Michael Y. Bennett – författare

The Routledge Companion to Absurdist Literature is the first authoritative and definitive edited collection on absurdist literature. As a field-defining volume, the editor and the contributors are world leaders in this ever-exciting genre that includes some of the most important and influential writers of the twentieth century, including Samuel Beckett, Harold Pinter, Edward Albee, Eugene Ionesco, Jean Genet, and Albert Camus. Ever puzzling and always refusing to be pinned down, this book does not attempt to define absurdist literature, but attempts to examine its major and minor players. As such, the field is indirectly defined by examining its constituent writers. Not only investigating the so-called “Theatre of the Absurd,” this volume wades deeply into absurdist fiction and absurdist poetry, expanding much of our previous sense of what constitutes absurdist literature. Furthermore, long overdue, approximately one-third of the book is devoted to marginalized writers: black, Latin/x, female, LGBTQ+, and non-Western voices.

The Routledge Companion to Absurdist Literature is the first authoritative and definitive edited collection on absurdist literature. As a field-defining volume, the editor and the contributors are world leaders in this ever-exciting genre that includes some of the most important and influential writers of the twentieth century, including Samuel Beckett, Harold Pinter, Edward Albee, Eugene Ionesco, Jean Genet, and Albert Camus. Ever puzzling and always refusing to be pinned down, this book does not attempt to define absurdist literature, but attempts to examine its major and minor players. As such, the field is indirectly defined by examining its constituent writers. Not only investigating the so-called “Theatre of the Absurd,” this volume wades deeply into absurdist fiction and absurdist poetry, expanding much of our previous sense of what constitutes absurdist literature. Furthermore, long overdue, approximately one-third of the book is devoted to marginalized writers: black, Latin/x, female, LGBTQ+, and non-Western voices.

Bringing together the latest research and perspectives in the fields of analytic philosophy and theater studies, this collection of essays provides a reflection of how these two fields have emerged and intersected in the twenty-first century.

With contributions from leading scholars in the field and emerging voices, Philosophy, Analytic Aesthetics, and Theater provides new insights into the field of philosophy and theater. Structured in three parts, Part I, "Epistemology," explores perspectives on theater as a knowledge-making system, the conventions of theater, and reflects on current practice that engages with aesthetics. Part II, "Politics and Ethics," draws on an evaluation of the ways in which theater and democracy interact, as well as the current conversations around ethical issues within the performance space. And finally, Part III, "Theater and Other Arts," takes a look at the ways in which philosophy has interacted with the art of dance, musical theater, and film, looking beyond the traditional confines of actors, stage, and audience.

Edited by Michael Y. Bennett, these essays introduce the latest research in philosophy and theater in an accessible and engaging manner. The book is ideal for advanced undergraduate and postgraduate students, scholars of theater and performance studies, and philosophy students and scholars with an interest in theater.

Bringing together the latest research and perspectives in the fields of analytic philosophy and theater studies, this collection of essays provides a reflection of how these two fields have emerged and intersected in the twenty-first century.

With contributions from leading scholars in the field and emerging voices, Philosophy, Analytic Aesthetics, and Theater provides new insights into the field of philosophy and theater. Structured in three parts, Part I, "Epistemology," explores perspectives on theater as a knowledge-making system, the conventions of theater, and reflects on current practice that engages with aesthetics. Part II, "Politics and Ethics," draws on an evaluation of the ways in which theater and democracy interact, as well as the current conversations around ethical issues within the performance space. And finally, Part III, "Theater and Other Arts," takes a look at the ways in which philosophy has interacted with the art of dance, musical theater, and film, looking beyond the traditional confines of actors, stage, and audience.

Edited by Michael Y. Bennett, these essays introduce the latest research in philosophy and theater in an accessible and engaging manner. The book is ideal for advanced undergraduate and postgraduate students, scholars of theater and performance studies, and philosophy students and scholars with an interest in theater.

This book is the first collection of essays to discuss Oscar Wilde’s love and vast knowledge of philosophy.  Over the past few decades, Oscar Wilde scholars have become increasingly aware of Wilde’s love and intimate knowledge of philosophy. Wilde’s “Oxford Notebooks” and his soon-to-be-published “Notebook on Philosophy” all point to Wilde not just as an aesthete, but also as a serious philosophical thinker. 

The aim of this collection is not to make the statement that Wilde was a philosopher, or that his works were philosophical tracts. Rather, it provides a space to explore any and all linkages between Wilde’s works and philosophical thought. Addressing a broad spectrum of philosophical matter, from classical philology to Daoism, ethics to aestheticism, this collection enriches the literature on Wilde and philosophy alike. 

Theatrical characters’ dual existence on stage and in text presents a unique, challenging case for the analytical philosopher.

Analytic Philosophy and the World of the Play re-examines the ontological status of theatre and its fictional objects through the "possible worlds" thesis, arguing that theatre is not a mirror of our world, but a re-creation of it. Taking a fresh look at theatre’s key elements, including the hotly contested relationships between character and actor; onstage and offstage "worlds"; and the play-text and performance, Michael Y. Bennett presents a radical new way of understanding the world of the play.

Theatrical characters’ dual existence on stage and in text presents a unique, challenging case for the analytical philosopher.

Analytic Philosophy and the World of the Play re-examines the ontological status of theatre and its fictional objects through the "possible worlds" thesis, arguing that theatre is not a mirror of our world, but a re-creation of it. Taking a fresh look at theatre’s key elements, including the hotly contested relationships between character and actor; onstage and offstage "worlds"; and the play-text and performance, Michael Y. Bennett presents a radical new way of understanding the world of the play.

The Problems of Viewing Performance challenges long-held assumptions by considering the ways in which knowledge is received by more than a single audience member, and breaks new ground by, counterintuitively, claiming that viewing performance is not a shared experience.

Given that viewers come to each performance with differing amounts and types of knowledge, they each make different assumptions as to how the performance will unfold. Often modified by other viewers and often after the performance event, knowledge of performance is made more accurate by superimposing the experiences and justified beliefs of multiple viewers. These differences in the viewing experience make knowledge surrounding a performance intersubjective. Ultimately, this book explains the how and the why audience members have different viewing experiences.

The Problems of Viewing Performance is important reading for theatre and performance students, scholars and practitioners, as it unpacks the dynamics of spectatorship and explores how audiences work.