Essential Theory of Opera

Author: Lü Xiaoping
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2003-09-01
Features: This book attempts to establish a new theory for interpreting Chinese local theater. It discards the traditional concept of distinguishing between "Chinese opera" and "theater," and, on the premise that all ethnic theater shares a common "theater" essence, builds the description of the special essence of Chinese local theater on the basis of in-depth comparative studies of Chinese and Western theater. The book particularly emphasizes the essential differences between the classical and modern stages of Chinese opera, as well as the distinction between the literary and non-literary stages of classical opera. It proposes the special concept of "modern Chinese opera" and describes its "May Fourth New Literature" essence; it also explains the internal reasons for the transformation of Chinese opera from "literary theater" to "non-literary theater." At the same time, in the comparison of Chinese and Western theater, it introduces new perspectives on "language art" and "plot art" to interpret the unique development path of classical Chinese opera and the non-classical nature of modern Chinese opera.