Drama, Performance and Debate

The Role of Theatre and Theatricality in Public Opinion in the Early Modern Period

International conference, University of Amsterdam, the Netherlands, May 29-31, 2008

Early modern plays were  seen as media expressing explicitly or implicitly ethical, political, philosophical or religious views. The authors tried to influence or instruct their audience. In this way theatre played a role in public discourse. But it was not only drama that contributed to the forming of public opinions. There were also other forms of theatrical events, such as anatomical lessons, royal entrances, rituals, pantomimes, carnival, executions, etc. that through their specific performative qualities actively engaged in ethical, political, philosophical or theological/religious discourse.

This conference will explore the role of plays, theatre and theatricality in public discourse from various inter- and multidisciplinary angles. The main question of the conference will be:

Keynote speaker
Helmar Schramm (FU Berlin)

Organizing committee
Jan Bloemendal, Peter Eversmann, Juliette Groenland (UvA)

Submission
dramadebate@uva.nl

Submission date
August 31, 2007

The conference Drama, Performance and Debate at the University of Amsterdam is financially supported by the Netherlands Organisation for Scientific Research (NWO), the Huygens Institute (KNAW), the Huizinga Institute, the OWI KRC, and the Royal Netherlands Academy for Arts and Sciences (KNAW).