Date of Submission

Spring 2024

Academic Program

Literature

Project Advisor 1

Thomas Bartscherer

Abstract/Artist's Statement

This study explores the intersection of Nietzschean aesthetics, and embodied practice in the context of Arthur Miller's The Crucible. Drawing on Friedrich Nietzsche's concepts of the Dionysian, the study offers a reparative reading of Miller's play that challenges its conventional interpretation as a mere allegory for McCarthyism. The first chapter presents a novel analysis of The Crucible, reframing the central conflict as a clash between the primal, artistic Dionysian impulse and the repressive, moralistic Puritan framework. By repositioning the character of Abigail Williams as a Dionysian figure seeking liberation and enlightenment, the chapter uncovers previously unexamined themes of desire, shame, and the quest for knowledge beyond societal constraints. Building upon these theoretical insights, the second chapter details the practical exploration of The Crucible through embodied techniques designed to access the unconscious realm. The study chronicles a series of workshops and rehearsals aimed at translating Nietzschean aesthetics into a pragmatic approach to performance, utilizing methods such as Dreamwork and the Method to create a space for the Dionysian creative spirit to manifest. The third chapter offers a reflective account of the devising process and performance of an original adaptation, A Crucible 001, examining the challenges and breakthroughs encountered in the pursuit of an aesthetic grounded in the open image and the language of the unconscious. The chapter grapples with the tensions between the transformative potential of this approach and the practical constraints of creating theater in the contemporary urban landscape.

Ultimately, the thesis argues for the vital importance of recentering the artist in the discourse surrounding the future of theater. It proposes that by engaging with the cosmic forces that reside beneath the surface of our structured lives, theater can serve as a catalyst for profound discovery and revelation, offering a space for productive perplexity and the exploration of the ineffable mysteries of the human experience.

Open Access Agreement

Open Access

Creative Commons License

Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 4.0 License.

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