Hunger, appetite and the politics of the Renaissance stage
This thesis explores the role played by the representation of hunger and appetite in the politics of the Renaissance stage. It adopts a Marxist approach, drawing on the work of theorists such as Raymond Williams, and emphasizing the significance of concepts such as class, the base/superstructure model, and lived experience. In order to understand the particular qualities which could be invested in hunger and appetite on the stage, the thesis situates the representation of these drives in the context of the material factors which defined the early modern theatre itself. The sale of food and the practicalities of staging both hunger and appetite are analysed as determining influences upon the content of specific dramatic works. The thesis demonstrates the extent to which hunger and appetite were deployed in the early modern theatre as a device by which playing companies interrogated the economic polarisation, urbanisation and imperialist expansion of the period. It argues that the depiction of hunger and appetite lent ideological form to underlying material differences between the periodâs residual and emergent classes. The thesis builds upon existing criticism on a range of subjects, particularly poverty,
Williamson, Matthew Marlingford
Hunger, appetite and the politics of the Renaissance stage. This thesis explores the role played by the representation of hunger and appetite in the politics of the Renaissance stage. It adopts a Marxist approach, drawing on the work of theorists such as Raymond Williams, and emphasizing the significance of concepts such as class, the base/superstructure model, and lived experience. In order to understand the particular qualities which could be invested in hunger and appetite on the stage, the thesis situates the representation of these drives in the context of the material factors which defined the early modern theatre itself. The sale of food and the practicalities of staging both hunger and appetite are analysed as determining influences upon the content of specific dramatic works. The thesis demonstrates the extent to which hunger and appetite were deployed in the early modern theatre as a device by which playing companies interrogated the economic polarisation, urbanisation and imperialist expansion of the period. It argues that the depiction of hunger and appetite lent ideological form to underlying material differences between the periodâs residual and emergent classes. The thesis builds upon existing criticism on a range of subjects, particularly poverty,
appetite politics renaissance stage explores_role play representation appetite politics renaissance stage adopts marxist draw work theorist williams emphasize significance concept class base superstructure model live_experience order particular quality could invest appetite stage situate representation drive context material factor define early_modern theatre itself sale food practicality stag appetite analyse determine influence_upon content specific dramatic work demonstrates extent appetite deploy early_modern theatre device play company interrogate economic polarisation urbanisation imperialist expansion period argues depiction appetite ideological form underlie material difference period residual emergent class build_upon exist criticism range subject particularly poverty