Issues in Contemporary Circus
Master of Arts (Drama) Thesis - Queensland University of Technology
Glen Ryman © 1995
PREFACE TO ONLINE EDITION
ABSTRACT
CONTEXT
ANIMALS IN CIRCUS
THE CIRCUS PERFORMER
NARRATIVE IN CIRCUS
CIRCUS AND COMMUNITY THEATRE
CIRCUS CULTURE
FINDINGS
BIBLIOGRAPHY
CONTEXT
1. Introduction
2. Conceptual Framework
3. Literature Review
4. Methodology
FINDINGS
1. Animals in Circus
1.1 Issues in Animal Treatment
1.1.1 Animal Welfare Allegations
1.1.2 Traditonal Circus Response
1.2 Non-traditional Circus and Animals
1.2.1 Ambivalence Towards Animal Acts
1.2.2 Animal Acts and Audience
1.2.3 Animals in Non-Traditonal Circus
1.3 Fear and Domination of the "Wild"
1.3.1 Animals and the Circus Community
1.3.2 Anthropomorphism
1.3.3 The Fear and Domination Show
1.3.4 Relevance of "Wild" to Urban Audiences
1.3.5 The Domesticated Animal Act
1.4 Conclusion
2. The Circus Performer
2.1 Training
2.1.1 Training at Ashton"s Circus
2.1.2 The Development of Training Infrastructure at Albury/Wodonga
2.1.3 Other Training Opportunities
2.1.4 National Circus School
2.2 The Performance Context
2.2.1 Rehearsal
2.2.2 The Performance Mind
2.2.3 Audience
2.3 Conclusion
3. Narrative in Circus
3.1 Traditional Narrative Structure
3.1.1 The Basic Structure of an Act
3.1.2 The Physical Requirements of Narrative
3.1.3 The Clown Act
3.1.4 Comic Characterisation
3.1.5 Contextualising the Act
3.1.6 Ordering the Acts
3.2 Narrative in Non-traditional circus
3.2.1 Circus Oz and the Development of Narrative
3.2.2 Problems with Dramatic Narrative
3.2.3 The Development of Convention
3.3 Synthesis on Narrative and Trick
3.4 Conclusion
4. Circus and Community Theatre
4.1 Circus as a Community Tool
4.1.1 Circus as Popular Entertainment
4.1.2 The Mass Appeal of Circus
4.1.3 Circus and cultural Difference
4.1.4 The Accessibility of Circus Skills
4.1.5 Circus training and Self Esteem
4.1.6 The Application of Circus Mythology
4.2 The Origins of Contemporary Circus
in Community Theatre Practice
4.2.1 Soapbox Circus, New Circus and Radical Arts Practice
4.2.2 The Flying Fruit Fly Circus: Creating a Community
4.2.3 Street Arts, Circus and Cultural Difference
4.2.4 The Women"s Circus: Healing through Physical Training and Performance
4.2.5 Rock"n"Roll Circus: Pressures on Social Agenda in Circus
4.3 The legacies of Community Activism
4.3.1 Circus and Sexuality
4.3.2 Collective Management
4.3.3 Public Workshops
4.4 Conclusion
5. Circus Culture
5.1 Traditonal Circus Culture
5.1.1 Form and Content of the Circus Show
5.1.2 The Traditional Circus Community
5.1.3 The Name of Circus
5.2 Non-traditional Circus Culture
5.2.1 Physical performance
5.2.2 Pressure for New Material
5.2.3 Return to Tradition
5.2.4 Circus Oz: Structure and Identity
5.3 Conclusion
6. Conclusion of Findings
7. Bibliography