Prologue
If the theme of the following essays may be summed up in one single sentence then, perhaps, it would be most appropriate to say that they draw attention to detail that marginally accompanies a work of art, yet is inseparable from artistic practice, be it a question of the 'circumstances' in which the artist is situated, or be it a question, and this is their subject above all, of the nature of aesthetic epiphenomena, or, finally, of the artistic creators' auto-reception of his work. Read more (pdf)
Streetsartists
To please! this becomes the imperative for street artists. In a drastic way, they confirm the fact that all art 'lives' by the whim of public taste, though, more than other artists, they are forced to resort to tricks of seduction and methods of flattery. Read more (pdf)
Advertisment and Invitation
From Roman times to the present day, the poster has changed its external form, but its intention has basically remained unchanged. The poster is both an announcement and a notice, a message and information. It is a notification that both advertises and promises. In its essence self-advertising, the poster praises what it represents. Read more (pdf)
Venues, Elegant and Otherwise
But the theatre is not just an auditorium and a stage: a multitude of other areas, public and private, enable the auditorium to be comfortable and the stage luxurious. The select public considers it its civilised duty to attend performances in such theatres. The young actor feels it an immense success to appear on its stage, the famous company willingly plays there. Read more (pdf)
The Role of the Technical Staff
Naturally, one is not referring here to the employment of technical aids which daily delight us with some innovation, for laser gramophone needles, rotogravure or quartz cinema screens, all such things, serve the receiver more than the creator of a work of art. Here our reference is to those 'behind the scenes', to those who are often referred to or at least considered as 'secondary', or, to put it more gently, as 'auxiliary staff'. Read more (pdf)
The Play of the Interval
There are not a few for whom the interval is more important than the performance. The interval arose from the need for a short, periodical break, for an essential relaxing halt and temporary intermission (pausis) in the action, as a respite for the actors and audience. Read more (pdf)
Applause, and then Silence
The applause is the voice of the public. It is the transformed voice by which the public sends its message. In the theatre, applause, before the rise of the curtain, may be an expression of respect and regard for the performers, a welcome and an encouragement, but frequently it may be a sign of impatience, of a muted protest caused by delay in the performance. Read more (pdf)
The Actor Watches His Film
Others may remember, the actor beholds his memories. Yet again, before his eyes, there unwinds a series of moving pictures, more complete and living than any album. What the film-goer sees in the film is illusion, what the actor sees is life. Read more (pdf)
