SPIELEN UND ZUSCHAUEN IN JAKOB BIDERMANNS PHILEMON MARTYR
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Jacob Bidermann's (1578-1639) Jesuit drama, Philemon Martyr (1618), presents the world as a theater, not only within its plot, but also through structural and stylistic features. Ironically, precisely because of his dubious profession, the pagan comedian Philemon, as he plays a Christian, is granted , and grasps, the chance to convert. Though his perfect model may inspire the audience, Philemon can effect the play's moral only in tandem with Arrianus, his antagonist, who turns from pagan spectator to Christian actor: it is Arrianus' more realistic role conversion which assures the spectator that salvation is actually within reach. Through the ideas of play-acting and play-watching, Bidermann illustrates the Jesuit view, not only of secular theater and society, but also of religion, human nature, and our appropriate role in life. Going beyond a scena vitae, which would merely focus on human performance, the play constructs a more complex theatrum mundi, which includes divine director and spectator. In terms of dramatic genre, Bidermann advocates tragicomedy , in terms of attitude, a contemptus mundi. As school theater, Philemon Martyr provides an antidote to the rigid Jesuit conception of education, activating the students through a playful version of pedagogy.
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| All Time | Past 365 days | Past 30 Days | |
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SPIELEN UND ZUSCHAUEN IN JAKOB BIDERMANNS PHILEMON MARTYR
In: DaphnisSearch for other papers by Jan L. Hagens in
Current site
Google Scholar
PubMed
Jacob Bidermann's (1578-1639) Jesuit drama, Philemon Martyr (1618), presents the world as a theater, not only within its plot, but also through structural and stylistic features. Ironically, precisely because of his dubious profession, the pagan comedian Philemon, as he plays a Christian, is granted , and grasps, the chance to convert. Though his perfect model may inspire the audience, Philemon can effect the play's moral only in tandem with Arrianus, his antagonist, who turns from pagan spectator to Christian actor: it is Arrianus' more realistic role conversion which assures the spectator that salvation is actually within reach. Through the ideas of play-acting and play-watching, Bidermann illustrates the Jesuit view, not only of secular theater and society, but also of religion, human nature, and our appropriate role in life. Going beyond a scena vitae, which would merely focus on human performance, the play constructs a more complex theatrum mundi, which includes divine director and spectator. In terms of dramatic genre, Bidermann advocates tragicomedy , in terms of attitude, a contemptus mundi. As school theater, Philemon Martyr provides an antidote to the rigid Jesuit conception of education, activating the students through a playful version of pedagogy.
| All Time | Past 365 days | Past 30 Days | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Abstract Views | 288 | 63 | 7 |
| Full Text Views | 90 | 5 | 3 |
| PDF Views & Downloads | 70 | 9 | 7 |
