The Necessity of Theater

The Art of Watching and Being Watched

Paul Woodruff

A study of the elements of the art of theater, both for performers and for audience—what performers should do in order to be worth watching, and what audience members should understand in order to watch well
Selling point: First book in a generation by a philosopher about the art of theater as distinct from the arts of film and literature
Selling point: Introduces a new definition of theater as the twin acts of watching and being watched
Selling point: Shows how theater runs through our lives and defines us
Selling point: Explains for the first time the full range of empathic reactions, showing how they correspond to theatrical possibilites

The Necessity of Theater

The Art of Watching and Being Watched

Paul Woodruff

Description

What is unique and essential about theatre? What separates it from other arts? Do we need 'theatre' in some fundamental way? The art of theatre, as Paul Woodruff says in this elegant and unique book, is as necessary-and as powerful-as language itself. Defining theatre broadly, including sporting events and social rituals, he treats traditional theatre as only one possibility in an art that-at its most powerful-can change lives and (as some peoples believe) bring a divine presence to earth.
The Necessity of Theater analyzes the unique power of theatre by separating it into the twin arts of watching and being watched, practiced together in harmony by watchers and the watched. Whereas performers practice the art of being watched-making their actions worth watching, and paying attention to action, choice, plot, character, mimesis, and the sacredness of performance space-audiences practice the art of watching: paying close attention. A good audience is emotionally engaged as spectators; their engagement takes a form of empathy that can lead to a special kind of human wisdom. As Plato implied, theatre cannot teach us transcendent truths, but it can teach us about ourselves.
Characteristically thoughtful, probing, and original, Paul Woodruff makes the case for theatre as a unique form of expression connected to our most human insticts. The Necessity of Theater should appeal to anyone seriously interested or involved in theatre or performance more broadly.

The Necessity of Theater

The Art of Watching and Being Watched

Paul Woodruff

The Necessity of Theater
Part One: The Art of Being Watched
1:Defining the Art
2:What Theater Makes
3:Action Worth Watching: Plot
4:Staging Choices
5:People Worth Watching: Characters
6:Sacred Space
7:Mimesis
Part Two: The Art of Watching
8:Emotion
9:Empathy
10:Laughter
11:Understanding Theater
12:The Mask of Wisdom

The Necessity of Theater

The Art of Watching and Being Watched

Paul Woodruff

Author Information

Paul Woodruff, Professor of Philosophy, University of Texas, Austin

The Necessity of Theater

The Art of Watching and Being Watched

Paul Woodruff

Reviews and Awards

"Woodruff approaches theatre not just as a philosopher but also, refreshingly, as a passionate audience member." - Samantha Ellis, Times Literary Supplement