What pleasures did Plautus heroic tricksters provide their original audience? How should we understand the compelling mix of rebellion and social conservatism that Plautus offers? Through a close reading of four plays representing the full range of his work (Menaechmi; Casina; Persa; and Captivi); Kathleen McCarthy develops an innovative model of Plautine comedy and its social effects. She concentrates on how the plays are shaped by the interaction of two comic modes: the socially conservative mode of naturalism and the potentially subversive mode of farce. It is precisely this balance of the naturalistic and the farcical that allows everyone in the audience--especially those well placed in the social hierarchy--to identify both with and against the rebel; to feel both the thrill of being a clever underdog and the complacency of being a securely ensconced authority figure. Basing her interpretation on the workings of farce and naturalism in Plautine comedy; McCarthy finds a way to understand the plays patchwork literary style as well as their protean social effects. Beyond this; she raises important questions about popular literature and performance not only on ancient Roman stages but in cultures far from Plautus Rome. How and why do people identify with the fictional figures of social subordinates? How do stock characters; happy endings; and other conventions operate? How does comedy simultaneously upset and uphold social hierarchies? Scholars interested in Plautine theater will be rewarded by the detailed analyses of the plays; while those more broadly interested in social and cultural history will find much that is useful in McCarthys new way of grasping the elusive ideological effects of comedy.
#919649 in eBooks 2006-04-01 2006-04-01File Name: B002VLZL14
Review
5 of 5 people found the following review helpful. Good for solid music skillBy Wo Wei YanEven classic pieces need stride technique. Chopin Minute Waltz Op 64 No 1 is a typical stride waltz--left hand "Bom cha cha". right hand play melody. Many easy piano arrangement lack of bass support. this may due to technical limitation of the musician. Master stride technique can add bass support for solo piano put the piano to its highest edge.If you want to play easy tunes with full orchestration sound. How to Play Piano Despite Years of Lessons: What Music Is and How to Make It at Home suggest a music skeleton also needs stride technique. This technique enables a beginner play piano like seasoned musician.Unlike classic hanon. Stride Hanon focus on hand movement. How you make your hand jump from chord to chord with confidence is fundamental to play any style. So I buy this Stride Hanon to drill my hand jumping skill. Exercises begins from jump within an octave. then increase in difficult level gradually.4 of 4 people found the following review helpful. Great " chops " building bookBy hEEBEEJEEBEEsThis book is really brilliant. Im a college level percussionist and i play at a late intermediate level on the piano. Let me just say this book is definetly challenging for me but its very well written and like original hanon the melodies are catchy and engaging. This book is about building chops including hand movements scales. arpeggios and the like. It might be boring for some but for the serious piano student this is a must have.0 of 0 people found the following review helpful. Five StarsBy David HollowyIve studied Hanon for classical music. this books exercises helps the pianoist get used to playing stride piano
