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| Eric Bentley | |
| Posted by: Charles-McNulty 10:24 am EDT 08/18/20 | |
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| Los Angeles Times appreciation by Charles McNulty: "I know I’m not the first critic to feel as though his intellectual path was set by Bentley’s “The Playwright as Thinker,” first published in 1946 and still a necessary text of modern dramatic criticism." | |
| Link | In memoriam: How critic Eric Bentley rescued American theater from provincialism |
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| re: Eric Bentley | |
| Last Edit: singleticket 05:59 pm EDT 08/18/20 | |
| Posted by: singleticket 05:55 pm EDT 08/18/20 | |
| In reply to: Eric Bentley - Charles-McNulty 10:24 am EDT 08/18/20 | |
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| Nice appreciation. I remember being fascinated and nourished by "Playwright as Thinker" and I didn't realize that it was published so early in 1947. In retrospect, it does seem like a very post-War pantheon. Is Sartre still seen as a foundational dramatist, even in France? And Pirandello has always struck me as a playwright to be read rather than sat through. But it's been so long since I read the book that I don't know if Bentley makes distinctions betweens ideas wedded to dramatic intersest vs ideas in drama worthy in themselves, perhaps he does. The American formulation of Bertolt Brecht was very influenced by Bentley and I have actually heard contesting points of views to McNulty's idea that Bentley found Brecht the poet slighted by Americans who were fascinated by Brecht the Marxist theorist. I've actually heard it was the other way round, that Bentley over-emphasized elements of Brecht's theory which was only a snapshot in a long career. Still, I'm glad McNulty mentions Brecht's poetry which, sometimes tender and touching and sometimes black with cynicism, has often lifted my spirits. All of Brecht's poetry is a steely but good companion in the days of the tryants. |
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| re: Eric Bentley | |
| Posted by: Jax 01:06 pm EDT 08/18/20 | |
| In reply to: Eric Bentley - Charles-McNulty 10:24 am EDT 08/18/20 | |
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| This "appreciation" is almost as wordy and boring as Bentley's unreadable essays. As a writer, McNulty is a giant sleeping pill, obvious points puffed up with philistine prose. | |
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| re: Eric Bentley | |
| Posted by: BruceinIthaca 08:54 pm EDT 08/18/20 | |
| In reply to: re: Eric Bentley - Jax 01:06 pm EDT 08/18/20 | |
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| Your style for the drive-by snarkiness somehow makes me feel as if you are a close friend of Mr. DeWitt's mother. Without the wit Mr. DeWitt had in his comments, only the vitriol. As others have said, less snarkily than I, while you may not like Bentley, many of us have found both his writing and ideas of serious importance to our own educations. I remember first reading his work in a grad seminar on 20th century dramatic form and theory taught by John Styan in the early 80s at Northwestern--if Bentley was good enough for as estimable a scholar (and generous a teacher, by the way) as Dr. Styan was, he's fine with me. | |
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| re: Eric Bentley | |
| Posted by: Ordoc 11:48 pm EDT 08/18/20 | |
| In reply to: re: Eric Bentley - BruceinIthaca 08:54 pm EDT 08/18/20 | |
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| Eric Bentley is from the generation of critics who wanted drama in the United States to be more European. The drama/theatre of this country should reflect this country. His translations are dated. Is it too much to ask a translator of Mr. Bentley's stature to know the play's title is THE GOOD PERSON OF SZECHWAN; not The Good WOMEN of Szechwan? Is it too much to ask a translator pf Mr. Bentley's stature to know the play's title is SPRING AWAKENING; not SPRING'S Awakening. The children are awakening not the season. From his note/comment about the teachers' names in the play, it is clear Bentley doesn't understand why Wedekind choose the names. I'm not dismissing Bentley; I'm noting what I consider his flaws. | |
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| re: Eric Bentley | |
| Posted by: enoch10 11:09 am EDT 08/20/20 | |
| In reply to: re: Eric Bentley - Ordoc 11:48 pm EDT 08/18/20 | |
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| is it too much to ask someone of your stature (whatever that might be) to know that the title of brecht's translation is the good WOMAN of szechwan? i'm not dismissing you just noting what i consider your flaws. | |
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| re: Eric Bentley | |
| Posted by: whereismikeyfl 11:03 am EDT 08/21/20 | |
| In reply to: re: Eric Bentley - enoch10 11:09 am EDT 08/20/20 | |
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| What do you mean by " brecht's translation?" The only English translation of any of his plays that he himself worked on was Galileo, not Gute Mensch. |
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| Um ... nmi | |
| Last Edit: Ann 02:34 pm EDT 08/18/20 | |
| Posted by: Ann 02:31 pm EDT 08/18/20 | |
| In reply to: re: Eric Bentley - Jax 01:06 pm EDT 08/18/20 | |
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| It Depends... | |
| Posted by: Whistler 03:30 pm EDT 08/18/20 | |
| In reply to: Um ... nmi - Ann 02:31 pm EDT 08/18/20 | |
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| Like so many things, it depends on your taste: Eric Bentley's and Charles McNulty's writings are easily readable by many people, and their thoughts are welcome. | |
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