[ebooks] The Lives of Sumerian Sculpture by Jean M. Evans in Arts-Photography

Description

Understanding Sam Shepard investigates the notoriously complex and confusing dramatic world of Sam Shepard; one of Americarsquo;s most prolific; thoughtful; and challenging contemporary playwrights. During his nearly fifty-year career as a writer; actor; director; and producer; Shepard has consistently focused his work on the ever-changing American cultural landscape. James A. Crankrsquo;s comprehensive study of Shepard offers scholars and students of the dramatist a means of understanding Shephardrsquo;s frequent experimentation with language; setting; characters; and theme. Beginning with a brief biography of Shepard; Crank shows how experiences in Shepardrsquo;s life eventually resonate in his work by exploring the major themes; unique style; and history of Shepardrsquo;s productions. Focusing first on Shepardrsquo;s early plays; which showcase highly experimental; frenetic explorations of fractured worlds; Crank discusses how the techniques from these works evolve and translate into the major works in his ldquo;family trilogyrdquo;: Curse of the Starving Class; the Pulitzer Prizendash;winning Buried Child; and True West. Shepard often uses elements from his pastmdash;his relationship with his father; his struggle for control within the family; and the breakdown of the suburban American dreammdash;as major starting points in his plays. Shepard is a recipient of a Pulitzer Prize for Drama; eleven Obie Awards; and a Chicago Tribune Literary Prize for Lifetime Achievement. Augmented with an extensive bibliography; Understanding Sam Shepard is an ideal point of entrance into complex and compelling dramas of this acclaimed playwright.