dramaturgy and the role of the dramaturg in service of the work (as research source; living memory; sounding board; creative prompt). Much of the writing is drawn from Profetas project journals; and that material is grounded in a scholarly literature review. Ive been thinking about "kinesthetic empathy" and "target culture" and so many other topics continuously since I read it. And despite the focus on dance; the books applications are widespread. (I came to it primarily interested in sound; and in sounds role in other fields such as dance; but also film; among other areas.) At its heart; Profetas book can be thought of as being about the art of collaboration (both one-on-one; and in groups); about the roles we play; the roles we swap; and the work that goes into a successful partnership.0 of 0 people found the following review helpful. No problemBy Acquisitions; UNLV LibrariesNo problem