This study traces the origins of European modernism in Nineteenth-century Paris, examining every major avant-garde movement that sprung from this epicentre in the early Twentieth century: Expressionism, Dadaism, etc. In this wide-ranging overview Berghaus demonstrates a mastery of primary and secondary sources in several different languages.

'Günter Berghaus's Theatre, Performance, and the Historical Avant-Garde has the potential to become a crucial point of departure for the next generation of theatre scholars. At the very least, it will be an invaluable point of reference for anyone studying the experimental practices of the historical European avant-garde. Berghaus's book is written with exceptional clarity and with an admirable devotion to historical detail. It is meticulously researched and will be of interest to both beginning and advanced scholars of the theatrical avant-garde.' - James Martin Harding, University of Mary Washington, USA

'One of the most comprehensive studies to date of four major artistic movements that helped shape the avant-garde and modern theater practice...This is a remarkable examination of art and theater from a European perspective.' - M.D. Whitlach, Choice

Autorentext
GÜNTER BERGHAUS was formerly a Reader in Theatre History and Performance Studies, has been Guest Professor at the State University of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, and at Brown University, Providence/RI, USA. He is now a Senior Research Fellow at the University of Bristol, UK. He has published a dozen books and a large number of articles on theatre anthropology, avant-garde performance, Renaissance and Baroque theatre and dance history. He has directed numerous plays from the classical and modern repertoire and devised many productions of an experimental nature. He has been principal organizer of several international conferences and held research awards from the Polish Academy of Sciences, the German Research Foundation, the Italian Ministry of Culture, the British Academy, and the Brazilian Ministry of Education.

Inhalt
Introduction: The Genesis of Modernism and of the Avant-garde Expressionism Futurism Dadaism Constructivism Epilogue: The Postwar Revival of Modernism and of the Avant-garde