This play; which contains biographical information relating to Herman Melville; is fundamentally an exploration of the ways in which these two things take place. The play admits the truth of Walter Benjamins view of history as time filled by the presence of the now. Parallels between past and present (e.g.; racism; domestic abuse; and the plight of the visionary American artist) are clearly implied; but the play also utilizes new technologies; in particular video; in order to represent the kind of dialectical history and representation promoted by Benjamin. During Melvilles lifetime; and in his own creative imagination; the archaic was undergoing its transformation into modernity. Thus Melville is an especially apt subject for an exploration of modernity and representation that utilizes both the modern endash; i.e.; video; montage endash; and elements of the archaic endash; i.e.; the performing body; allusions to whaling; discovery in the South Seas. The Composition of Herman Melville utilizes performance strategies in an effort to embody the complex textuality of a writer who haunts the landscape of America; from the mid-nineteenth century to the present. This book is believed to represent the only work of historical fiction endash; albeit in dramatic form endash; that focuses primarily on Herman Melville; considered by many to be Americas greatest writer.
#2398695 in eBooks 2014-05-27 2014-05-27File Name: B01A27TM22
Review
0 of 0 people found the following review helpful. Thorogh Without Being Too Much Of A Deep DiveBy KGatesAs a pianist who has played Mozart for years; I have always had an interest in the man himself. Hence; I have read several books to understand more about the man behind the music. I wish this had been one of the first; if not the first book I had read about Mozart as the author provides a terrific narrative on Mozart without taking any deep dives. Hence; the book is perfect for someone who wants a good understanding of the man but is not interested in knowing every detail. I will be purchasing copies for friends for Christmas and I am sure the book will be a welcome gift. Highly recommended!3 of 3 people found the following review helpful. Even Mozart Had Some Issues With Dad;Money;Sex;Ego;Just Like Us.By Richard DicanioAnyone who has children can relate to this book and the trials of poor Leopold Mozart with his son Wolfgang.Even now as I write this I am experiencing the most vexing problem of trying to impart my wisdom in my children especially my two teenage daughters who; are themselves struggling to gain independance and who inevitably know it all. Truly a most vexing problem for me.I have two more younger ones that have yet to try my patience and go out on their own;worldy and confident in their own abilities to conquer and reign without my help. We shall see what is what in the end wont we parents?Can you relate to my plight? If so then this is a fairly well written little book on the life of Mozart as good as any I guess.There is much to this little man and his own relationship with his father here and how it shaped his life and his works. Recurrent themes in his operas appear to be the end result of ongoing paternal angst.There are more expansive histories available but the mans life is at times open to interpretation so sometimes less is more.This book gets to the point;presents the stages and influences of his development and incorporates them nicely.It does a good job of dispelling the myths associated with the man and is quite clinically basic in its approach.All you really need to know without the influence of letters to this one and that one back and forth ad nauseum which if presented poorly can make a book longer than it has to be.For the rabid fan of every factotum;no it probably will not do.But for the regular person who wants to know and have a good look at Mozarts life a "just the facts mam" kind of person;you know; just enough current information on the life of Wolfgang A.Mozart to carry you through some martinis and social banter armed with the truth about him with a well respected author and biographer at the helm then this book is the one for you to read.Secretly;I too wanted to believe in the movie Amadeus and all of its assertions but its all hogwash.Salieri did not kill Mozart or contribute to his death in any way.In fact they were actually cordial friends respectful of each other and not mortal enemies as people tend to believe.The cause of death is another matter which I will let you research on your own.I dont want to spoil all your fun. This book will start you on your way very well as it reduces the fluff and gets to the pure genius that was Mozart; a man that was probably the last of his kind;one of the greatest composers ever to yet live; ahead of his time yes; yet had day to day problems just like the rest of us and left us way too early because medicine hadnt caught up yet.The book will fill you in.0 of 0 people found the following review helpful. ... and major works of the composer without going into great depth or detailBy marquis desA quick look at the life and major works of the composer without going into great depth or detail. You do not have to understand music theory or composition to understand this biography. It does go deeply into and spends quite a bit of time; throughout the whole book; on the influence of Mozarts father; Leopold. It is almost a mini-bio of this man of music. Again; this is a short; compact overview of his life; but does compel you to want to go out and find something much more detailed about his life; times; and music.
