What is the relationship between performance and play? Between performance and technology? Between performance and death?Certain Fragments is an extraordinary exploration of what lies at the heart of contemporary theatre. Written by the artistic director of Forced Entertainment; acknowledged to be Britains most brilliant experimental theatre company (Guardian); Certain Fragments investigates the processes of devising performance; the role of writing in an interdisciplinary theatre; and the influence of the city on contemporary art practice.Tim Etchells unique and provocative voice shifts from intimate anecdote to critical analysis and back again. And as in his theatre-making so in his book: with Certain Fragments Etchells disrupts traditional notions of creative; academic; and intellectual work. The book is an exciting and radical fusion of story-telling and criticism. It also makes available; for the first time; four seminal Forced Entertainment texts by Etchells.
#1454516 in eBooks 2002-09-26 2002-09-26File Name: B000FBF9NM
Review
0 of 0 people found the following review helpful. Is the MET a house of scandals or a house of cultural accomplishments?By Hiroko SatoIt is quite an interesting book for those who love malicious gossips about famous people; in this case star singers; the wealthy people who established this opera house and have supported it and the impressarios. However; Im afraid; the book tell very little about the historical and cultural value of the MET; which is the most important thing about this cultural institution. I was a bit disappointed.0 of 0 people found the following review helpful. Would be good for a business school courseBy John CullomPretty much guaranteed every reviewer knows more about opera than me. I will say; the history is fascinating. If youve got just an hour; the first chapter is worth the price of the book. What interested me most here; however is its insight into alternative business models. The Met has been around a really long time as an organization; with very few corporate parallels. Its position was never a given; so the strategies utilized here are worth understanding.It seems clearer with arts organizations; but every organization should have some purpose in existing. Most corporations start this way; even if they lose direction and become a whitewash of short-term profit seeking. Profits should be properly considered as a way of continuing the organizations purpose. When the focus is on purpose; long-term profits are more likely. The Met is a pretty decent example.The common business model is to make a thing or service and charge a single or slightly tiered price for said widget. With the Met; and most opera houses; ticket sales are only half of revenue. The rest are donations of various forms. Several organizations are like this; universities; churches; some local theaters; NPR; non-profits; etc. The key for the Met is that some people like opera; and then some people like opera A LOT. The latter are your donors; and they think their world is worse off without you. There are sometimes social reasons; advertising reasons; but thats the gist.The Met was very clever in understanding and exploiting this dynamic (some directors more than others). For details; read. I couldnt help thinking of local newspapers again and again stuck in old revenue models. Fundraising in their cases would certainly not be out of place and should be actively pursued. What is New York without the New York Times or the Met. People that have a tough time envisioning the world without you can save you. Thats perfectly legitimate as a way forward.The only sad thing here is that the book ends right before the Peter Gelb era; and theres been huge marketing and business model innovation under him. For good or ill; its really interesting. I wish someone would write an afterword; but I think Johanna Fiedler has recently passed. RIP; thanks for the book.0 of 0 people found the following review helpful. Loved It!By Bill GivensExcellent book..History mixed with anecdotes makes for a lively read! Theres even a report of an incident where I was in the audience!