Spreading Like Wildfire: the Genesis and Evolution of Theatre Scandals

Peter Eversmann

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Chapter 2 Spreading Like Wildfire: the Genesis and Evolution of Theatre Scandals

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Peter Eversmann

Peter Eversmann
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Type:: Chapter

Pages:: 13–32

DOI:: https://doi.org/10.1163/9789004433984_003

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Abstract

This chapter explores the analogy between contagious diseases and theatre scandals. The potential of a scandal is present in many theatrical events, but under what conditions does this potential come to fruition? And once a scandal does break out, how does it spread, what – if any – containment strategies are employed, how does it (eventually?) die out and are there any longer-lasting effects – such as immunity, scars, heightened susceptibility, and so on? The chapter starts out from the assumption that any derogatory statement about a planned or actualized theatrical expression, pronouncing it to be scandalous and denying its right to be performed, might turn it into a fully-fledged public scandal. The dynamics of this process are described by applying concepts employed by epidemiology. Using these concepts and models from the medical world in the context of theatre reception is not without problems. Think only of questions like ‘what is/are the organism(s) that are affected?’; ‘in what way can a theatre scandal be considered a disease?’; ‘can a deliberate provocation be compared with involuntary infection?’ etc. Nevertheless, as will become clear from several examples, the analogy provide deeper insight into the ontology, origins, development and classification of theatre scandals. The chapter ends with a questionnaire derived from epidemiological notions and designed to assist in the research of the dynamics of theatre scandals – their origins, evolution and demise.

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Theatre Scandals

Social Dynamics of Turbulent Theatrical Events

Series: Themes in Theatre, Volume: 10

E-Book ISBN:: 9789004433984

Publisher:: Brill

Print Publication Date:: 11 Jun 2020

Subjects
- Art History
- Literature and Cultural Studies
  - Cultural History
  - Theatre Studies

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Chapter 2 Spreading Like Wildfire: the Genesis and Evolution of Theatre Scandals

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Theatre Scandals

Social Dynamics of Turbulent Theatrical Events

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