Authors Intentions

Tue, 7 Apr 2009, 07:13 pm

Okay, this is a serious question for me... A number of different posts recently have gotten quite seriously into Dramatic Theory, and one thing that keeps popping up is "The Author's Intention". Now, when I was younger I had Roland Barthes' theory of "The Death of the Author" drummed into me. To try and put it simply - The meaning of any work of art or literature is the meaning that the reader/watcher gets from it, and any interpretation is valid as long as the text bears it out, and what the author originally intended is largely irrelevant... (My apologies if I put it clumsily, it WAS YEARS ago) But this was a literary/philosophical theory, not a purely dramatic one. My question is: Has Roland Barthes been thrown out and someone forgot to forward me the memo? or, As his theory is a general literary theory not a specific dramatic one, has it just not filtered through to the performing arts? Can't say I'm losing sleep over it or anything, but it has piqued my interest :-)

Ah yes.

Sun, 19 Apr 2009, 11:30 am

Logos

I don't think we are actually that far apart. I guess the definition of authors intent is the barrier. Interestingly enough I don't have too much trouble with changes to my words that can place the play into an environment that makes more sense to the audience. For example I don't think that many of my plays are so "Australian" that text changes to place them in, say the USA are a problem. As an extreme example however, a play I wrote and produced for the 2008 Fringe Festival attacked the anti sedition legislation, if a director and actors were to change the focus so the play supported the legislation would that not be an unwarranted attack upon my intent? Having recently reread the play I can see that it would be possible. You are approaching this discussion as an actor, I as a writer/director and I suspect that most of our differences arise from this. Is that all there is? Well if that's all there is my friend, then let's keep dancing. www.tonymoore.id.au

Thread (39 posts)

Threaded Flat

Authors Intentions— Paul Treasure7 Apr 2009

The issue isn't just— Na7 Apr 2009
Beckett— Paul Treasure7 Apr 2009
- Good point, but as far as I— Na7 Apr 2009
- From memory (it was quite— Walter Plinge8 Apr 2009
Ah interesting! I shall be— Logos7 Apr 2009
As promised I'm back.— Logos8 Apr 2009
books and plays— mike raine8 Apr 2009
- Don't pull the plug on Barthe— crgwllms12 Apr 2009
Again Craig and I agree,— mike raine12 Apr 2009
- Intense talk of intents.— crgwllms12 Apr 2009
  - I have to say that I too— mike raine12 Apr 2009
    - A Poorly Constructed House— crgwllms13 Apr 2009
      - ···
        tangled in analgoies.— mike raine13 Apr 2009
Aaah, Lord of the Rings— Logos12 Apr 2009
LOTR— jeffhansen12 Apr 2009
To the comments a few comments back...— jessmess13 Apr 2009
- The Stage Direction Stops Here— crgwllms13 Apr 2009
- That sucks!— mike raine13 Apr 2009
My Two Cents— Garreth13 Apr 2009
- My honours thesis was, in— Walter Plinge14 Apr 2009
- Weighing back in— Paul Treasure15 Apr 2009
Shameless Plug— Robert Whyte14 Apr 2009
Ah the consternation...— jessmess15 Apr 2009
- I don't think shakespeare— Garreth15 Apr 2009
  - To be a playwright, or not to be....?— crgwllms16 Apr 2009
  - I don't wish to betray you, Garreth...— crgwllms16 Apr 2009
  - Commedia Delle Arte is— John E Carson21 Apr 2009
Fair enough— jessmess15 Apr 2009
- moths in my head— mike raine16 Apr 2009
  - That about covers it— crgwllms16 Apr 2009
Intent versus style— Logos17 Apr 2009
- Whose intent?— crgwllms17 Apr 2009
  - Ah yes.— Logos19 Apr 2009
    - Approach with caution— crgwllms19 Apr 2009
      - ···
        Interesting you should— Logos19 Apr 2009
        ···
        It's all good.— crgwllms19 Apr 2009
more on music— mike raine18 Apr 2009
I am not a musician so some— Logos19 Apr 2009

← Back to Green Room Gossip