Perversion, Pedagogy and the Comic: A Survey of the Concept of Theatre in the Christian Middle Ages

Perversion, Pedagogy, and the Comic explores the relationship between philosophy, Christian theology, and theater history during the Christian Middle Ages, tracing how the idea of theater was used to illustrate the perverted nature of worldly existence and the mystery of the Kingdom of God. It also demonstrates how a comic sensibility counteracted this hegemonic use of the theater-idea, opening it up to a new and subversive materialist possibility.

Format: Hardback
Length: 430 pages
Publication date: 02 June 2022
Publisher: Taylor & Francis Ltd

Perversion, pedagogy, and the comic studies explore how the concept of theater shaped Western consciousness during the Christian Middle Ages. It delves into the developments within Western philosophy, Christian theology, and theater history to demonstrate how this idea primarily manifested as a metaphor circulating across various discursive domains. The relationship between philosophy and theater has been a complex and intricate affair, which this book traces at the dawn of the Christian era. As theater gradually faced bans, Christian theology employed the concept of theater to showcase what they perceived as the perverted nature of worldly existence and the enigmatic essence of the Kingdom of God. By interrogating the theological teachings of early Church Fathers such as St. Augustine, Tertullian, and Clement of Alexandria, the book offers a fresh perspective on how the idea of theater not only inspired Christian liturgical practices but also shaped Christian pedagogy in general. This, in turn, influenced the development of Christian religious drama. Furthermore, the author endeavors to demonstrate how a certain comic sensibility challenged the dominant use of the theater idea during the Christian Middle Ages, opening up a new and subversive materialist possibility.

Perversion, pedagogy, and the comic studies explore how the concept of theater shaped Western consciousness during the Christian Middle Ages. It delves into the developments within Western philosophy, Christian theology, and theater history to demonstrate how this idea primarily manifested as a metaphor circulating across various discursive domains. The relationship between philosophy and theater has been a complex and intricate affair, which this book traces at the dawn of the Christian era. As theater gradually faced bans, Christian theology employed the concept of theater to showcase what they perceived as the perverted nature of worldly existence and the enigmatic essence of the Kingdom of God. By interrogating the theological teachings of early Church Fathers such as St. Augustine, Tertullian, and Clement of Alexandria, the book offers a fresh perspective on how the idea of theater not only inspired Christian liturgical practices but also shaped Christian pedagogy in general. This, in turn, influenced the development of Christian religious drama. Furthermore, the author endeavors to demonstrate how a certain comic sensibility challenged the dominant use of the theater idea during the Christian Middle Ages, opening up a new and subversive materialist possibility.

Dimension: 229 x 152 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781032292151