State of the Arts: An Ethnography of German Theatre and Migration

State of the Arts is an ambitious and interdisciplinary study that examines the German public theatre system through the prism of a migrant artistic institution in the western post-industrial Ruhr region. It explores how artistic traditions have responded to social change, racism, and cosmopolitan anxieties, and how critical contemporary cultural production positions itself in relation to German state patronage, heritage, and self-cultivation through the arts. Through fieldwork with professional actors, directors, cultural policy makers, and activists, the book demonstrates how anthropological methods can understand the entanglement of cultural policy, institution-building, and subject-formation.

Format: Hardback
Length: 290 pages
Publication date: 17 August 2023
Publisher: Cambridge University Press

This is a bold and comprehensive account of the unique German public theatre system through the prism of a migrant artistic institution in the western post-industrial Ruhr region. State of the Arts explores how artistic traditions have responded to social change, racism, and cosmopolitan anxieties, and how critical contemporary cultural production positions itself in relation to the tumultuous history of German state patronage, difficult heritage, and self-cultivation through the arts. Through extensive fieldwork with professional actors, directors, cultural policy makers, and activists, Jonas Tinius unravels how they constitute theatre as a site for extraordinary ethical conduct and how they grapple with the pervasive German cultural tradition of Bildung, or self-cultivation through the arts. Tinius demonstrates how anthropological methods provide a way to understand the entanglement of cultural policy, institution-building, and subject-formation. An ambitious and interdisciplinary study, the work showcases the crucial role of artistic intellectuals in society.

State of the Arts is a groundbreaking and interdisciplinary study that delves into the complex dynamics of the German public theatre system, focusing on the experiences of a migrant artistic institution in the western post-industrial Ruhr region. Through a comprehensive analysis, the book explores how artistic traditions have responded to social change, racism, and cosmopolitan anxieties, while also examining how critical contemporary cultural production positions itself in relation to the tumultuous history of German state patronage, difficult heritage, and self-cultivation through the arts.

The author, Jonas Tinius, conducts extensive fieldwork with professional actors, directors, cultural policy makers, and activists, shedding light on the ways in which they constitute theatre as a site for extraordinary ethical conduct and how they navigate the pervasive German cultural tradition of Bildung, or self-cultivation through the arts.

Tinius' research reveals that anthropological methods provide a valuable lens through which to understand the intricate entanglement of cultural policy, institution-building, and subject-formation. By employing these methods, the book offers a rich and nuanced understanding of the role of artistic intellectuals in society, highlighting their crucial contribution to shaping cultural and social landscapes.

State of the Arts is a must-read for scholars, artists, and anyone interested in the intersection of culture, politics, and society. It offers a thought-provoking and insightful exploration of the German public theatre system and its impact on artistic practices and cultural identities.

Weight: 526g
Dimension: 160 x 237 x 23 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781009321129