Unbridled: Studying Religion in Performance

William Robert uses Peter Shaffers play Equus to study religion, engaging with themes such as ritual, sacrifice, worship, power, desire, violence, and sexuality, and challenging readers to reimagine the study of religion through open questions, contrasting perspectives, and alternative modes of interpretation and appreciation.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 144 pages
Publication date: 14 February 2022
Publisher: The University of Chicago Press

In his book "Unbridled: A Study of Religion through the Lens of Peter Shaffers Play Equus," William Robert explores the enigmatic play by Peter Shaffers, delving into its themes of religion, passion, and the human condition. Robert has been utilizing "Equus" to introduce students to the study of religion, challenging them to perceive it in unconventional and sometimes uncomfortable ways. Through "Unbridled," he invites readers to engage in the same exploration.

A play like "Equus" intertwines various elements, including text, performance, practice, embodiment, and reception. Studying a play necessitates assuming different roles, both as oneself and as others, and the imaginative effort involved in these roles is crucial to the study of religion. By approaching "Equus" with the reader, flipping it around and upside down, "Unbridled" disrupts conventional approaches to the study of religion, engaging with themes such as ritual, sacrifice, worship, power, desire, violence, and sexuality, as well as influential thinkers like Judith Butler, Sigmund Freud, Karl Marx, Friedrich Nietzsche, and Jonathan Z. Smith.

As "Unbridled" demonstrates, the way themes and theories unfold in "Equus" prompts us to reimagine the study of religion through open-ended questions, contrasting perspectives, and alternative modes of interpretation and appreciation. By delving into the complexities of "Equus," Robert offers a fresh and thought-provoking perspective on religion, encouraging readers to approach it with a broader understanding and a deeper sense of curiosity.

Weight: 282g
Dimension: 152 x 229 x 14 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780226816906