Theorizing Black Theatre: Art Versus Protest in Critical Writings, 1898-1965 - Paperback

by Henry D. Miller (Author)

The rich history of African-American theatre has often been overlooked, both in theoretical discourse and in practice. This volume seeks a critical engagement with black theatre artists and theorists of the twentieth century. It reveals a comprehensive view of the Art or Propaganda debate that dominated twentieth century African-American dramatic theory. Among others, this text addresses the writings of Langston Hughes, W.E.B. DuBois, Alain Locke, Lorraine Hansberry, Amiri Baraka, Adrienne Kennedy, Sidney Poitier, and August Wilson. Of particular note is the manner in which black theory collides or intersects with canonical theorists, including Aristotle, Keats, Ibsen, Nietzsche, Shaw, and O'Neill.

Author Biography

Henry D. Miller is a veteran of the 1960s and 1970s black theatre movement. A director and playwright, he has written broadly about American theatre.