Nietzsche’s “Toys of Desperation” or <i>The Birth of Tragedy</i> as dramaturgical alternative

<p>This thesis provides a close reading of Friedrich Nietzsche’s <i>The Birth of Tragedy</i>, with particular attention paid to his use of the “principle of individuation.” The major question this thesis confronts is whether Nietzsche’s text might provide illuminative insights for the study of contemporary dramatic literature. Another question addressed by the thesis is whether Nietzsche’s text may offer dramaturgical alternatives to the strictures of naturalism. These questions are considered in relation to the play <i>Dead Man’s Cell Phone</i> by Sarah Ruhl. In considering how Ruhl’s play might be reflective of Nietzsche’s own ideological and artistic investments, the author found that a deeper philosophical engagement with Nietzsche’s notion of the tragic helped to suggest new avenues for the study and the production of current dramatic literature.</p>

Name thesis:degree_name

Master of Arts (MA)

Level thesis:degree_level

Open Access Thesis

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Communication, Media and Theatre Arts

Year dc:date.available

2011

Author dc:creator

• Sheaffer, Adam

Contributors dc:contributor

• Lee Stille, PhD, Chair
• Craig Dionne, PhD

• naturalism
• tragedy
• Nietzsche
• dramaturgy
• principle of individuation
• Theatre and Performance Studies

Repository record dc:identifier

https://commons.emich.edu/theses/313

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:commons.emich.edu:theses-1312