Overview

Russian theater director Vsevolod Meyerhold designed Biomechanics--a system of actor training--shortly after the Russian Revolution. Although not always understood, it received wide attention as a result of Meyerhold's unique position as the foremost Soviet avant-garde director. Meyerhold had students that both perfected and challenged his theories in actor training--including the film director Sergei Eisenstein. Gathered from private Moscow archives, this is the first book-length study of Meyerhold's stylized training method in practical detail, as well as Eisenstein's theoretical analysis of Biomechanics. The book traces the history and theoretical foundations of Biomechanics and Expressive Movement, with descriptions of the basic biomechanical exercises and etudes. It also includes a glossary of biomechanical terminology and bibliographical information.

Full Product Details

Author:   Alma Law
Publisher:   McFarland & Co Inc
Imprint:   McFarland & Co Inc
Dimensions:   Width: 15.20cm , Height: 1.50cm , Length: 22.90cm
Weight:   0.404kg
ISBN:  

9780786467501

ISBN 10:   0786467509
Pages:   294
Publication Date:   08 February 2012
Recommended Age:   From 18 years
Audience:   Professional and scholarly ,  Professional & Vocational
Format:   Paperback
Publisher's Status:   Active
Availability:   Available To Order  
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Table of Contents

Table of Contents Acknowledgments      Introduction      Part I. Meyerhold and Eisenstein 1. Meyerhold: From Actor to Revolutionary Director      2. Meyerhold: From Biomechanics to the Triumph of Socialist Realism      3. Eisenstein: From Engineer to Revolutionary Filmmaker      Part II. Biomechanics 4. Introduction      5. Biomechanical Exercises      6. Description of the Exercises      7. Program of Studies      Part III. Documents 8. Meyerhold on Biomechanics      Biomechanics of Vsevolod Meyerhold by M. Korenev      The Biomechanical Laboratory by M. Korenev      Principles of Biomechanics by M. Korenev      Meyerhold Demonstrates a Biomechanical Exercise by Erast Garin      The Actor of the Future and Biomechanicr by V.-Es.      Biomechanics According to Meyerhold by Ippolit Sokolov      Taylorism on the Stage by Arkady Pozdnev      Project: Profile of the Actor Graduating from the Meyerhold State Theatre School      Promptbook for “The Magnanimous Cuckhold”      9. Eisenstein on Biomechanics and Expressive Movement      Notes on Biomechanics by Sergei Eisenstein      Principles of Movement in Our Theatre by Sergei Eisenstein      What Is a “Raccourci” and What Is a Pose? by Sergei Eisenstein      At Rehearsals of “The Wiseman” by Aleksandr Levshin      Expressive Movement by Sergei Eisenstein and Sergei Tretyakov      On Recoil Movement by Sergei Eisenstein      Lecture on Biomechanics, March 29, 1935, by Sergei Eisenstein      10. International Accounts of Biomechanics      An Interview with Meyerhold at the Theatre of the Revolution by Lancelot Lawton      How Meyerhold Trains his Actors by John Martin      Biomechanics in Meyerhold’s Theatre by André Van Gyseghem      Notes on Biomechanics by Lee Strasberg      Notes on Eisenstein’s Lectures, 1934, by Marie Seton      A Biomechanical Session by Harold Clurman      Part IV. Appendices Glossary of Biomechanical Terminology      Notes      Selected Bibliography      Index     

Reviews

useful...a helpful sourcebook --<i>Choice</i>; the subject of this book is of enormous importance to an understanding of twentieth century Russian and Soviet art, culture and especially theatre...the book will be welcomed by both theatre scholars and practitioners, and especially by those who wish to go beyond the usual actor training syllabus, and engage with something which will challenge and stimulate in equal measure --<i>Revolutionary Russia</i>; this is a sourcebook which gathers a wide range of previously unavailable material...Law and Gordon's analysis will make a significant contribution to the ongoing process of re-evaluating the role of Biomechanics in the past as well as in the future --<i>Theatre Research International</i>; this panorama illustrates the lasting relationship between Eisenstein and Meyerhold --<i>International Theatre Informations.</i>

Author Information

The late Alma Law was coeditor of Slavic and East European Theater. The late Mel Gordon was a former professor of dramatic art at the University of California at Berkeley.

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