How can we make sense of the innovative structure of Euripidean drama? And what political role did tragedy play in the democracy of classical Athens? These questions are usually considered to be mutually exclusive; but this book shows that they can only be properly answered together. Providing a new approach to the aesthetics and politics of Greek tragedy; Victoria Wohl argues that the poetic form of Euripides drama constitutes a mode of political thought. Through readings of select plays; she explores the politics of Euripides radical aesthetics; showing how formal innovation generates political passions with real-world consequences.Euripides plays have long perplexed readers. With their disjointed plots; comic touches; and frequent happy endings; they seem to stretch the boundaries of tragedy. But the plays formal traitsmdash;from their exorbitantly beautiful lyrics to their arousal and resolution of suspensemdash;shape the audiences political sensibilities and ideological attachments. Engendering civic passions; the plays enact as well as express political ideas. Wohl draws out the political implications of Euripidean aesthetics by exploring such topics as narrative and ideological desire; the politics of pathos; realism and its utopian possibilities; the logic of political allegory; and tragedys relation to its historical moment.Breaking through the impasse between formalist and historicist interpretations of Greek tragedy; Euripides and the Politics of Form demonstrates that aesthetic structure and political meaning are mutually implicatedmdash;and that to read the plays poetically is necessarily to read them politically.
#3322134 in eBooks 2015-02-01 2015-02-01File Name: B00U7HA7R2
Review
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful. Great Read for Music LoverBy Sharon RushI grew up in Texas; Houston primarily; and I was a great fan of Townes. I am always interested in the music writing process and what exactly was Townes muse. His lyrics were always so deep and you knew that they had a some deeper meaning and sometimes you could place it but just getting to know the man that Robert Earl Hardy wrote about was very good. He obviously researched this book in great depths as there are many quotes. Very good read; helped me love his music even more. We Texans love; appreciate; and miss TVZ; but thankfully we have his music.0 of 0 people found the following review helpful. An excellent book.By Kindle CustomerI thought this was a comprehensive biography. It certainly displayed the subject as a poet who employed music to send his messages about life as he lived it.1 of 1 people found the following review helpful. A great read about a music legendBy HollythedylanfanI love Townes Van Zandt and his music. Until I read this book; I did not know much about him. Information about Townes is sort of hard to find. The author does a great job in getting interviews from the people who knew Townes the best. Townes comes across as an enigmatic; troubled genius. I recommend this book to anyone who appreciates the music of Townes Van Zandt. Steve Earle; friend of Townes; once said; "Townes Van Zandt is the best songwriter in the whole world; and Ill stand on Bob Dylans coffee table in my cowboy boots and say that." Im a big Bob Dylan fan; but I agree that Townes was a fantastic song writer. Reading about him was a real pleasure.
