What is implied when we refer to the study of performing arts as 'drama', 'theatre' or 'performance'? Each term identifies a different tradition of thought and offers different possibilities to the student or practitioner. This book examines the history and use of the terms and investigates the different philosophies, politics, languages and institutions with which they are associated. Simon Shepherd and Mick Wallis:                     * analyze attitudes to drama, theatre and performance at different historical junctures* trace a range of political interventions into the field(s)* explore and contextualise the institutionalisation of drama and theatre as university subjects, then the emergence of 'performance' as practice, theory and academic discipline* guide readers through major approaches to drama, theatre and performance, from theatre history, through theories of ritual or play, to the idea of performance as paradigm for a postmodern age* discuss crucial terms such as action, alienation, catharsis, character, empathy, interculturalism, mimesis, presence or representation in a substantial 'keywords' section. Continually linking their analysis to wider cultural concerns, the authors here offer the most wide-ranging and authoritative guide available to a vibrant, fast-moving field and vigorous debates about its nature, purpose and place in the academy.

当我们把表演艺术的研究称为 "戏剧"、"剧院 "或 "表演 "时，意味着什么？每一个术语都代表着不同的思想传统，并为学生或从业者提供不同的可能性。本书研究了这些术语的历史和使用，并调查了与之相关的不同哲学、政治、语言和机构。西蒙-谢泼德和米克-沃利斯。                    * 分析不同历史时期对戏剧、剧场和表演的态度* 追踪一系列对该领域的政治干预* 探讨戏剧和剧场作为大学学科的制度化并将其纳入背景，然后是 "表演 "作为实践、理论和学术学科的出现* 引导读者了解戏剧的主要方法。从戏剧史到仪式或戏剧理论，再到作为后现代时代范式的表演理念，引导读者了解关于戏剧、剧院和表演的主要方法*，并在大量的 "关键词 "中讨论诸如行动、异化、宣泄、角色、共鸣、跨文化主义、模仿、在场或代表等关键术语。作者不断地将他们的分析与更广泛的文化关注联系起来，为这个充满活力、快速发展的领域以及关于其性质、目的和在学术界的地位的激烈争论提供了最广泛和最权威的指南。