The dialogism of self and other in contemporary American drama

This work is interdisciplinary in orientation and brings together American theatre (and culture) and contemporary ethical philosophy. I am introducing the French philosopher Emmanuel Lévinas and his theory of Self and Other to an analysis of contemporary American drama—a mode of approach that is new to the discipline of theatre studies. Lévinas’s insights are particularly relevant to the concerns of the 21st century and how we might rethink relationships and values. My work looks at contemporary American plays in terms of nationalism, gender politics, racial dynamics and ecological issues. I contend that these playwrights are attempting to go beyond conventional views on such matters and are modeling a sort of Lévinasian ethic in their works, one informed by an honoring of difference and a responsibility for the Other.

Name thesis:degree_name

Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)

Level thesis:degree_level

Dissertation

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Theatre and Performance Studies

Grantor

Theatre

Year dc:date.available

2010

Author dc:creator

• Huang, Shih-Yi

• Difficult Freedom
• And Baby Makes 7
• Hot ‘n’ Throbbing
• political playwright
• From Body to Ethics to Politics
• Paula Vogel
• Yellow face
• David Henry Hwang
• The Goat: Or Who is Sylvia?
• Edward Albee
• Angels in America
• Tony Kushner
• mythos and logos
• existence without existent

Statement dc:rights

• unrestricted
• Release the entire work immediately for access worldwide.

Identifier

etd-01262010-105903
https://repository.lsu.edu/gradschool_dissertations/41

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:repository.lsu.edu:gradschool_dissertations-1040